AGG - 2006 - May/June

Volume 20 • Issue 3 • May / June 2006

Highlighting
Fire Rated Glasses

The fire-rated glazing market has been one of the most dynamic in the industry in the past few years. Suppliers have focused on bringing more options to this important market. We spoke to representatives at several suppliers of this type of product to get their insights into this market segment and where it is headed.

William O’Keeffe
President
SAFTI (Safety and Fire Technology International), San Francisco

QHow do today’s fire-rated glass products compare to the products, which were on the market three years ago?

The immediate and most salient difference is that there are more fire-rated glazing products available today. The performance, functionality and number of these glazing products have gone up by geometric progression. There are now thousands of options in fire glazing to offer the architect. There is also a greater emphasis on safety and security today. Wired glass previously enjoyed an exemption from safety requirements, but that exemption was removed; all glazing must now meet the federal safety requirements. Another change is that fire glazing not only meets all the federal safety standards but is also decorative, hurricane-, bullet- or bomb blast-resistant, and can meet almost any design requirements desired by the project architect or owner.

Q. How do you think this category of products will change in the near future?

A. I think the desire to protect people from the effects of radiant heat during egress from a building or to provide an area of safe harbor from radiant heat within the building will move to the forefront.

Q. What is that most important thing architects need to know about fire-rated glass products?

A. The two categories of fire-rated glazing. There is fire-protective for a rating of 45 minutes or less and fire-resistive for rating over 45 minutes. There are exceptions to this rule, but these exceptions are only for small door openings and some exterior applications. Fire-resistive glazing is relatively new and provides the greatest options for architectural creativity and gives new uses for light and visibility.

Q. What advice would you give architects about specifying fire-rated glass?

A. I would suggest they view information on the manufacturers’ Web sites. I would also advise them to address or consider radiant heat and safety impact in designing fire safety into the project. An example of where radiant heat consideration may be advisable would be that of providing fire glazing for a new-born viewing area in a hospital or a multi-million dollar computer room where it may be allowable by code to put in fire-protective glazing but not advisable due to the negative effects caused by radiant heat should a fire occur. A safety example would be a recreation room or hallway heavily trafficked by young children which may not have a code requirement for impact resistant glazing but clearly is an area where injury from their exuberant activities could occur.

Len Brunette
General Manager
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain North America, Auburn, Wash.

Q. How do today’s fire-rated glass products compare to the products which were on the market three years ago?

A. The basic glass products are pretty much the same. However the systems or applications today are advanced such as a 60-minute fire-rated butt-joint wall system, an all-glass fire-rated door, fire-rated glass floors, and an aluminum fire-rated door and frame rated up to 60 minutes. These advances open up many more design options for the architectural community.

Q. How do you think this category of products will change in the near future?

A/ We believe that product performance will be the deciding factor because the limited number of product options in the past has led to a false sense of security. As the architectural and glazing communities become more educated with the new product options, we will see, for example, products being used that not only contain the smoke and flames, but also limit radiant heat transfer stopping the fire from spreading.

Q. What is the most important thing architects need to know about fire-rated glass products?

A.    Most architects are unaware of how much radiant heat is allowed to pass through ceramic products causing potentially life-threatening conditions or allowing a fire to spread. Many of the newer products in North America block smoke and flames, and also block radiant heat transfer. In many cases, they are less expensive.

Q.    What advice would you give architects about specifying fire-rated glass?
A.    Ask questions and keep your options open. In a world where we are led to believe that “thinner is better,” this may not be the case when specifying fire-rated glazing. Simply using a product that is 3/16-inch rather than ¾-inch may not offer the best optics, sound control or fire protection. Most fire-rated door and framing systems will accommodate up to 1 inch thick glass.

As always, ask questions to make certain that the product specified meets all applicable test requirements, and that the product also meets the proper performance levels for the application. There are enough choices on the market today to make certain that life safety is not compromised.

Bret E. Penrod
General Manager
Pilkington Fire Protection Glass NA, Toledo, Ohio

Q. How do today’s fire-rated glass products compare to the products which were on the market three years ago?

A.    There are many new combinations available customers can select. They can now combine various non-rated glass types with fire-rated glass to improve performance or aesthetics. For example, high-performance glass types can be fabricated in combination with fire-rated glass; decorative options are now available with fire ratings as either etching or sandblast effects or in combination with specialty pattern glasses. Now integral blinds can be specified with fire-rated glass.

Q.    How do you think this category of products will change in the near future?
A.    There will be increased awareness of the need for human impact safety ratings for all glass, including fire-rated glass. There are now products available that meet Category II impact safety ratings without the use of plastic films.

Q.    What is the most important thing architects need to know about fire-rated glass products?

A. Architects must be aware that for fire-resistant applications, it is important that the fire-rated glass be used as part of a fire-rated assembly. Architects should also be aware that steel angle frames are acceptable for some fire-rated glass products per the UL listing.

When specifying bullet-resistant products, architects should be aware that many of the non-glass products currently used for bullet-resistance are highly flammable.

Blocking the radiant heat during a fire is critical for life safety; as is making sure the occupants can exit and rescue workers can safely enter a burning building.

Q. What advice would you give architects about specifying fire-rated glass?

A. Fire-rated glass is an excellent form of passive fire protection for areas where sprinklers are located or not present. There are products available on the market which use low-iron glass with sodium silicate (water glass) that offer high daylight transmission to open up the interior of buildings.