ASC Z97 Committee Announces Publication and Accreditation of ANSI Z97.1-2026 Safety Glazing Standard

The Accredited Standards Committee Z97 (ASC Z97) announced the publication and industry acceptance of the updated ANSI Z97.1-2026 For safety glazing materials used in buildings – safety performance specifications and methods of test.

ANSI Z97.1-2026 establishes the specifications and test methods for evaluating safety glazing materials intended to reduce the risk of cutting and piercing injuries after glass breakage from human impact. The newly-released version incorporates technical updates, improved alignment with current building practices, and enhanced usability for architects, specifiers, code officials, manufacturers, and testing laboratories.

Key updates in ANSI Z97.1-2026 include:

• Clarified test procedures and acceptance criteria to improve consistency in compliance
• Updated terminology and definitions to reflect current industry usage
• Enhanced guidance to support application across evolving building design and construction practices
• Incorporation of Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) safety qualification through testing protocol clarification
• Editorial improvements to streamline interpretation and implementation

“The 2026 revision represents the collective expertise of a broad group of industry stakeholders working together to improve usability of the standard,” says John Kent, past Chair of the ASC Z97. “We are proud to deliver a standard that supports durable safety glazing products while maintaining the high level of proven performance that has been in place for many decades thus allowing the standard to achieve consumer confidence in what is expected from safety glazing materials,” according to Julia Schimmelpenningh, Chair of ASC Z97.

The revised standard has been formally accredited by ANSI, reinforcing its role as a key benchmark for safety glazing performance in buildings throughout the United States and the basis of safety glazing in other countries.

Call for participation

The ASC Z97 Committee is actively seeking new members to contribute to future revisions and ongoing standards development. Participation is currently open to all interest categories except fabricators and distributors due to balance requirements.

Joining ASC Z97 provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, influence the direction of safety standards, and ensure balanced representation across the committee.

Availability

ANSI Z97.1-2026 is now available through ANSI at ansi.org. Stakeholders are encouraged to obtain the latest edition and implement its provisions in upcoming projects and product evaluations.