Fire safety is not just a necessary step but crucial when replacing, updating, or installing new glass in your commercial building. Without the right glass products, your property and the sensitive information it houses could be at risk from fire damage. Let’s delve into the two most common types of glass that provide this vital fire safety for commercial buildings:
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Fire-Protective Glass: Fire-protective glass, while not as robust as fire-resistive glass, is the initial defense against fire damage. Its design contains the spread of flames and smoke within a structure, effectively preventing fire propagation for up to 180 minutes. However, it’s important to note that fire-protective glass does not shield against radiant heat transfer, which can cause damage to unaffected areas. Building codes typically dictate the permissible use of fire-protective glass. This pertains to square footage and specific applications, ensuring its effectiveness in fire protection.
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Fire-Resistive Glass: Here’s a comparison of fire-protective and fire-resistive glass: Fire-resistive glass is engineered to meet the ASTM E119 standard, indicating it has undergone testing and demonstrated its ability to withstand fire. Similar to fire-rated walls, this standard ensures its reliability. Furthermore, the International Building Code recognizes fire-resistive glass as a transparent wall, enabling its use as a barrier without obstructing the view. In addition to mitigating smoke and flame damage, this type of glass effectively blocks heat transfer. Fire-resistive glass has fewer limitations on square footage and applications than fire-protective glass as long as it is installed with heat-resistant framing.
