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Where Tempered (Safety) Glass Is Required — The Hazardous Locations List

The code never says "tempered glass" is required everywhere — it lists hazardous locations where glazing must be safety-rated (tempered or laminated). R308.4 is that list, and most of it is about doors, water, and stairs.

Requirement	Model Code Standard	Section
In doors	Glazing in all fixed and operable door panels (limited exceptions for small decorative lites)	IRC R308.4.1
Adjacent to doors	Glazing within 24 in. of either side of a door and under 60 in. above the floor	IRC R308.4.2
Large low windows	Panes over 9 sq ft with bottom edge under 18 in. above floor, top edge over 36 in., and a walking surface within 36 in.	IRC R308.4.3
Tubs, showers & pools	Glazing in wet-surface enclosures and within 60 in. horizontally and under 60 in. vertically of the water surface	IRC R308.4.5
Near stairs	Glazing with its bottom edge less than 36 in. above the walking surface of stairways, landings, and ramps; and glazing less than 36 in. above the bottom landing within a 60-in. arc of the bottom tread	IRC R308.4.6, R308.4.7
Guards & railings	All glazing used in guards and railings, including structural baluster panels	IRC R308.4.4
Identification	Each safety-glazing pane permanently labeled (etched bug) with the standard it meets	IRC R308.1

Worth knowing

The classic miss: a fixed window beside a patio door, or a low picture window at a landing — both usually need safety glazing.
Protective bars or screens can exempt some locations only under the specific exceptions — not the shower/tub locations.
Laminated glass satisfies most hazardous locations where tempered is impractical (e.g., oversized panes).
Replacement glazing must meet current safety-glazing rules even in old frames.

This guide is BuildSpec’s own summary, not code text. It cites the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code as model standards. The IRC 2021 text itself is in the Code Library for signed-in members; BuildSpec publishes no NEC text, which is at nfpa.org. Neither is an adoption record: your state may be on a different edition with amendments — check your jurisdiction page or get an Address Report.

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