From video call to release
What can a remote check of a shower enclosure order show?
A remote check can show what an inspector would look at and measure, but only on the units put in front of the camera.
For a shop receiving panels, the NGA manual lists what to note on each one: overall dimensions, scratches, chips, placement of holes, cutouts, out-of-square conditions, glass type and thickness.
| Term | Meaning in 16 CFR 1201.2 |
|---|---|
| Tempered glass | 16 CFR 1201.2: treated glass that cannot be cut, drilled, ground or polished afterwards without fracture. |
| Permanent label | A label that stays legible and visible after installation and is destroyed by attempts to remove it. |
| Shower door and enclosure | One or more panels forming all or part of the wall or door of a shower stall. |
In what order should a live video check run?
Start with the order’s identity, then move to labels, sizes, movement, hardware and crates. The sequence is this guide’s own practice. For remote audits, the Auditing Practices Group paper lists a stable connection among its feasibility checks and says screenshots of documents or other evidence should be authorised beforehand by the audited organisation.
- Open on the order card and the drawing revision.
- Show each panel label and any permanent mark on the glass.
- Measure overall width, height and door opening with a tape close enough to read.
- Open and close each door; run sliding panels their full travel.
- Follow each seal along its length where it meets glass or wall profile.
- Lay each hardware kit out against the packing list, then bag and label it.
- Show the crates before they close, labelled by room and configuration.
The sources used here do not describe factory trial assembly, so agree it in writing at order stage. The Auditing Practices Group paper says a remote audit may be done partially and complemented on site later.
Why must glass errors be found before shipment?
Tempered glass cannot be reworked, so a wrong hole, notch or size means a new panel.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| ASTM C1048-25 store page | Heat-treated flat glass cannot be cut after tempering. |
| NGA frameless shower manual | All cutting, notching, edging and polishing should be done before tempering. |
| Kohler pivot door instructions | Do not cut tempered glass; it will shatter if cut. |
The NGA manual adds that ASTM C1048 gives fabrication guidelines for holes, notches, cutouts, minimum dimensions and tolerances.
What can each kind of remote evidence establish?
Each item proves something about the unit shown and nothing about units not shown. The table is this guide’s reading.
| Evidence | Can show | Cannot show |
|---|---|---|
| Live video, assembled unit | Configuration, handing, movement, seal contact | Other units; water escape on site |
| Tape readings | Key sizes on that unit | Sizes across the order |
| Labels and glass marks | The standard and maker claimed | Tempering quality |
| Kits against the list | Completeness and finish | Hardware durability |
| Inspection report | Findings on the sample | Units outside it |
Water escape is decided on site. The NGA manual says frameless enclosures are not watertight, and that a curb sloping away from the drain lets water out whatever seals are used. Agalite’s owner’s manual says the amount varies with shower size, shower heads, thresholds, drains and door type.
What does the mark on tempered shower glass tell you?
A mark states which standard the maker claims; on its own it is not proof of a test. These are United States sources; elsewhere, confirm with the local authority.
Federal category
16 CFR 1201.2 lists shower doors and enclosures among Category II products. The NGA manual says the International Building Code requires shower enclosure glass to be safety glazing meeting the Category II impact requirement.
How it is applied
NGA’s paper FB11-06 (2022) says building codes have two sets of labeling requirements, one for hazardous locations and one for other glass, and that safety glazing in hazardous locations must comply with both. Reporting the International Building Code, it says the label on tempered glass not intended for hazardous locations must be acid etched, sand blasted, ceramic fired, laser etched, embossed, or impossible to remove without destroying it.
The certificate
FB11-06 says the CPSC certification must accompany the product on paper, take the form of a permanent label, or be accessible on a website.
An SGCC number
FB11-06 says an SGCC label carries the SGCC number, the standard and category, nominal thickness and the letter U or L. The SGCC directory can be searched by that number.
- The mark on each panel type, in focus
- The standard and category stated
- Any SGCC number, for a directory check
- The certificate, as a document
What can a camera not prove about tempered glass?
A camera cannot show that a panel is fully tempered; that is tested or measured. NGA’s guidelines FB52-17 (2022) list what fabricators should do:
Break test
For fully tempered glass, as prescribed in ANSI Z97.1 or CPSC 16 CFR 1201.
Surface compression
Measured for heat-strengthened glass and, if desired, for tempered glass.
Flatness
Bow measured as prescribed in ASTM C1048; reflective distortion as prescribed in ASTM C1651.
Frequency
The fabricator establishes the frequency and method of testing and inspection.
Ask which records exist for the production run. The Auditing Practices Group paper lists data manipulation and the veracity of data among the risks of remote audits; as guidance, tie every recording to the order card.
What do maker manuals say about handing, parts and walls?
Handing and wall allowance differ between the three models below, so check them per configuration.
| Document | Handing | Parts and walls |
|---|---|---|
| Kohler pivot shower door | Door can open to the right or left | Lay out and identify all parts; walls within 3/8 in (10 mm) of plumb |
| DreamLine ENIGMA-XO | Reversible for right or left-hand door installation | No out-of-plumb adjustment |
| Roman corner hinged enclosure | Door glass is handed | Maximum 5 mm adjustment for untrue walls |
How should a buyer plan a remote pre-shipment check?
Plan the check when the order is placed. Each step below is procurement guidance and closes one gap a remote check can leave.
- Agree the scope early. One assembled enclosure per configuration, before crates close.
- Prepare your list. Configurations, quantities, drawing revision, panel IDs, handing, key sizes, hardware finish.
- Tie the call to the order. A showroom unit is not your order; start on the order card.
- Put a tape in frame. Without it, sizes are assumed.
- Check handing per room type. Mirrored rooms can otherwise receive identical doors.
- See every configuration. The ones not assembled hold the surprises.
- Decide and record. Release, or hold and repeat the call after the fix.
When to add an inspector
On first orders, large projects or when a call leaves doubt, appoint a third-party inspector. ISO 2859-1:2026 sets out acceptance sampling by attributes, indexed by AQL.
What should you send and ask before a quotation?
Ask about the pre-shipment check before price is agreed, so it becomes part of the order.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are enclosures trial-assembled before packing? | The sources used here do not describe it. |
| Will you run a live call that we direct? | Otherwise the supplier picks the view. |
| What mark is on the glass, and by whom? | The mark shows the standard claimed and, by name or SGCC number, the maker. |
| Which test records exist for this run? | The fabricator sets test frequency. |
| Is each model handed or reversible? | The cited manuals differ on this. |
| May we record and appoint an inspector? | Agree recording and screenshots in advance. |
Include with your request
- Approved drawing and revision
- Configurations and quantity of each
- Handing per room type
- Destination market and glazing rule
WNS Global confirms any offered enclosure, pre-shipment check and commercial terms separately in writing. This guide does not state that WNS Global products carry any mark, certificate, test record or listing named above, or that any check described here is part of its process.
