Where Is Safety Glass Required?

Safety glass is not optional in the places that matter, but knowing exactly where the rules bite is the tricky part. The checker below shows you where they apply in a home, an apartment block, an office or a shopfront, the height that triggers each rule, and what to specify. Tap any pane to see the answer.

The places safety glass is required

In a typical building, safety glass is required in a handful of predictable spots:

  • Doors: any glass within 1500 mm of the floor.
  • Side panels: glass within 300 mm of a door edge and within 1500 mm of the floor.
  • Low-level glazing: any glass within 800 mm of the floor, in a window, wall or partition.
  • Balustrades: any glass guarding a drop. See glass balustrades.



The 800 mm rule is the one people forget most, so it is worth a second look on any low window or full-height glazing.

Do you need safety glass in a window?

Only when part of the window sits in a critical location. Under Approved Document K that means any glazing within 800 mm of floor level, or glazing within 300 mm of a door edge and within 1500 mm of the floor. A window with its sill above 800 mm can use ordinary glass as far as Approved Document K is concerned, although many specifiers choose toughened glass anyway for peace of mind. Full-height glazing, floor-to-ceiling screens and low feature windows are the ones that get caught.

What counts as safety glass?

Safety glass means glass that has been tested to break safely under impact, to BS EN 12600. In practice that is either toughened glass, which crumbles into small blunt pieces, or laminated glass, which holds together on an interlayer when it breaks.



Both are valid. Toughened is the everyday workhorse, while laminated is preferred where the glass also has to hold a line, like a balustrade. The class of safety glass you need depends on the size of the pane and where it sits. Our guide to glass impact ratings and safety standards explains the classes, and our team will confirm the right one for your location.

The traps people miss

Side panels next to doors are a critical location, because people reach for handles and stumble into the glass. Anything within 300 mm of the door edge and within 1500 mm of the floor needs to be safety glass.


Balustrades are not just an impact question. A balustrade guarding a drop has to meet separate barrier and loading rules on top of being safety glass, which is why laminated toughened glass is usually specified. Our pages on building regs for glass balustrades and Juliet balcony regulations explain how those rules stack up.



Large areas of clear glass, like a full-height screen or a glazed entrance, also need manifestation in buildings other than homes. That is permanent markings at two heights, 850 to 1000 mm and 1400 to 1600 mm above the floor, so people can see the glass and do not walk into it. There is more in our guide to safety markings and manifestation on glass.

Building in Scotland?

The rules above follow Approved Document K, which applies in England. Scotland works to its own building standards, and the detail differs. If your project is north of the border, start with our simple guide to Scottish building regulations for safety glass. For the wider picture, see our guide to toughened glass regulations in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

  • Where is safety glass required in the UK?

    Under Approved Document K in England, safety glass is required in doors and side panels where the glass is within 1500 mm of the floor, in any glazing within 800 mm of the floor, and in glass balustrades. Large clear screens also need manifestation markings.

  • At what height does glass have to be safety glass?

    In windows, walls and partitions, any glass within 800 mm of the floor. In doors, and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, any glass within 1500 mm of the floor.

  • Do I need safety glass in a window?

    Only if part of the window is in a critical location: within 800 mm of the floor, or within 300 mm of a door and within 1500 mm of the floor. A window with a sill above 800 mm does not need safety glass under Approved Document K.

  • Does it have to be toughened glass?

    No. Toughened and laminated glass both qualify as safety glass when tested to BS EN 12600. Toughened is the usual choice, while laminated is often specified for balustrades because it holds together if it breaks.

  • What is manifestation?

    Manifestation is permanent marking on large areas of clear glass, like frosted dots, a band or a logo, so people can see the glass and do not walk into it. In buildings other than homes it goes at two heights: 850 to 1000 mm and 1400 to 1600 mm above the floor.

  • How do I know if my glass needs to be safety glass?

    Use the checker on this page. Pick your building type and tap the glass you are specifying to see whether the rules apply, why, and what to use. For anything unusual, talk to the ToughGlaze team.

  • Is anti-bandit glass the same as safety glass?

    No. Safety glass, tested to BS EN 12600, protects people from accidental impact. Anti-bandit glass is security glass, tested to BS EN 356 against deliberate manual attack, with classes from P1A to P8B. ToughGlaze TG SECURE anti-bandit glass is laminated, so it is also a safety glass, but a safety glass is not automatically a security glass. See our security glass page.