OBC DIVISION B · PART 9 — HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGSUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code

Section 9.6 — Glass

Full text of Section 9.6 (Glass) — Division B, Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings) of the 2024 Ontario Building Code, with every article reproduced below.

9.6.1.General

9.6.1.1.Application permalink →

(1) This Section applies to (a) glass in (i) interior doors and interior windows and their sidelights, (ii) clothes closets, (iii) site-built exterior windows, doors and skylights, (iv) shower or bathtub enclosures, (v) glazed panels and partitions, and (b) the protection of glass.

9.6.1.2.Material Standards for Glass permalink →

(1) Glass shall conform to (a) CAN/CGSB-12.1, “Safety Glazing,” (b) CAN/CGSB-12.2-M, “Flat, Clear Sheet Glass,” (c) CAN/CGSB-12.3-M, “Flat, Clear Float Glass,” (d) CAN/CGSB-12.4-M, “Heat Absorbing Glass,” (e) CAN/CGSB-12.8, “Insulating glass units,” (f) CAN/CGSB-12.9, “Spandrel glass,” (g) CAN/CGSB-12.10-M, “Glass, Light and Heat Reflecting,” (h) CAN/CGSB-12.11-M, “Wired Safety Glass,” or (i) ASTM E2190, “Standard Specification for Insulating Glass Unit Performance and Evaluation.” (2) Mirrored glass doors are only permitted to be used only at the entrance to clothes closets and shall conform to the requirements of CAN/CGSB-82.6-M, “Doors, Mirrored Glass, Sliding or Folding, Wardrobe.” (See Note A-9.6.1.2.(2)) (3) Mirrored glass doors reinforced with a film backing shall meet the impact resistance requirements specified in CAN/CGSB-12.5-M, “Mirrors, Silvered.”

