Fire-Rated Basics

Fire-Rated Glazing Applications

Here’s what you need to know about fire-rated glass and framing applications to get started on your next project.

Where Can I Use Fire-Rated Glazing?

Today’s fire-rated glazing products enable architects to achieve almost any design vision. Design teams can use advanced fire-rated glass and framing systems to provide transparent fire protection in numerous applications, including:

• Openings
• Door assemblies
• Storefronts
• Transparent walls
• Floors

Openings (windows, sidelites and transoms)

Fire-protective glass like TGP’s FireLite® family of fire-rated glass ceramic is available with up to 90-minute fire ratings for use in openings, including windows, sidelites and transoms. Such glass defends against the spread of flames and smoke, and is suitable where protection against heat transfer is not required by code.

If the fire-rated window, sidelite or transom is included in a door assembly or storefront system that is required to meet temperature rise criteria, fire-resistive glass like TGP’s Pilkington Pyrostop® is a code-approved option.

Door assemblies

Fire-protective glass (glazing that defends against the spread of flames and smoke), such as TGP’s FireLite fire-rated glass ceramic, is available with 20 to 180 minute fire ratings for door assemblies. It can often be used in the maximum size (as tested by an independent testing agency) in fire-rated doors depending on the required fire rating. However, in some cases building codes limit fire-protective glass to 100-square inch lites in doors with temperature rise requirements, such as those in exit enclosures and passageways.

If the design calls for a full-lite glazed door to boost visibility, improve wayfinding or create a bright, open entry, a code-approved alternative is fire-resistive glass, such as TGP’s Pilkington Pyrostop fire-rated, impact safety-rated transparent wall panels. Since it can defend against flames, smoke and heat transfer, it is not limited to 100-square inches, even in doors with temperature-rise requirements.

There are also a number of compatible fire-protective and fire-resistive door and framing systems that are available in single leaf or double leaf design. Products like TGP’s Fireframes® Designer Series, Fireframes Heat Barrier Series and Fireframes Hardwood Series not only provide a sleek, modern alternative to traditional hollow metal steel frames, but are also available in a wide array of colors, materials, and finishes. Their design flexibility helps prevent scenarios in which the fire-rated frames provide the necessary fire protection, but the frame color and material conflict with neighboring door, window and curtain wall applications.

Storefronts

With their ability to be used in unrestricted glazing areas in locations where the total glazing exceeds 25 percent of the wall area (for 60- and 120-minute applications), products like TGP’s Pilkington Pyrostop fire-rated wall panels are ideal for storefront applications. Such fire-resistive glazing defends against the spread of fire and smoke, while also providing a clear and unobstructed view into buildings. Such glass is compatible with TGP’s Fireframes® Designer Series, Fireframes Aluminum Series and Fireframes TimberLine Series fire-rated frames, enabling storefronts with sharp edges and narrow sightlines.

Transparent walls

Fire-resistive glass and frames (those that defend against flames, smoke and radiant and conductive heat transfer) can be used in applications where building codes require a fire-resistant wall with no ‘openings’ to enclose a space, including:

• stairwell enclosures
• elevator cores
• fire-rated curtain walls
• exit access corridors
• other fire barriers dividing interior construction (so-called ‘building compartmentation’)
• exterior walls where shallow lot lines necessitate blocking a fire’s spread to adjacent buildings

In these applications, it is typical to use multi-laminate, fire-resistive glazing, like TGP’s Pilkington Pyrostop. Such glass provides nearly the same level of clarity as ordinary float glass, carries fire ratings up to 120 minutes, passes the fire and hose stream tests and offers up to Category II impact safety ratings. It also provides a barrier to heat, enabling it to pass the test standards for solid walls and exceed 25 percent of the total wall area. When paired with fire-resistive frames, building teams can use such glass to create large expanses of see-through fire-rated walls in areas that would otherwise require concrete, gypsum or other opaque fire-rated materials to meet code.

Given the many design benefits of transparent fire-rated glass wall panels, new combinations of fire-resistive glass and framing are constantly entering the market. For example, modern fire-rated curtain wall systems like TGP’s Fireframes® Curtainwall Series and Fireframes Aluminum Series feature well-defined corners and crisp edges for smooth integration with surrounding applications. Fireframes TimberLine™ Series makes it possible for design teams to create fire-rated transparent wall panels with the heralded beauty of wood. Recent developments, such as the Fireframes SG Curtainwall® Series and Fireframes ClearView® System take innovation one step further, enabling fire-rated glass walls with a seamless glass aesthetic.

