Frequently Asked Questions:

Four (4) pieces of glass for each thickness of tempered glass products, including patterned glass, should be sent in for testing.

34" x 76" +/- 0.125 (1/8) inch (864mm by 1930, +/- 3mm) if you are looking to obtain unlimited certification, if a limited certification is desired and a smaller size is sent for testing, you will only be certified for that size and what fits within it.

Four (4) pieces 34" x 76" +/- 0.125 (1/8) inch (864mm by 1930, +/- 3mm) for impact testing and three (3) pieces 12"x12" (305mm x 305mm) for boil testing. *Please refer to the Guidance for SGCC Certification of Laminated Glass and contact our office for more direction on laminated prototype testing.

Please contact the laboratory of your choice on the SGCC approved laboratory list for pricing of prototype testing. For certification fees, please click here.

Once samples are received at the laboratory, testing typically takes between 1-3 weeks. Please contact the laboratory of your choice from the SGCC approved laboratory list to inquire as to time for your job as it can vary greatly due to backlog and other issues.

Advise the testing laboratory to send passing test reports to SGCC by emailing sgcc@amscert.com.

Once SGCC has received your passing test reports, (Signed License Agreement and Application needed for new plants only), they will be processed within 7-10 business days. Once SGCC has received your passing test reports, (Signed License Agreement and Application needed for new plants only), they will be processed within 7-10 business days. After processing:
1.) An invoice for Certification Fees will be issued.
2.) Upon payment of the issued certification invoice, there will be a final review of your pending certification.
3.) The Main and Plant contact will receive an ‘Authorization to Label’ letter and Plant Certificate via email, within 3-5 business days of invoice payment.

Both your most recent plant certificate and testing history can be obtained using your CIP (Certification Information Portal). If you do not have a CIP or are having trouble logging in, please contact SGCC staff for assistance at SGCC@amscert.com. The most current plant certificates can also be found on the SGCC website here.

If the logo on your glass product bares “SGCC” followed by a number, along with any or all of the following standards, ANSI Z97.1, 16 CFR 1201 and/or CAN CGSB 12.1, then this product is likely a third-party certified safety glazed product. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. To verify if the product is SGCC Certified you can also look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching a plant name or SGCC number here.

A safety glazing product may contain a label that can be used to verify if the product is a certified safety glazing product. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. To verify if the product is SGCC Certified you can also look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching a plant name or SGCC number here. If you cannot find a plant certificate using these parameters, reach out to SGCC staff at SGCC@amscert.com for additional assistance. You can also tell if a product is safety glazing by the way it breaks upon impact. A safety glazing product will either break into small pieces instead of large shards or the glass will remain intact and held together by an interlayer or film. Additional information can be found on ANSI’s website, here.

A tempered glass safety glazing product may contain a label that can be used to verify if the product is tempered glass. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. To verify if the product is SGCC Certified you can also look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching a plant name or SGCC number here. You can also tell if a product is tempered by the way it breaks upon impact. A tempered product will either break into small pieces instead of large shards or the glass will remain intact and held together by an interlayer or film. Additional information can be found on ANSI’s website, here.

A laminated safety glazing product may contain a label that can be used to verify if the product is laminated glass. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. To verify if the product is SGCC Certified you can also look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching a plant name or SGCC number here. If you cannot find a plant certificate using these parameters, reach out to SGCC staff at SGCC@amscert.com for additional assistance. A laminated safety glazing product will remain intact and held together by an interlayer or film. Additional information can be found on ANSI’s website, here.

A tempered glass safety glazing product may contain a stamped or etched label that can be used to verify if the product is a certified safety glazing product. The SGCC number corresponds to the manufacturing location. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. Using the SGCC number you can look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching here. The plant certificate contains the name and address of the manufacturing facility.

There are several factors that can contribute to a shower door spontaneously breaking such as improper installation, temperature changes, glass damage and nickel sulfide inclusions within the glass just to name a few. It is important to remember that glass breaks; however, based on federal codes the tempered glass must break into small pieces that are likely to reduce cutting and piercing injuries. If your shower door spontaneously breaks you should contact the installer of the shower door for further guidance. If the label is still legible you may be able to use the SGCC number or label information to determine the fabricator of the glass. Please refer to How To Read SGCC Labels for further details. To verify if the product is SGCC Certified you can also look for an existing acknowledgment of certification (plant certificate) by searching a plant name or SGCC number here. The plant certificate contains the name and address of the manufacturing facility.

Yes, glass used in railings, balusters, and panels must meet safety standards due to their high-impact exposure. Source: NGA’s Code & Standards Help Center Summary (Provided Below) *

Safety glazing is required by the Federal consumer product safety standard and by local code in any area of a building that is defined as ‘hazardous’. CPSC 16, CFRF Part 1201 and 2018 IBC section 2406.4 defines hazardous locations requiring safety glazing as: glazing in doors, adjacent to doors, windows (if it meets all 4 criteria per 2018 IBC Section 2406.4.3), guards and railings, wet surfaces, adjacent to stairways and ramps, adjacent to bottom stairway landing. (See also exceptions in each category.)Source: NGA Code & Standards Help Center Summary (Provided Below) *

No, but it is the most common way to comply with 2018 IBC requirements. The International Building Code mandates the use of heat-treated laminated glass lites where sloped glazing is installed over occupied spaces below. (2018 IBC Section 2405 Sloped Glazing and Skylights) Source: NGA’s Code & Standards Help Center Summary (Provided Below) *

Laminated glass can incorporate a wide variety of materials for both functional and aesthetic purposes. Options include printed films, digital prints, fabrics, metallic fibers, colored interlayers, rice paper, wood, leaves, and more. For a complete list of available materials, please contact your supplier directly. The placement and orientation of these materials within a laminated glass product may affect the requirements for weathering and impact testing under SGCC Certification. *For additional details, please consult the Guidance for SGCC Certification of Laminated Glass and reach out to our office for assistance with laminated testing.

Yes, organic materials such as leaves, flowers, and fabrics can be incorporated into safety laminated glass. For a complete list of available options, please contact your supplier directly. It is important to note that decorative coatings and prints which are organic or not chemically bonded (fused) to glass (elastomeric coatings, surface applied films or tapes) within a laminated glass product will require weathering and impact testing. *Please refer to the Guidance for SGCC Certification of Laminated Glass and contact our office for more direction on laminated prototype testing.

Solar panels that are typically made from laminated glass would be considered a safety glazed product if they have been tested and meets the requirements of ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16.

No, not all heat-treated glass is safety glass. Tempered glass is considered a safety glazing product while heat strengthened glass is not.

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) sets the safety glass requirements in Canada. CAN CGSB 12.1-2022 is the current Canadian safety glass standard, SGCC certifies to this standard along with the United States standard, ANSI Z97.1-2015. No additional testing is required to certify to both standards as the standards are currently aligned, meaning testing to ANSI Z97.1.-2015 will meet the Canadian requirement. With the exception of wired glass, which was banned in the U.S., the safety glass requirements in Canada and the U.S. are very similar.

Attached are frequently asked questions and answers compiled by the National Glass Association including Bird Friendly Glazing, Energy Conservation, Fire-Rated Glazing, Glass Inspection, General & Laminated Safety Glazing, Mirror, Repairs, Remodeling & Alterations, Security Glazing, Sustainability, and much more.