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Basic Fire Glass Glossary and Terminology

This glossary is provided as a basic guide to understanding the commonly used terms for ratings, labeling, permanent markings and applications of fire glass products, impact resist safety glass and more.

AHJ:

"Authority Having Jurisdiction", includes code officials such as the project Inspector of Record or Fire Marshall.  Has authority to define codes and make final determinations of building and fire safety code compliance.

Annealed Glass:

Standard glass that has been heat processed to equalize stress tension.  This glass easily breaks into very sharp jagged shards and does not comply with any safety glass requirements.

Fire Rated:

A product, material or assembly that has been tested and certified to a specific fire protective or fire resistive performance standard.  Usually measured in minutes, for fire, smoke or heat transfer. May also include thermal shock "Hose Stream" testing for 45 minute or greater ratings. Must be tested by an independent lab to accepted fire standards and properly permanently labeled to be considered "Rated" per building and safety codes.

Fire Protective:

Protects as a barrier against Fire, Flames and Smoke to a specific standard and time duration, but is not a barrier to heat.

Fire Resistive:

Protects as a barrier against Fire, Flames, Smoke and thermal conductive and radiant heat transfer to a specific standard and time duration.  Meeting Wall Assembly Criteria Test Standards: ASTM E-119 and UL 263

Float Glass:

Any glass manufactured by a "float" process of pouring out molten liquid glass onto a metal surface(usually tin) and then cooled leaving a perfectly level and flat sheet of glass.  This process allows for a very efficient and productive continuous run of high volume glass production.

Monolithic Glass:

Single layer thickness of solid glass sheet or glass plate, as float, rolled or cast.

Clear Ceramic Glass:

It is actually not glass in the classic sense, but a clear ceramic glazing material that can be continuously exposed to high temperatures and has virtually no thermal expansion or contraction and is impervious to thermal shock.

Laminated Glass:

2 panes of glass with a clear plastic (PVB or PVA) layer bonded between them to retain the sheet together upon impact and breakage. Often utilized for added safety in hazardous locations or security for forced entry resistance. Must be tested to specific standards and properly and permanently labeled to be considered "Safety" or "Impact Resistant" per building and safety codes.

Impact Resistant Safety test Standards: ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat I and II.

Hazardous Locations are as defined in International Building Code: IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing"

Multi-Laminated Glass:

3 panes of glass or more, with a clear plastic (PVB or PVA) or clear intumescent layer bonded between them to retain the sheet together upon a higher level of impact and breakage. This may included Fire Resistive glass or Bullet Resistant glazing assemblies.

Safety Filmed Glass:

A clear film bonded to the surface on 1 face of the glass pane to provide impact resistance to retain the sheet together upon impact and breakageOften utilized for added safety in hazardous locations or security for forced entry resistance. Must be tested to specific standards and properly and permanently labeled to be considered "Safety" or "Impact Resistant" per building and safety codes.

Impact Resistant Safety test Standards: ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat I and II.

Hazardous Locations are as defined in International Building Code: IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing"

Wired Glass:

Wired glass has an internal wired grid, typically in a diamond pattern. Wired glass is considered unsafe and hazardous unless it is either safety filmed or laminated.

  • Ray-Bar's WireLite-NT safety fire rated glass product meets ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat I and II and is permanently labeled and compliant with IBC 2406 Safety Glazing requirements

Tempered Glass:

Glass that is strengthened and "tempered" by a chemical (salt) or thermal (oven) process. Tempered glass when properly tested and permanently labeled is accepted as "Safety Glass" as it is from 4X (400%) and up to 7X stronger than regular standard annealed glass of the same thickness, and when broken the entire pane of tempered glass breaks into small granular pieces rather than sharp jagged shards.

  • Fireglass 20 is a clear fire rated tempered glass product for door vision windows only and rated to 20 minutes. Fireglass 20 does NOT pass the Hose Stream test.

