2025/2026 Florida Glass
and Glazing Contractor
Exam Prep — Accurate
Q&A with Detailed
Rationales
1. What is the minimum experience required for a Florida Glass and Glazing Contractor license?
Answer: C. 3 years
Rationale: Florida law requires at least 3 years of verifiable experience in the glass and glazing
trade to qualify for licensing. This experience must include hands-on work in installation, repair,
and maintenance of glass systems, ensuring that candidates have practical knowledge of safety
standards, material handling, and code compliance. The requirement helps maintain high
professional standards in the industry, preventing unqualified individuals from undertaking
complex projects that could compromise building integrity or public safety. Verifiable experience
typically includes documented employment records, project logs, or affidavits from supervisors,
and it covers areas like storefront installations, curtain walls, and specialty glazing applications.
2. Which type of glass is recommended for storefront applications to resist forced entry?
Answer: B. Tempered glass
Rationale: Tempered glass is much stronger than annealed glass and breaks into small, less
dangerous pieces, making it suitable for safety and security. It undergoes a heat treatment
process that increases its strength by about four times, allowing it to withstand impacts better. In
storefronts, this type of glass deters break-ins by requiring more force to shatter, and when it
does break, the granules reduce injury risk to pedestrians or occupants. Florida building codes
often mandate tempered glass in high-traffic commercial areas to align with safety regulations
like ANSI Z97.1, which tests for impact resistance.
3. What is the primary purpose of a sealant in insulating glass units?
Answer: C. To prevent moisture and gas leakage
Rationale: Sealants in IGUs prevent air and moisture from entering, maintaining the insulating
properties of the unit. Without proper sealing, condensation can form between panes, reducing
energy efficiency and leading to fogging or failure. Sealants like polysulfide or silicone are
chosen for their durability and adhesion, ensuring long-term performance in varying
, temperatures and humidity levels common in Florida. This preserves the argon or krypton gas
fill that enhances thermal insulation, contributing to overall building energy savings as per the
Florida Building Code's energy efficiency requirements.
4. Which safety standard governs the use of safety glazing in hazardous locations?
Answer: D. ANSI Z97.1
Rationale: ANSI Z97.1 sets the safety requirements for glazing materials in locations where
human impact is likely. This standard includes tests for impact and breakage patterns, ensuring
glass either remains intact or breaks safely. In Florida, it's incorporated into the building code for
areas like doors, showers, and sidelites, preventing serious injuries from sharp shards.
Compliance involves labeling the glass with permanent marks indicating it meets the standard,
which inspectors verify during construction.
5. What is the main advantage of laminated glass?
Answer: B. Holds together when shattered
Rationale: Laminated glass contains an interlayer that holds fragments together upon impact,
enhancing safety. The polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or similar interlayer absorbs energy, making it
ideal for hurricane-prone areas like Florida. It also provides UV protection and sound reduction,
adding value in residential and commercial applications. Unlike tempered glass, laminated can
be cut after manufacturing, offering flexibility in custom installations.
6. Which code regulates fire-rated glass installations in commercial buildings?
Answer: A. NFPA 101
Rationale: NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, governs fire-rated glazing to ensure it maintains
integrity during fire events, allowing safe evacuation. It specifies ratings like 20-minute or
60-minute based on location, such as corridors or partitions. In Florida, this code is adopted with
amendments, requiring glass to pass tests like ASTM E119 for temperature resistance. Proper
installation includes compatible frames and sealants to prevent smoke and flame spread.
7. What tool is used to score glass for cutting?
Answer: B. Glass cutter
Rationale: A glass cutter scores the surface to create a controlled break along the score line. It
features a wheel or diamond tip that creates a shallow fissure, allowing the glass to snap
cleanly. Technique involves applying even pressure and using a straightedge for accuracy. In
practice, lubrication with cutting oil reduces friction, and safety glasses are essential to protect
against flying chips.
8. What is the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling large glass
sheets?
Answer: B. Gloves, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots
Rationale: Proper PPE prevents cuts, eye injuries, and foot injuries when handling glass.
