Fire-Rated Glazing Products

VIII.
FIRE-RATED GLAZING PRODUCTS

Fire-rated glazing materials are intended to help compartmentalize a fire in a building. A fire rating is determined by the length
of time a product can meet fire endurance testing to either fire-protective or fire-resistive standards. Fire-rated glazing materials
are tested to test standards and may not correlate to the building codes. Therefore, a fire-rating should not be confused with
approval for a particular application. The fire-protective or fire-resistive ratings mandated by most major U.S. Building Codes are
based on the application requirements. These requirements depend on how much time is necessary to maintain the structural
integrity of the building, and the safety and safe egress of its occupants.
Fire-rated glazing materials carry a label on the glass that may include the manufacturer, listed fire-rating and testing
agency.
There are a number of fire-rated products that will meet all the necessary fire-rated building code requirements. These
products are divided into fire-protective or fire-resistive categories.
Fire-Protective Glazing
This category includes polished wired glass, ceramics, specialty tempered glass, and specialty laminated or filmed glass (both
non-wired and wired). These products are generally between 1/4” and 5/8” thick. Fire ratings range from 20 minutes to 3 hours,
depending on the product and application. Consult your local building code official for appropriate use of protective glazing.
Wired Glass was the original fire-rated glass relying on embedded wires to hold the annealed glass together during a fire
endurance and hose stream test. Wired glass is required to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z97.1
American National Standard for Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings - Safety Performance Specifications Method of Test
impact standard (100 ft.-lbs.). In fire-rated, hazardous locations identified in the model building codes, traditional wired glass
is limited to 9 sq. ft. In non-hazardous, fire-rated locations, traditional wired glass can be used up to the size tested and
approved. Wired glass has been developed for safety areas by some manufacturers that meet Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) 16 CFR 1201 Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials Category I or Category II safety standards.
Ceramics withstand a fire endurance and hose stream test, and when laminated or filmed, can meet CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat
II (400 ft.-lbs.) safety requirements for use in hazardous locations. Fire-ratings range from 20 to 180 minutes depending on
application. Consult your local building code official for appropriate use of protective glazing.
Specialty Monolithic Tempered Glass, clear tempered glass with ratings of 20 minutes, listed for CPSC 16 CFR 1201
Category II (400 ft.-lbs.) safety for use in door locations.
Laminated Non-Wired Glass uses two pieces of annealed float glass laminated together with a fire protective interlayer. This
product meets CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category I (150 ft.-lbs.) safety requirements and carries a 20 minute fire rating with 9 sq. ft.
size limitations in door locations.
Fire Protective Product Notes - Some of the above products provide improved acoustical, energy performance or radiant heat
transfer characteristics depending on the product selected. Contact the fire-rated glazing supplier for details on these enhanced
performance characteristics.
Key Questions to Ask in Selecting Fire-Protective Glazing Products

1) What is the minimum fire-rating required for this application?
2) Is an impact safety rating required?
3) Are there size limitations placed on the usage of a product based on code requirements?
Fire-Resistant Glazing
This category includes intumescent multi-laminate and gel-filled units. These clear, transparent products contain flames, the
spread of smoke and prevent the transfer of radiant heat for 60 minutes to 2 hours. These products are listed by third party testing
agencies as transparent walls and are therefore not limited to the 25% glazed area restriction, when used in a temperature rise
framing system of equal rating to the glazing.
Intumescent multi-laminate – these products utilize multiple sheets of annealed glass laminated together using special intumescent
interlayers. The number of interlayers and overall thickness determine the fire rating. Under fire conditions the interlayers
become opaque and expand to prevent the transmission of heat, smoke and flames.
GANA Glazing Manual - 53 2004

Gel-filled – these units resemble insulating glass units, however the cavity is filled with clear gel. The thickness of the gel cavity
determines the fire rating. Under fire conditions the gel crystallizes into an opaque heat absorbing char that prevents the
transmission of heat, smoke and flames.
Fire-Resistive Product Notes - Intumescent multi-laminate and gel-filled products provide improved acoustical performance and
are available for exterior use with energy saving make-ups. They can also be provided in special make-ups for bullet, blast,
hurricane, attack resistance, and other custom protections. Contact the fire-rated glazing supplier for details on these enhanced
performance characteristics.
Key Questions to Ask in Selecting a Fire-Resistive Glazing Product
1) What is the minimum fire-rating required for this application?

2) Is the framing capable of meeting the fire-resistive rating of the glazing?
3) What are the size limitations of the selected fire-resistive glazing?
4) Is the application exterior or interior?
5) Will the labeled framing meet the glazing thickness requirements for the selected fire-resistive rating?
DEFINITIONS
Fire-Protection Rating – The period of time that an opening protective assembly will maintain the ability to confine a fire as
determined by tests – NFPA 252 Standard Methods of fire Tests of Door Assemblies / NFPA 257 Standard on Fire Test for Window
and Glass Block Assemblies /UL 9 Standard for Fire Tests of Window Assemblies /UL 10c Standard for Positive Pressure Fire
Tests of Door Assemblies /ASTM E 2010 Standard Test Method for Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Window Assemblies /ASTM E
2074 Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, Including Positive Pressure Testing of Side-Hinged and Pivoted
Swinging Door Assemblies.
Fire-Resistance – That property of materials or their assemblies that prevents or retards the passage of excessive heat, hot
gases or flames under conditions of use.
Fire-Resistance Rating – The period of time a building element, component or assembly maintains the ability to confine a fire,
continues to perform a given structural function, or both, as determined by tests – NFPA 251 Standard Methods of Tests of
Fire Endurance of Building Construction and Materials/ASTM E 119 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building
Construction and Materials/UL 263 Standard for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials (wall assemblies).


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VIII.

FIRE-RATED GLAZING PRODUCTS

Key Questions to Ask in Selecting Fire-Protective Glazing Products

GANA Glazing Manual - 53 2004

Key Questions to Ask in Selecting a Fire-Resistive Glazing Product

1) What is the minimum fire-rating required for this application?

GANA Glazing Manual - 54 2004

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