It's in TGD D, not TGD K
In Ireland, the main guidance on safety glazing is Technical Guidance Document D (Materials and Workmanship, 2013), paragraph 1.5 — not TGD K, as people often assume. TGD D says unguarded glazing in critical locations should be safety glazing in line with the recommendations of BS 6262-4.
TGD K (Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards, 2014) deals with glazing only where it forms guarding — a glass balustrade or a screen protecting a drop — again by reference to BS 6262-4, and points back to TGD D for safety glazing generally.
The critical locations
TGD D's diagram follows the same layout as England's Approved Document K. In plain terms, the critical locations are:
- glazing in doors;
- glazing in side panels beside doors;
- low-level glazing in walls and partitions.
The exact heights and widths are in the diagram in TGD D and in BS 6262-4. Glazing in those zones that isn't guarded should be safety glazing — in practice, toughened or laminated glass.
A routine that avoids the expensive mistake
- At the survey, note where each opening is — in or beside a door, low down, on a stairway or landing — with a photo.
- When you quote, put the glass and its safety class on the line, not just "clear".
- When you order, make sure the purchase order carries the same description.
- On the day, check the safety-glass mark, and keep a photo for the job file — useful for grant paperwork too.
Where Coglass fits
Coglass doesn't sign off safety glazing for you — that stays with you and the guidance. It keeps the specification consistent from survey to fitting:
- Surveys on the phone. Each opening is measured, drawn and photographed, with notes, GPS and the access level — and it works with no signal, syncing when you are back in coverage.
- The glass written down once. The product and make-up you pick on the line goes on the quote, the supplier's purchase order and the workshop's cutting sheet, so everyone works from the same specification.
- Paperwork on the job. Keep certificates, product sheets and photos in the job's Documents tab, next to the quote and invoice.
Want to see it on your own jobs? Book a demo or see pricing in EUR.
Sources
- gov.ie — Technical Guidance Document D (Materials and Workmanship), 2013
- gov.ie — Technical Guidance Document K
- BSI — BS 6262-4
This page explains the rules in general terms. Standards and tax rules change, and how they apply depends on the job — check the source, your building control body or your accountant before relying on it.