Cut-resistant gloves protect hands from sharp edges, safety glasses shield eyes from
fragments, and steel-toed boots guard against dropped panels. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 mandates
such equipment on job sites, emphasizing training in safe lifting to avoid strains or breaks.
and Glazing Contractor
Exam Prep — Accurate
Q&A with Detailed
Rationales
1. What is the minimum experience required for a Florida Glass and Glazing Contractor license?
Answer: C. 3 years
Rationale: Florida law requires at least 3 years of verifiable experience in the glass and glazing
trade to qualify for licensing. This experience must include hands-on work in installation, repair,
and maintenance of glass systems, ensuring that candidates have practical knowledge of safety
standards, material handling, and code compliance. The requirement helps maintain high
professional standards in the industry, preventing unqualified individuals from undertaking
complex projects that could compromise building integrity or public safety. Verifiable experience
typically includes documented employment records, project logs, or affidavits from supervisors,
and it covers areas like storefront installations, curtain walls, and specialty glazing applications.
2. Which type of glass is recommended for storefront applications to resist forced entry?
Answer: B. Tempered glass
Rationale: Tempered glass is much stronger than annealed glass and breaks into small, less
dangerous pieces, making it suitable for safety and security. It undergoes a heat treatment
process that increases its strength by about four times, allowing it to withstand impacts better. In
storefronts, this type of glass deters break-ins by requiring more force to shatter, and when it
does break, the granules reduce injury risk to pedestrians or occupants. Florida building codes
often mandate tempered glass in high-traffic commercial areas to align with safety regulations
like ANSI Z97.1, which tests for impact resistance.
3. What is the primary purpose of a sealant in insulating glass units?
Answer: C. To prevent moisture and gas leakage
Rationale: Sealants in IGUs prevent air and moisture from entering, maintaining the insulating
properties of the unit. Without proper sealing, condensation can form between panes, reducing
energy efficiency and leading to fogging or failure. Sealants like polysulfide or silicone are
chosen for their durability and adhesion, ensuring long-term performance in varying
, temperatures and humidity levels common in Florida. This preserves the argon or krypton gas
fill that enhances thermal insulation, contributing to overall building energy savings as per the
Florida Building Code's energy efficiency requirements.
4. Which safety standard governs the use of safety glazing in hazardous locations?
Answer: D. ANSI Z97.1
Rationale: ANSI Z97.1 sets the safety requirements for glazing materials in locations where
human impact is likely. This standard includes tests for impact and breakage patterns, ensuring
glass either remains intact or breaks safely. In Florida, it's incorporated into the building code for
areas like doors, showers, and sidelites, preventing serious injuries from sharp shards.
Compliance involves labeling the glass with permanent marks indicating it meets the standard,
which inspectors verify during construction.
5. What is the main advantage of laminated glass?
Answer: B. Holds together when shattered
Rationale: Laminated glass contains an interlayer that holds fragments together upon impact,
enhancing safety. The polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or similar interlayer absorbs energy, making it
ideal for hurricane-prone areas like Florida. It also provides UV protection and sound reduction,
adding value in residential and commercial applications. Unlike tempered glass, laminated can
be cut after manufacturing, offering flexibility in custom installations.
6. Which code regulates fire-rated glass installations in commercial buildings?
Answer: A. NFPA 101
Rationale: NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, governs fire-rated glazing to ensure it maintains
integrity during fire events, allowing safe evacuation. It specifies ratings like 20-minute or
60-minute based on location, such as corridors or partitions. In Florida, this code is adopted with
amendments, requiring glass to pass tests like ASTM E119 for temperature resistance. Proper
installation includes compatible frames and sealants to prevent smoke and flame spread.
7. What tool is used to score glass for cutting?
Answer: B. Glass cutter
Rationale: A glass cutter scores the surface to create a controlled break along the score line. It
features a wheel or diamond tip that creates a shallow fissure, allowing the glass to snap
cleanly. Technique involves applying even pressure and using a straightedge for accuracy. In
practice, lubrication with cutting oil reduces friction, and safety glasses are essential to protect
against flying chips.
8. What is the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling large glass
sheets?
Answer: B. Gloves, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots
Rationale: Proper PPE prevents cuts, eye injuries, and foot injuries when handling glass.
Cut-resistant gloves protect hands from sharp edges, safety glasses shield eyes from
fragments, and steel-toed boots guard against dropped panels. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 mandates
such equipment on job sites, emphasizing training in safe lifting to avoid strains or breaks.