Impact Resistant:

Fire Safety Glass that meets the requirements of IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" for use in Hazardous Locations Tested and properly labeled as meeting ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat I and II Impact Resistant requirements.

Hazardous Location:

As defined by International Building Code: IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements, such examples are any glazing that occurs in a door, or in a wall within 24" of a door opening.

Thermal Shock:

Sudden temperature change that causes most glass products to rapidly expand or contract and the glass reacts to the thermal stress release by cracking, breaking or possibly violently bursting.
Real life examples of potential thermal shock exposure are when glass materials are heated due to fire exposure and then suddenly exposed to cool water from a sprinkler system or a fire hose.

Clear Ceramic Glass (Such as FireLite) is practically impervious to thermal shock.

Low Iron Glass:

Contains very little iron and is very "clear" and colorless in appearance. Regular iron or copper containing glass has a faint bluish or greenish color hue.

Fire Glazing Tape:

Specialized Fire Glass tape that is tested to specific standards and approved for use in fire rated window assemblies

Intumescent:

A compound or material that expands and swells when exposed to heat and seals gaps between components in assemblies.

  • Ray-Bar offers many types of intumescent fire rated glazing tape products, such as Pemko FG3000.

Hose Stream Test:

A specific 2nd phase of a fire test that is National Fire Code required for all fire glass assemblies over 20 minute ratings, such as 45, 60, 90, 120 minute or more.  The Hose Stream is intended to simulate common fire fighting water hose equipment in a standardized method the effects of pressurized water stream impact, erosion and cooling (contraction or thermal shock) to a component, product or assembly. This test is part of UL 10B fire testing standards.

Positive Pressure Test:

Part of a fire door assembly test to closely simulate real fire environments whereas air is heat expanded pressurized and is also consumed by the fire. Intumescent glazing tape is typically utilized to seal gaps in a assembly from pressure created by the fire.

Temperature Rise:

A International Building Code Fire Door Requirement for Interior Stairways, Exit Passageways and Ramps to exits, limiting the "not to exceed" maximum temperature rise on the non-fire side of a 60 or 90 minute rated fire door to 450 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient air temperature heat transfer for a 30 minute period.
This requirement is per IBC 716.2.2.3 (2018), IBC 716.5.5(2012,2015),IBC 715.4.4 (2006,2009) and IBC 715.3.4 (2003).
IBC allows 100 square inches maximum visible "daylight" view for Fire Protective Rated Glazing in 60 and 90 minute door openings.
However Fire Resistive Rated Glazing is allowed in larger sizes as tested per NFPA 252 or UL 10C, and must conform to the 30 minute heat transfer resistance maximum not to exceed 450 degrees Fahrenheit limit requirement.

*The IBC exception is if the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2

IBC allows 100 square inches maximum visible "daylight" view for Fire Protective rated glazing in 60 and 90 minute door openings

  • See Ray-Bar's offered Pilkington Pyrostop Multi-Laminated Fire Resistive Glass products providing a barrier to Flame, Smoke, Conductive and Radiant Heat additionally meeting ASTM E-119 and UL 263. (Maximum Size up to 42" wide x 89" high available in 60 and 90 minute rated door openings)

For Further Reference

Please view our Resources section for further information on Fire Codes, Fire Glass FAQs, product specifications, and much more.

Contact Us to Learn More About Fire Rated Glass Products 

For 80+ years, Ray-Bar Engineering has set the standard in fabricating fire rated glass and manufacturing other protective glass products and related accessories. We proudly serve commercial, medical, and industrial customers nationwide, providing top-quality custom fire rated glass solutions for demanding applications. Our expert engineers and rigorous manufacturing practices ensure your products meet and exceed building industry quality, safety, and  performance standards.

Contact us today to learn how we can promptly supply you with the best fire-rated glass solution for meeting your project's needs. For pricing estimates on your quote or order, request a quote online. With the fastest fabrication and order turnaround times and quick shipping, Ray-Bar Engineering is your source for unparalleled fire-rated glass products.

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