Safety glazing?

Building standards change over time.

They generally don’t become more lax.

Glazing is one aspect of building that has changed significantly over the years. Glazing in homes is now recognised as a significant safety hazard.

The standard 3 mm or 4 mm glass used for many years for sliding doors or glazed panels is no longer acceptable. Trips or slips can cause serious injury.

Glass sliding doors, or glazed doors in general, are now required to have safety glass, ie, toughened or laminated, to reduce potential injury. Glass is stamped to identify compliance.

The old, thin and brittle glazing is not technically a building fault, not actually broken, but it is important to bring the presence of a serious safety hazard to a buyer’s attention.

A home pre-purchase inspection report should identify safety hazards.

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