Frosted glass film and visual indicators have many practical applications – to provide increased privacy and light, for decorative purposes and also to meet building regulations. That’s why frosted glass film is used by builders and designers to make sure new buildings meet safety and accessibility standards.
Let there Be Light
Sunlight has positive psychological effects and provides us with the essential vitamins we require. Maybe that’s part of the reason why we love large windows that let the light stream in and provide us with magical views.
Glass is used in a variety of forms, in contemporary domestic and commercial architecture, to create light-filled, open and friendly spaces. In office and commercial buildings glass is used for large entrance facades, to let light into internal rooms, and to partition spaces and maintain communication. Glass looks modern, clean and friendly, and enhances our internal living and working environments. Apartments and houses have floor to ceiling windows, glass doors and glass partitioning that maintain open plan living spaces.
Safety Regulations For Glass Windows
Using large expanses of glass for partitioning and as floor to ceiling windows, can pose a potential safety risk, if it could be mistaken for a doorway and walked into. There are many sorts of visual impairments that significantly increase the risk that glass windows and doors, exceeding a particular size, may pose a safety risk.
Australian Standards
There are Australian Standards which regulate how glass can be installed. These regulations also stipulate when visual bands or visual indicators must be applied to windows for safety. These standards must be adhered to in all buildings. The regulations which cover window and glass safety are AS1288 – 2006 and AS1428 – 2009
To be considered possible of being mistaken for a doorway, and therefore posing a potential safety risk, glass must exceed a minimum height of 1000mm, a width of 500mm and the lowest point of the opening must be 500mm or more off the floor.
Crash Rails
If glass exceeds this, the Australian Standards state that to prevent the window or glass being mistaken for a doorway, glass must be fitted with a permanent motif or an adhesive label, that cannot be removed in a single action.
Visual Indicators For Safety
A crash rail or transom can be installed across glass to meet regulations, however crash rails and transom’s may be considered ugly and may compromise the aesthetic of a building’s design. Many designers, builders and architects prefer the use of a frosted glass film visual indicator applied to the glass, to highlight the solid surface.
Frosted glass film is an ideal and versatile product that can be used for visual indicators on windows, glass partitions and glassed doorways. When high quality frosted glass film is used for this purpose, it is durable, resistant to UV damage, rain and damp, and will last for many years.
Frosted Glass Film For Safety & Decoration
Using frosted glass film as a solution for glass safety regulations is an affordable and quick solution. With an experienced professional, visual indicators can be applied to not only meet safety standards, but also to provide a decorative element that can enhance the interior design aesthetics.
In commercial settings, logos and a range of decorative shapes can be carefully cut into window film, or vinyl decals applied to large areas of glass. Frosted window film is increasingly used this way in commercial settings, as well as in housing and apartment buildings. The result is safety, building compliance, privacy, as well as increased design value.
Installing Frosted Glass Film & Visual Indicators
For expert advice and installation on using visual indicators or decorative window film for safety, privacy or decoration, and to meet Australian building codes, give us a call on 1300 204 852 or contact us.
