Is Your Bathroom Glass Safe? What Homeowners Need to Know About Tempered Glass

Updating a bathroom is one of the most rewarding home improvements you can make — but there’s one important safety detail many homeowners never think about: the type of glass installed near your shower, tub, or bathroom door.

Whether you’re planning a full remodel or simply refreshing your fixtures, understanding where tempered glass is required can prevent serious injuries and help your renovation pass inspection.

At Blue Juniper Construction, we build safety and code compliance into every project we take on. Here’s what homeowners in the Atlanta area need to know.

What Is Tempered Glass?

Tempered glass — often called safety glass — is specially heat-treated to be four to five times stronger than standard glass.

If it does break, it crumbles into small, rounded pieces, greatly reducing the risk of cuts or serious injury.

You see tempered glass in:

• Car windows

• Shower doors

• Bathroom enclosures

• Entry doors with glass inserts

In bathrooms, where slips and falls are more common, it’s a critical safety feature.

Where Tempered Glass Is Required in a Bathroom

Building codes — including the International Residential Code (IRC) adopted by most Atlanta-area jurisdictions — require tempered or safety glass in several “hazardous locations,” especially where water and smooth surfaces increase the chance of slipping.

Here are the most common spots:

1. Shower Doors and Glass Enclosures

Any glass surrounding a shower or steam unit must be tempered.

This includes hinged doors, sliding doors, fixed panels, and glass walls.

2. Windows Near a Tub or Shower (Within 60 Inches)

If a window is located within 60 inches horizontally of a bathtub or shower, it must be tempered — regardless of size.

Why? Because someone could slip, fall, or make contact with the glass while getting in or out of the tub.

3. Low Windows (Bottom Edge < 60 Inches From Floor)

Any glass with a bottom edge less than 60 inches from the ground in a bathroom near wet areas must be tempered, even if it’s not directly next to the tub.

4. Mirrors Near Tubs

If a mirror is installed close enough to the tub that someone could fall toward it, it must also meet safety-glazing requirements.

5. Doors With Glass Inserts

Any door leading into the bathroom that contains glass — including small decorative panes — must use tempered or laminated safety glass.

Why This Matters: Tempered Glass vs. Regular Glass

Here’s the key difference:

Regular glass breaks into long, sharp, dangerous shards.

These shards can cause severe injuries, especially in a wet environment.

Tempered glass breaks into small, rounded bead-like pieces.

These pieces are far less likely to cut skin — a major safety benefit in bathrooms where slips are more likely.

This is why building codes treat glass near tubs and showers as “hazardous locations,” requiring tempered or safety glazing.

Most Homeowners Don’t Know About This

Many Atlanta homes built before the mid-2000s have:

• Standard (non-tempered) windows next to tubs

• Original shower doors without safety markings

• Mirrors installed too close to wet areas

• Glass doors with old, non-compliant inserts

And in remodels, some contractors skip replacing them to save time — or assume homeowners won’t notice.

At Blue Juniper Construction, we verify whether existing glass meets today’s code standards. If not, we recommend replacing it during the remodel to keep your bathroom safe for decades to come.

How to Tell If Your Bathroom Glass Is Tempered

Look for an etched stamp in the corner that reads:

• “Tempered”

• “Safety Glass”

• “ANSI Z97.1”

• “CPSC 16 CFR 1201”

If there’s no stamp, it is generally not tempered.

Tempered Glass and Permitting in Atlanta

Local building departments — including:

• City of Atlanta

• City of Decatur

• DeKalb County

• Fulton County

• Brookhaven

follow the same IRC glazing safety rules.

If your remodel requires a permit (most bathroom remodels do), inspectors will check that required glass is properly rated.

Replacing or upgrading glass now can prevent:

• Failed inspections

• Project delays

• Costly rework late in the project

Should You Replace Existing Glass During a Renovation?

In most cases — yes.

If a window, door, or panel is in a required tempered zone and isn’t compliant, updating it during the remodel is the safest, most cost-effective approach.

We routinely recommend replacing:

• Windows near tubs in older homes

• Old shower doors without safety labeling

• Low glass panels or mirrors installed decades ago

The cost is small relative to the renovation, and the safety benefit is significant.

Watch Our Quick Safety Breakdown

Final Thoughts: Safety Should Never Be Optional

Tempered glass isn’t a design trend — it’s a required, life-protecting safety feature.

Ensuring that the glass in your bathroom meets today’s code should be part of every remodel, big or small.

At Blue Juniper Construction, we:

• Review every glazing location during the design phase

• Check existing windows and doors

• Recommend upgrades where needed

• Ensure your remodel meets both safety and code standards

You deserve a bathroom that’s beautiful — and safe.

Ready to Plan Your Bathroom Remodel?

Blue Juniper Construction serves homeowners throughout Atlanta and Decatur with safe, code-compliant, beautifully executed renovations.

FAQ: Tempered Glass Safety in Bathrooms

Do all shower doors need to be tempered glass?

Yes. Any shower door, glass panel, or enclosure must be made from tempered or laminated safety glass. This is required by the International Residential Code (IRC) and enforced by Atlanta-area building departments.

How can I tell if my existing bathroom glass is tempered?

Tempered glass will have a small etched marking in one corner that says:

• “Tempered,”

• “Safety Glass,”

• “ANSI Z97.1,” or

• “CPSC 16 CFR 1201.”If you can’t find a marking, assume it is not tempered.

Is tempered glass required for bathroom windows?

Yes — if the window is:

• Within 60 inches (5 feet) horizontally of a tub or shower, or

• Less than 60 inches from the floor near wet areas.In those cases, it must be tempered for safety.

Do mirrors near a bathtub need safety glazing?

Sometimes — it depends on placement.

If a mirror is close enough to a tub that someone could slip and fall toward it, inspectors may classify it as a hazardous location and require it to be tempered or laminated.

Does the City of Atlanta enforce tempered glass rules during inspections?

Yes. All jurisdictions in Metro Atlanta (including Atlanta, Decatur, DeKalb County, and Fulton County) enforce IRC Section R308 on glazing. If the glass doesn’t meet safety requirements, it can cause a failed inspection or project delay.

Can I keep my old shower door if I’m remodeling the bathroom?

Only if it’s already tempered and in good condition. Older shower doors without safety markings usually must be replaced to meet code.

Is laminated glass allowed instead of tempered?

Yes. Laminated glass that meets the safety standard CPSC 16 CFR 1201 is an approved alternative to tempered glass.

What’s the difference between laminated and tempered glass?

• Tempered glass breaks into small, rounded pieces.

• Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds broken pieces in place (like a car windshield).Both are acceptable in required bathroom locations

How much does it cost to replace a bathroom window with tempered glass?

Costs vary based on size and frame type, but most homeowners spend $450–$650 for a tempered window replacement during a remodel.

Will Blue Juniper Construction check my bathroom glass during a remodel?

Yes — this is part of our safety and code-compliance review.

We check every shower door, panel, and window to make sure your bathroom meets today’s standards before construction begins.

If my bathroom glass doesn’t meet code, when should it be replaced?

During the remodel.

It’s significantly easier (and less expensive) to upgrade glass while walls are open and fixtures are already being replaced.