This article discusses NSW safety glass requirements, specifically when sliding door repairs do or do not trigger mandatory upgrades to safety glass.
Question: If the sliding doors on my apartment contain float glass, can the owners corporation repair them without upgrading the glass to safety glass?
My sliding doors currently contain float glass, and the doors are faulty and need repair. If strata arranges repairs to the doors, can they carry out basic repairs, or do they need to upgrade to safety glass as part of the work?
Answer: If glazing is replaced within a human-impact zone, the repair must comply with current safety requirements.
Where existing sliding doors contain float glass, the owners corporation may still complete operational repairs without triggering a mandatory upgrade to laminated safety glass. This includes works such as replacing rollers and tracks, adjusting alignment, servicing hardware, and improving general functionality, provided the original glass remains intact.
However, once any glazing is replaced within a human-impact zone (typically glass located lower than one metre from internal floor level or forming part of a door panel), the repair must comply with current safety requirements under AS1288. In these cases, float glass must be upgraded to a safety glass product, such as laminated glass, to reduce the risk of injury.
In summary:
- Mechanical or hardware repairs = permitted
- Glass replacement in an impact area = safety upgrade required
Permitted repairs without upgrading to safety glass
- Adjusting rollers, tracks, and guides to improve sliding operation
- Replacing handles, latches, and other hardware
- Re-hanging the door or aligning frames
Repairs that would trigger a mandatory safety glass upgrade
- Full glass replacement where the glass is located within a defined human impact zone
- Any works that alter the glass size or configuration
- If existing glass is cracked or has failed and falls within the human impact area
- If the repair introduces a new safety risk (e.g., more force applied to open/close)
- If the property is undergoing major refurbishment, it already triggers a compliance requirement
Anthony Shakar ASQB E: info@asqb.com.au P: 02 9785 7893
This post appears in the February 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
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