SANS 10137 covers the installation of glazing — the step that turns a correctly specified pane into a sound, weather-tight assembly.
The right glass installed badly is still a problem. That is why SANS 10137 matters: it covers the installation of glazing, the step that turns a specified product into a working, weather-tight, safe assembly. This guide explains the concepts behind good glazing installation — not as a shortcut method, but so owners and specifiers understand what quality workmanship looks like.
Correct setting and clearances
Glass must sit in its frame with the right clearances — the small gaps around the edge and face of the pane. Those gaps are not sloppiness; they allow the glass to move with temperature, keep it away from hard contact with the frame, and leave room for seals and drainage. Setting the glass centrally, with appropriate edge cover, is the foundation of a sound installation.
Setting blocks and support
Glass is supported on setting blocks — small, resilient blocks placed at defined positions along the bottom edge. They carry the weight of the pane and hold it in the correct position so the load is spread rather than concentrated. Correct blocking is what keeps the glass from bearing directly on the frame and from being stressed at a single point.
Seals, gaskets and glazing compounds
Weather resistance comes from the seals: gaskets, tapes or glazing compounds that close the gap between glass and frame while still allowing for movement. The sealing system has to keep water and air out, accommodate expansion, and remain durable in sun and rain. Matching the right sealing method to the frame and the exposure is part of getting the installation right — it is closely tied to the water and air performance covered by SANS 613.
Avoiding point loading, and edge protection
A recurring theme is avoiding point loading — never letting the glass bear hard against a fixing, a frame corner or a foreign object. Point loads concentrate stress and are a common cause of breakage, sometimes weeks or months later. Protecting the glass edges and keeping them clear of hard contact is essential, because the edge is where glass is most vulnerable. Glass-to-frame compatibility — the glass, blocks and seals all suited to each other — supports the same goal.
Drainage and workmanship
Water will reach the glazing rebate, so a good installation drains it away rather than trapping it. Drainage paths and weep provisions let water escape, protecting the frame and the building. Above all, glazing installation is a workmanship discipline: correct setting, blocking, sealing and drainage, done consistently by competent installers. Where an installation detail is unclear, it should be resolved against the standard and the manufacturer’s guidance — never with an unsafe shortcut.
SANS 10137 in a nutshell
In a nutshell, SANS 10137 is about good installation practice: correct clearances, setting blocks, seals, drainage and the avoidance of point loading. Even the right glass underperforms if it is glazed poorly, which is why SANS 10137 workmanship matters as much as the glass specification.
Sources
Back to the Compliance Centre, or read SANS 613 for windows and doors.
What this means in practice on a real project
Reading about sans 10137 is one thing; evidencing it on a live project is another. In our experience the difficulties almost never come from the requirement itself — they come from nobody having decided, early enough, who is responsible for the decision and who will produce the paperwork at the end. That question is worth settling at specification stage rather than at handover.
Decide who is responsible before the glass is ordered
On a supply-only order the responsibilities split. The supplier is accountable for manufacturing what was specified and for describing accurately what has been supplied. The party doing the installing is accountable for how the unit is fitted, packed and sealed. Whoever signs off the completed work is accountable for confirming that the installed result is appropriate for the application. Those are three different roles, and on smaller projects they are often three different companies, which is exactly how gaps appear.
Ask for the documentation while the job is still open
Whatever record your project needs is far easier to obtain during the contract than a year later. Keep the order confirmation showing what was supplied, keep the delivery documentation, and photograph the glass markings before the units are installed and the edges are covered by beading. Those three items answer most later questions about what was actually fitted, and they cost nothing to collect at the time.
Where Coetz™ fits in
Coetz™ supplies aluminium windows and doors glazed as standard with 6.38 mm clear laminated safety glass, and states on the order what has been supplied. Aluminium windows and doors are supplied only; automatic door systems are installed and serviced by our team. We are glad to confirm in writing what a given order contains, which is usually what a contractor or building inspector actually needs from the supplier.
An important limit on this page. The summary above is general guidance, not a compliance opinion, and it is not a substitute for the published standard or for professional advice. Requirements vary with the application, the building and the specifics of the installation. Where a decision about sans 10137 carries safety or regulatory consequences, work from the current published text and engage a suitably qualified competent person for your project.