Where in the house is the glass being installed ?

Next to a door ?

How close to the floor ?

These windows are about 5 feet from the main entry door and they are about 3-4 feet from the floor. Do you mind explain to a novice like me why the distances from a door and the floor are important?

Because most building codes require tempered glass if a window is within 36" of a door and is closer than 18" from the floor and greater than 15 sq.ft.

When tempered glass is shattered it breaks into round pieces that pose no risk. When annealed glass (commonly refered to as double or triple strength) is shattered it breaks into sharp jagged pieces able to inflict serious injury or death. As noted above building codes require the use of tempered glass in certain installations depending on the risk of breakage.

Thank you skydawggy and afsa. I was unaware of such requirements.

so sometimes even though the code may not require it the fact that tempered glass will break like a windshield may be advisable in certain locations for yours and your families safety.

Tempered glass is required by the ICC in all doors, any window within 36" of an open door, in all stairway locations, over a bathtub or shower unit, within 18" of a floor (even though many enforcement officers are extending this to 24" of the floor) greater than 15 sq ft, and in a sitting application such as a bay window being used as a window seat, or any windows over a bench seat where you may lean against the glass when you sit on the bench (such as over a boot box in a mudroom). Some inspectors will require tempered glass over such things as a wood box if the the window is close to the storage area due to risk of wood hitting the glass when being put into the storage area.