Glass Fronts Industry FAQ
What can be offered for sale on or after January 1, 2015?
Units manufactured before January 1, 2015 that don’t have a safety barrier may still continue to be sold. Units that are subject to these requirements must include a safety barrier from the manufacturer.
What types of appliances are subject to this safety standard?
Products subject to the CSA’s safety standard are those that:
1. Were manufactured after January 1, 2015;
2. Have been tested to the ANSI/CSA Z21.50, ANSI/CSA Z21.88, ANSI Z21.97/CSA 2.41, and ANSI Z21.11.2 standards;
3. Had glass surface temperature exceed 172 °F during testing;
and
4. Is a glass-fronted gas fireplace or other glass-fronted gas heater fueled by natural gas or propane.
How should I display products in my store, both products manufactured before and after January 1, 2015?
Although units manufactured before January 1, 2015 are not required to have barriers, it is wise to have a safety screen of some kind in front of models without screens. All affected models manufactured after January 1, 2015 must be displayed with their mandatory barriers.
For products impacted by the barrier standard, what must I install?
You must install the product with its manufacturer-provided safety barrier. Sometimes the barrier is shipped separately, but the final installation must include the permanent barrier.
What should I do if my client asks me to install the affected product without the barrier?
You always must call the client’s attention to the barrier and explain why it is required. Barriers are intended to protect children and other at-risk individuals. You must install the barrier if it is required.
Can I remove the barrier (if necessary) when servicing the product?
Yes, but you must re-install the barrier if it is removed during a maintenance call. The standard says, “Any safety screen, guard, or barrier removed for servicing an appliance must be replaced prior to operating the appliance.”
What can I do to protect myself?
We recommend that you:
1. Do not remove the barrier if asked by the customer;
2. Do not show the customer how to remove the barrier;
3. Discuss the need for the barrier;
4. Have a form for the customer to sign acknowledging your discussion with them about the purpose of the barrier;
5. Take date/time-stamped photos after installation and after maintenance calls of how you left the unit and keep them on file with the signed form.
What are the consumer/end-user duties as they apply to this standard?
The consumer is not legally covered by this standard. They will not be penalized for removing a barrier on a product manufactured and installed after January 1, 2015.
If a customer is a property owner of a rental unit with an affected product installed, what are their responsibilities?
Any forward-thinking, responsible property owner of a rental unit should place and aftermarket barrier onto/in front of a gas fireplace with a glass front. In addition, the property owner should ensure that any renter understands that the barrier should be left in place and why it is important. This acknowledgment could be included in writing in a tenant’s lease and acknowledged by their signature. This isn’t in the requirements of the code, but it is a way to protect both tenants and the property owner.
What is a servicing dealer required to do when they encounter a post-2015 gas appliance covered by the safety standards without its barrier in place? Are we able to service the product or are we not permitted to service it until the barrier is replaced?
The code only requires that if a barrier is in place when you arrive, you must put it back in place when you leave. If a barrier is missing, you are not required to go find one or make the homeowner find one in order to service the unit. You could suggest to the homeowner that they place a screen in front of the unit, but this is not required if the barrier wasn’t there when you arrived.
Still have questions? Please contact Tom Stroud (stroud@hpba.org)