9.6.1.3.Structural Sufficiency of Glass permalink →

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), glass shall be designed in conformance with Article 4.3.6.1. (2) Where the building has an essentially uniform distribution of paths for air leakage, including operable openings, but no large openings that would permit wind gusts to rapidly enter the building and the building is not in an exceptionally exposed location such as a hilltop, the maximum area of individual panes of glass for windows shall conform to (a) Tables 9.6.1.3.-A to 9.6.1.3.-C, where the building has a height from grade to the uppermost roof of 12 m or less, and is located in a built-up area, no less than 120 m away from the boundary between this area and open terrain, or (b) Tables 9.6.1.3.-D to 9.6.1.3.-F. (See Note A-9.6.1.3.(2)) (3) The maximum area of individual panes of glass for doors shall conform to Table 9.6.1.3.-G. Table 9.6.1.3.-A Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 0.55 kPa(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(a) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.58 0.96 1.47 2.04 2.84 4.74 6.65 9.74 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 1.02 1.71 2.68 3.74 5.24 7.93 9.92 13.92 Heat-strengthened or tempered 1.24 1.93 2.60 3.18 3.99 5.55 6.99 9.74 Wired 0.27 0.45 0.68 0.93 1.31 2.15 3.07 5.03 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-A: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm. Table 9.6.1.3.-B Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 0.75 kPa(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(a) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.42 0.68 1.02 1.42 2.04 3.34 4.70 7.65 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 0.72 1.19 1.85 2.56 3.64 6.01 8.35 11.83 Heat-strengthened 0.88 1.46 2.21 2.71 3.39 4.73 5.92 8.29 Tempered 1.18 1.64 2.21 2.71 3.39 4.73 5.92 8.29 Wired 0.20 0.32 0.50 0.68 0.94 1.55 2.19 3.60 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-B: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm. Table 9.6.1.3.-C Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 1.00 kPa(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(a) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.30 0.50 0.77 1.05 1.45 2.40 3.40 5.62 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 0.52 0.86 1.31 1.86 2.57 4.30 6.10 9.89 Heat-strengthened 0.65 1.04 1.63 2.26 2.92 4.07 5.10 7.14 Tempered 1.01 1.42 1.90 2.33 2.92 4.07 5.10 7.14 Wired 0.16 0.26 0.38 0.52 0.71 1.15 1.63 2.69 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-C: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm. Table 9.6.1.3.-D Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 0.55 kPa – Open Terrain(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(b) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.46 0.75 1.16 1.60 2.25 3.76 5.32 8.70 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 0.80 1.34 2.11 2.93 4.10 6.90 9.66 12.53 Heat-strengthened 0.98 1.74 2.33 2.86 3.59 5.00 6.26 8.78 Tempered 1.25 1.74 2.33 2.86 3.59 5.00 6.26 8.78 Wired 0.22 0.36 0.55 0.76 1.05 1.75 2.47 4.09 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-D: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm. Table 9.6.1.3.-E Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 0.75 kPa – Open Terrain(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(b) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.33 0.54 0.83 1.14 1.61 2.67 3.75 6.14 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 0.57 0.94 1.47 2.04 2.85 4.75 6.72 10.97 Heat-strengthened 0.70 1.15 1.79 2.44 3.06 4.36 5.34 7.47 Tempered 1.06 1.48 1.99 2.44 3.06 4.36 5.34 7.47 Wired 0.16 0.26 0.40 0.55 0.76 1.24 1.77 2.93 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-E: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm. Table 9.6.1.3.-F Maximum Glass Area for Windows in Areas for which the 1-in-50 Hourly Wind Pressure (HWP) is Less than 1.00 kPa – Open Terrain(1) Forming Part of Clause 9.6.1.3.(2)(b) Maximum Glass Area, m2 Type of Glass Glass Thickness, mm 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Annealed 0.25 0.40 0.62 0.84 1.17 1.94 2.75 4.50 Factory-sealed insulated glass (IG) units(2) 0.42 0.68 1.04 1.46 2.05 3.41 4.87 7.92 Heat-strengthened 0.51 0.84 1.30 1.79 2.52 3.69 4.60 6.44 Tempered 0.92 1.28 1.72 2.10 2.63 3.69 4.60 6.44 Wired 0.12 0.20 0.30 0.41 0.57 0.94 1.31 2.18 Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-F: (1) The maximum hourly wind pressure with one chance in fifty of being exceeded in any one year, as provided in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data.” (2) Maximum glass area values apply to IG units of two identical lites (annealed, heat-strengthened or tempered) spaced at 12.7 mm . Table 9.6.1.3.-G Glass Area for Doors Forming Part of Sentence 9.6.1.3.(3) Maximum Glass Area, m2(1) Type of Glass Glass Annealed, Fully Thickness, mm Multiple- Tempered, Heat- Annealed Glazed, Laminated Wired Fully Tempered Multiple- Strengthened Factory-Sealed Glazed, Units Factory-Sealed 3 0.50 0.70 (2) (2) 1.00 1.00 2.00 4 1.00 1.50 (2) (2) 1.50 4.00 4.00 5 1.50 1.50 (2) (2) 1.50 No limit No limit 6 1.50 1.50 1.20 1.00 1.50 No limit No limit Notes to Table 9.6.1.3.-G: (1) See Note A-Table 9.6.1.3.-G. (2) Not generally available.

This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.

9.6.1.4.Types of Glass and Protection of Glass permalink →

(1) Glass sidelights greater than 500 mm wide that could be mistaken for doors, glass in storm doors and glass in sliding doors within or at every entrance to a dwelling unit and in public areas shall be (a) safety glazing of the tempered or laminated type conforming to CAN/CGSB-12.1, “Safety Glazing,” or (b) wired glass conforming to CAN/CGSB-12.11-M, “Wired Safety Glass.” (2) Except as provided in Sentence (4), glass in entrance doors to dwelling units and in public areas, other than the entrance doors described in Sentence (1), shall be safety glazing or wired glass of the type described in Sentence (1) where the glass area exceeds 0.5 m2 and extends to less than 900 mm from the bottom of the door. (3) Except as provided in Sentence (4), transparent panels that could be mistaken as a means of egress shall be protected by barriers or railings. (4) Sliding glass partitions that separate a public corridor from an adjacent occupancy and that are open during normal working hours need not conform to Sentences (2), (3) and (5), except that such partitions shall be suitably marked to indicate their existence and position. (5) Except as provided in Sentence (4), every glass or transparent door accessible to the public shall be equipped with hardware, bars or other permanent fixtures designed so that the existence and position of such doors is readily apparent. (6) Glazing used for a shower or bathtub enclosure shall conform to Class A of CAN/CGSB-12.1, “Safety Glazing.”

Understand any provision in seconds

BUILDAiD Assist explains any article of the building code in plain English — with exact citations, exceptions and related requirements.

Try BUILDAiD Beta

Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.