BCAB #1360 - Mirrored Closet Doors, Article 9.6.5.3.

July 20, 1994

BCAB #1360

Re: Mirrored Closet Doors, Article 9.6.5.3.

Project Description

This appeal concerns bifold mirrored closet doors at the entrance to a walk-in closet in a dwelling.

Reason for Appeal

Article 9.6.5.3. permits mirrored glass doors only at the entrance to clothes closets and requires such doors to conform to CAN/CGSB-82.6,Doors, Mirrored Glass, Sliding or Folding Wardrobe. The standard limits these doors to use on reach-in closets only.

Appellant's Position

The Appellant contends that the doors in question conform with the decision in Appeal #1321 which dealt with this same issue. The doors are flush steel bifold closet doors with a glass mirror attached to their outside face. The doors are available with or without the mirrored glass. The CAN/CGSB-82.6 standard does not apply to these doors because it is written for doors which are constructed of just a sheet of mirrored glass with a light metal frame. To quote from the scope of the standard it...provides performance requirements and procedures for the evaluation of framed mirrored glass sliding or folding wardrobe doors....

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains that Article 9.6.5.3. requires that mirrored glass doors may be used only at the entrance to clothes closets and shall conform to CAN/CGSB-82.6. The Appendix to the code points out that the standard only applies to doors for reach-in closets and such doors are not intended for walk-in closets. As the building code does not reference a standard for interior doors the building official is concerned that there is no specified method of attachment for mirrors to these doors. The single skin metal bifold doors may not be rigid enough to support the mirrors unless they are specifically designed for this purpose.

Appeal Board Decision #1360

As in Appeal #1321 it is the determination of the Board that the mirrored glass doors referred to in Article 9.6.5.3. are doors constructed of mirrored glass within a frame and these doors must comply with CGSB-82.6. Such doors are restricted to the entrance to clothes closets and CGSB-82.6 limits their use to reach-in closets. Article 9.6.5.3. is not intended to prohibit the use of other types of doors to which a mirror is attached and such doors could be used at the entrance to walk-in closets. The doors in question are fabricated of metal with mirrored glass attached so CAN/CGSB-82.6 is not applicable and there are no other requirements in the Code which would apply to such interior doors.

George R. Humphrey, Chair