Glass installed at school
Glass can be a hazard at schools if it breaks. Your board needs to manage this hazard by understanding how to keep people safe, what kind of glass to install, and which glazing standards you need to comply with.
Meeting your health and safety responsibilities
Keeping people safe from the hazards of broken glass is part of your overall health and safety responsibilities. We recommend you review your school’s health and safety systems.
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – NZ Legislationopen_in_new
Deciding on the type of glass to use
Share the information on this page with your project manager and any contractors fitting new or replacement glass at your school.
Grade A safety glass
You must use Grade A safety glass:
- anywhere there's a risk of people falling against the glass
- in all doors and panels around doors
- in buildings where there's a higher risk, such as:
- gyms and swimming pools
- buildings that are within 6 metres of playgrounds, courts or playing fields
- halls, viewing galleries or grandstands.
- when installing or replacing glass in a building where the glass starts less than 1.6 metres from the lowest point – like the ground, the floor, outside decking or any raised seating.
When a window begins less than 1.6 metres from the ground, and goes higher than 1.6 metres, take the safety glazing to the top of the window or to the next transom (the horizontal cross piece of the window).
When a window begins at ground level and goes up to 2 metres or higher, use safety glazing unless the glass is protected by mesh, guards or another similar protection.
Other glass
In all other cases, glass must be installed to New Zealand glazing standards. Some glazing may be fire rated – in these instances, make sure the integrity of the fire protection remains compliant with regulations.
Double glazing
You may wish to upgrade your windows to double glazing. If you’re using aluminium, make sure you use frames that are thermally broken or insulated. Aluminium is a good conductor of heat so if it's cold outside, the frames will be cold inside and they’ll suffer from condensation.
Anti-graffiti film
Vandals scratching or etching glass is a common issue for schools. One solution is to install an anti-graffiti film. This is an optically clear protective film that’s applied to exterior glazing to prevent glass damage.
Maintaining your glazing
Check the glass in your school regularly. Changes to the school – like building new sports fields – could introduce new hazards, and ordinary glass may have to be replaced with safety glass.
Paying for glass
You should pay for glass in new buildings or alterations out of your project budget – for example, an upgrade project paid for with 5YA funding.
Use your property maintenance grant to pay to replace broken glass, or install new safety glass.