Defect type
High · 2–4/5
Glass Door or Full-Height Panel Missing Visibility Marking
Compliance/glazing/standard/1970–2000, 2000–2015, post–2015/toughened glass, laminated glass, frameless glass
I inspected a fully glazed door or frameless glass panel where the pane has no contrasting visibility marking and can be mistaken for an open passage. Reference: AS 1288. I see this most often on frameless pivot doors, large stacker sliders, and floor-to-ceiling living room glazing in modern architectural homes. In my experience the injury pattern from walk-into incidents is forehead, nose, and wrist trauma, with children and elderly occupants disproportionately affected.
Causes
- Architect specified frameless glass for visual transparency without a marking band
- Original manufacturer decal removed during cleaning or repainting
- Stacker door replacement fitted without visibility marking reinstated
- Frameless pivot or pool-side door selected for aesthetics over compliance
- Full-height living room glazing not recognised as requiring a visibility marking
Symptoms to look for
- Full-height glass door or panel with no visible contrasting band
- Manufacturer safety sticker faded, removed, or replaced with a transparent film
- Occupants reporting near-miss walk-into incidents
- Frameless pool gate or shower door with no decal or etched marking
- Clear glass balustrade panel adjacent to a walking path with no visibility stripe
Remedies
- Apply a contrasting visibility band across the full pane width at eye level
- Retrofit etched, frosted, or vinyl-decal marking and confirm against AS 1288
- Install a horizontal rail or mullion across the pane as an alternative indicator
- Schedule a glazing compliance review across the dwelling's frameless installations
- Brief cleaners to preserve visibility markings during routine cleaning
Critical
Get an inspector through this property.
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