Floors

Due to recent innovations, design professionals can now select fire-rated glass floor systems like TGP’s Fireframes ClearFloor® System for horizontal fire separations. These multifunctional systems can support demanding loads, act as a light-transmitting device, and defend against flames, smoke, and heat should a fire occur. Products are available with fire-resistance ratings up to two hours for interior applications. Additionally, some manufacturers offer glass floor color and texturing options to support aesthetic goals while maintaining adequate slip resistance and daylight admission.

Popular uses for fire-rated glass floor systems include lobby floors, atriums, corridors near exits, and other public egress areas at risk for fire progression, as well as for walkable skylights that transmit light deep into a building’s core.

Fire-Rated Windows

Contact Ray-Bar for all your Radiation, Fire and Ballistic protection needs.

©2021 RAY-BAR ENGINEERING CORP
697 W. Foothill Blvd. | P.O. Box 415 (for U.S. mail only) | Azusa, California 91702-0415 | sales@raybar.com
Phone: 800-444-9729 or 626-969-1818 | Fax: 800-333-9729

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

«For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» — John 3:16

All Ray-Bar Design content such as but not limited to: Designs, Details, Specifications, Technical Data, Images, Logos, Work Product and Information is not to be plagiarized or utilized in a detrimental or any competitive manner against Ray-Bar, as protected by all applicable Federal and International Laws and Copyrights.

Ray-Bar reserves the right to refuse service or sales to anyone at any time.

No sales to the general public or residential uses. No exceptions.

Ray-Bar is not responsible in any manner to determine, evaluate, specify or verify your required fire resistance rating, lead shielding equivalency, bullet resistant requirements, blast energy levels or other potential threat level standards, code interpretation or compliance and specification requirements.

Customer or end user is fully liable and solely responsible to confirm and verify all applicable radiation, fire, ballistic or blast threat performance requirements with their own project consultants and experts prior to ordering any materials, products or systems.

Ballistic protective materials, products or systems are limited as only for legitimate government, financial , high security, military or law enforcement uses and applications.

Blast protective materials, products or systems are limited as only for legitimate government, military or law enforcement uses and applications. All applicable ITAR limits, restrictions, compliance requirements and regulations will be strictly observed.

All Radiation shielding materials, products and systems are for medical or industrial applications only.

All calculations for lead shielding requirements should be calculated, determined and specified by customer or end users project independent qualified health radiation physicist or other Radiation Expert as defined by NCRP (USA), CRPA (Canada) or ICRP (International).

CUSTOMER OR END USER SHOULD HAVE ALL RADIATION SHIELDING PROJECTS COMPLETELY TESTED AND SURVEYED BY THEIR ORIGINAL PROJECT RADIATION PHYSICIST AFTER INSTALLATION AND PRIOR TO ANY OCCUPANCY AND USE.

In order to submit the form, please fill out all required fields

Fire-Rated Glass Products

What is Fire Rated Glass?

Fire rated glass contains a special glazing that prevents it from cracking or shattering for a specified amount of time. Fire protective and fire resistive glass helps manage the spread of fire and smoke from one area of a building to another, also known as compartmentation. Most glass breaks at around 250°F but glass that has been treated with special glazing can sustain much higher temperatures before it shatters. Tempered glass, for example, can typically handle temperatures up to 500°F and fire-rated glass products remain stable up to 1600°F.

Fire protective and fire resistive glass products feature ratings showing a measurement of time for long the product can withstand flames and during a fire. Fire ratings may range from 20 minutes up to 120 minutes or more, depending on the product type and application. The type of fire rating and product type required for medical and commercial installation is determined by building codes and can vary based on its intended use (doors, windows, interior, exterior) where the glass will be placed in the building.

There are two types of fire glass products: fire protective and fire resistive. Fire protective products provide protection from heat and smoke, and fire resistive products feature an additional benefit of protection from thermal heat transfer. Fire glass products can also be filmed or laminated for impact resistance, providing an additional measure of safety for building occupants and firefighters.

Testing Fire Rated Glass Products

Fire glass undergoes rigorous testing to determine its fire rating and to ensure it meets the requirements for various classifications, certifications and approvals. Testing for resistance to heat and flames, as well as smoke and thermal shock all part of determining whether a product meets performance standards.

