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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

GCC for architectural glazing (16 CFR Part 1201)

Architectural glazing materials — glass for sliding doors, storm doors, swinging doors, and hazardous locations — must meet 16 CFR Part 1201 and be certified with a General Certificate of Conformity based on testing at a CPSC-accepted laboratory. Importers and domestic manufacturers issue the GCC; glazing without it cannot legally enter or be sold in US commerce.
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What counts as architectural glazing

  • Sliding and swinging glass doors, storm and combination doors.
  • Glazing in hazardous locations: doors, enclosures, panels adjacent to doors, and railing insets.
  • Both annealed treatments that pass the impact classes and higher safety classes — the certification cites the test class achieved.

Testing and certification

Part 1201 tests impact resistance with a loaded impactor and checks how the glazing breaks or stays in place. Passing class 1 or class 2 defines where the product may be installed. Certification requires the GCC to cite part 1201 plus the test class, with the accepted laboratory named.

Questions people ask

Does window film need certification?

Film applied to glazing can change the safety performance, and applied products may take on the requirements of the finished glazing. Confirm scope with your laboratory before certifying either the base glass or a film product.

Do shower doors need part 1201?

Shower and tub enclosures have their own ANSI standard rather than part 1201, but they are still children’s or general products depending on use — classify the product before choosing the rule list.

Who can test part 1201 glazing?

Only a CPSC-accepted laboratory for this rule. Acceptance is per rule, so confirm the lab’s scope in writing.

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