Fire-rated & Wire Glass

Fire Rated & Wire Glass creates a barrier to smoke & flames that ordinary glass can't.

When heated beyond 250°F normal glass will break and allow easy access for smoke and fire to spread.

By way of contrast, fire-rated glass has been tested in conditions where the temperature may exceed 1,600°F. Fire-rated glass that has passed that kind of testing will remain intact and restrict the expansion of the fire.

In some locations, glass often is more desirable than a solid material for
enhancing lighting, security or aesthetics. Typically, fire-rated glass is used instead of ordinary window glass in corridors, lobbies, stairwells and other areas of a building that could serve as an escape route during a fire.

People often recognize by the familiar criss-cross wire pattern in the glass. The wire is embedded in the glass to hold it in place during a fire. But the wire does not make the glass stronger. In fact, wired glass is weaker than ordinary tempered or laminated glass.

For many years, wired glass was the only glazing material that could endure the testing and earn a fire rating. Now a number of new glass options have emerged that outperform wired glass in both fire and impact safety. These products do not have wire mesh and help businesses & schools move away from the "institutional" look and feel of wired glass.

Other Fire-Rated Options Available:
Some of the new product options aren't a glass at all - they are a transparent ceramic. Today, ceramic products can be found in stovetops, wood & gas fireplaces, and industrial applications. When it is installed, ceramic looks like ordinary window glass, yet it retains its heat-resistant qualities. Available in insulated units for exterior applications, ceramic also can be beveled, etched or sandblasted without affecting the fire rating.

Standard glass cannot simultaneously handle the stress of two temperature extremes - heat from a fire plus cold water from a fire hose or an activated sprinkler. Fire-rated ceramics, however, have passed what is called the "fire hose stream test" and are unaffected by this type of thermal shock.

In some cases, a design may call for glass that can block heat in addition to flames and smoke. Historically, this has meant using solid barrier walls and only a small amount of glass for visibility as needed.

Advancements in fire-rated glass have made it possible to have unrestricted amounts of glass in with two-hour fire rating requirements. These newer glass products are called transparent wall units because they are tested to the same standards as walls, and they act as a barrier to the transfer of
heat. Tests have shown that even with a hot fire on one side of the glass, the opposite surface of the glass is still cool enough to touch.

Developments in fire-rated glass have created the opportunity for architects to enhance their designs without sacrificing safety. Passive fire-rated glass used in conjunction with active systems such as sprinklers and alarms, can provide the best possible defense fire.

Call or contact B&G & we'll be glad to help you determine the best product to fit your needs.