When hot glass is exposed to cool water from a fire hose or sprinklers, the thermal shock can cause the glass to shatter which can then result in further spreading of fire and smoke, or cause injury to building occupants and firefighters. The hose stream test is also of importance and determines a heated fire assembly’s resistance to a steady stream of water and how long the assembly can remain intact with continuous exposure.

High Performance Fire Rated Glass Products

Ray-Bar Engineering proudly offers UL and ULC listed and UL/ULC (United States and Canada) classified, permanently labeled FireLite ceramic fire protective glazing products in a wide variety of options.

Fire Glass Product Features

• 20-, 45-, 60- and up to 90-minute fire ratings for wall or door applications with the required Fire Hose Stream (thermal shock) test
• Impact Resistance meeting ANSI Z97 and CPSC 16CFR 1201 Cat 2 and passing the positive pressure test standard of UL 10C, within the maximum permissible width, height or total exposed area limits.

Fire Protective Glass Products

Fire protective products are manufactured with a protective glazing that withstands heat and flames for a specified amount of time, preventing glass from shattering and preventing the spreading of smoke and flames.

These high performance «wireless» clear view ceramic fire protective glazing products are also available in Standard and Premium grades of surface clarity. Our fire protective glass is also available as Impact Resistant in 3/16″ FireLite-NT(filmed) or 5/16″ FireLite-Plus(laminated) ceramics meeting the impact safety rating requirements of ANSI-Z97.1 and CPSC 16CFR1201 Cat 1 and 2.

*With the quality of current production surfacing methods «Standard» grade is widely accepted.

Our product line of fire protective glass includes:

• FireLite-NT Impact Resistant Clear Ceramic Fire Rated Filmed Glazing
• FireLite-Plus Impact Resistant Clear Ceramic Fire Rated Laminated Glazing
• Fire Protective Glazing Solutions
• FireGlass20 Tempered Fire Glass (for 20-minute rated doors only)

Learn more about our Fire Protective Products or contact us for more information.

Fire Resistive Glass Products

Fire resistive products also contain a protective glazing to help retain flames and smoke, but also provide a barrier for radiant heat transfer.

Our product line of fire resistant glass includes:

• Fire Resistive Pilkington PyroStop® Glazing Solutions

Learn more about our Fire Resistive Products or contact us for more information.

Contact Ray-Bar for all your Radiation, Fire and Ballistic protection needs.

©2021 RAY-BAR ENGINEERING CORP
697 W. Foothill Blvd. | P.O. Box 415 (for U.S. mail only) | Azusa, California 91702-0415 | sales@raybar.com
Phone: 800-444-9729 or 626-969-1818 | Fax: 800-333-9729

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

«For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» — John 3:16

All Ray-Bar Design content such as but not limited to: Designs, Details, Specifications, Technical Data, Images, Logos, Work Product and Information is not to be plagiarized or utilized in a detrimental or any competitive manner against Ray-Bar, as protected by all applicable Federal and International Laws and Copyrights.

Ray-Bar reserves the right to refuse service or sales to anyone at any time.

No sales to the general public or residential uses. No exceptions.

Ray-Bar is not responsible in any manner to determine, evaluate, specify or verify your required fire resistance rating, lead shielding equivalency, bullet resistant requirements, blast energy levels or other potential threat level standards, code interpretation or compliance and specification requirements.

Customer or end user is fully liable and solely responsible to confirm and verify all applicable radiation, fire, ballistic or blast threat performance requirements with their own project consultants and experts prior to ordering any materials, products or systems.

Ballistic protective materials, products or systems are limited as only for legitimate government, financial , high security, military or law enforcement uses and applications.

Blast protective materials, products or systems are limited as only for legitimate government, military or law enforcement uses and applications. All applicable ITAR limits, restrictions, compliance requirements and regulations will be strictly observed.

All Radiation shielding materials, products and systems are for medical or industrial applications only.

All calculations for lead shielding requirements should be calculated, determined and specified by customer or end users project independent qualified health radiation physicist or other Radiation Expert as defined by NCRP (USA), CRPA (Canada) or ICRP (International).

CUSTOMER OR END USER SHOULD HAVE ALL RADIATION SHIELDING PROJECTS COMPLETELY TESTED AND SURVEYED BY THEIR ORIGINAL PROJECT RADIATION PHYSICIST AFTER INSTALLATION AND PRIOR TO ANY OCCUPANCY AND USE.

In order to submit the form, please fill out all required fields