Full length glass interior door safe or unsafe for kids ?

R

rabbit

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A friend is looking at renting a house for a year or two which has some interior doors having a full length glass panel, maybe 6 feet by 2 feet 6 inches or whatever. It looks lovely and makes the space seem open plan, but as small kids / toddlers are in the family I wonder would it be safe ? It seems not to be doubleglazed or anything, as they are inside doors. Anyone have any experience with this .....would the glass be strengthened or could a child fall through it ? What would the solution be to make it safer ....is there see though adhesive film to make it shatter proof I wonder ? Maybe somebody has come across this before or is it a worry about nothing ?
 
rabbit said:
A friend is looking at renting a house for a year or two which has some interior doors having a full length glass panel, maybe 6 feet by 2 feet 6 inches or whatever. It looks lovely and makes the space seem open plan, but as small kids / toddlers are in the family I wonder would it be safe ? It seems not to be doubleglazed or anything, as they are inside doors. Anyone have any experience with this .....would the glass be strengthened or could a child fall through it ? What would the solution be to make it safer ....is there see though adhesive film to make it shatter proof I wonder ? Maybe somebody has come across this before or is it a worry about nothing ?
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Very risky indeed, such panels should be at least toughened, so that in the event of impact the glass breaks into small pieces similar to auto glass. Normal glass will break into shards similar to spikes/knives and the risk of serious injury is very high.

It is possible to have glass replaced but an alternative might be to cover glass with adhesive film clear/translucent that might help retain the glass in event of impact. Personally, I would replace glass, not that expensive, but with peace of mind. Such expense would also be allowable for tax purposes. So it's a no brainer.
 
afaik any class fitted that is below 4 ft hes to be toughened/saftey glass by law.

this was the case when I was fitting windows 6 years ago, however if someone really wanted they could buy normal glass & fit it themselves.

if you are going to put on an adhesive film I would suggest that you put it on both sides of the glass.
 
Thanks for that. How would a person know if it was toughened glass already ? It is about 10 or 15 years old since the house was built I think.
 
If the glass it toughened it will have a small stamp on one of the corners. If it was mine I would glaze it with 6.4mm laminated glass where if it breaks, nobody gets injured and the pane stays in place until you have time to replace it.

With toughened glass, nobody gets injured, but it breaks into a million pieces and you will be still finding pieces of glass in a few months time that flew when the pane broke.

If the doors are old they more than likely will not have the new regulation safety glass. (there are still people fitting the wrong type of glass to save a few bob, but its to late when there is an accident).

The regulation is anything below 1500mm in a door or door unit and anything below 800mm in a window must have safety glass.
 
You can reduce (though not eliminate) the chances of someone walking into the glass but putting some large blocks of colour transfers or stickers on the glass, at eye heights for both adults and children.
 
Any one know where such warning stickers can be bought? I'm thinking something like 3 frosted circles kinda sticker rather than "I love Spain" type sticker
 
Mothercare used to stock the safety film for glass doors. I put it on my doors 24 years ago and am pleased to say both doors and children never came to grief - and the film is still on the doors!
 
Few years back a three old with a speeding tricycle, caught the handlebar in a large low pane of door glass that was just shatterred at the point of contact and spread out from it. The child drove off and it was only noticed later and the parents put two and two together when they measured the handlebar.

It has no effect on the little boy but imagine if this was ordinary glass.........
 
I thought about it while doing a renovation job last year due to the light these doors allow through the house.

I decided against it due to, even though it might have been a small risk, I just thought if the worst happened.

When they are grown up I can have all the glass I want.

I have 3/4 glass in 2 doors and it can be nerve wrecking sometimes and it is toughened glass, cost a small fortune but worth it but we still have an odd anxious moment with the 2 little boys.

Think you can get those sticker sets in Art & Hobby store.
 
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