Fire Proof Glass: Facts & Information
Q: When do I need to utilize Impact Resistant Safety Fire Glass to meet building safety codes?
A: Click Here to learn more about Hazardous Locations requiring Impact Resistant Safety Glass.
Q: Which Ray-Bar Fire Glass products are Impact Resistant meeting these IBC Hazardous Locations Safety code requirements?
A: 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed) , 1/4" FireGlass 20 (Tempered) and all Pilkington Pyrostop glass (Multi-Laminated) will meet International Building Code: IBC 2406 Safety Glazing requirements.
Click Here for a list of Ray-Bar's Impact Resistant Fire Rated Safety Glass products and options.
Q: Is Wired Glass banned or illegal to utilize in fire rated doors or commercial building applications?
A: Traditional or conventional wired glass is not permitted in Hazardous Locations per IBC 2406 and does not meet ANSI Z97.1 impact performance.
*However Ray-Bar Fire Rated WireLite-NT is safety filmed to meet ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II Impact Resistance standards and complies with current International Building Code IBC 2406 requirements and is available in 45 minute, 60 minute and up to 90 minute fire ratings.
Q: What Window Opening or Door Vision Glass fire ratings and labeling are required in Fire Rated Wall Partitions?
A: Click here to find out the right window glass and door vision glass rating and labeling that occur in various Fire Rated Wall Partitions.
Q: What is the difference between Fire Resistive and Fire Protective?
A: Click here to find out the difference between Fire Resistive VS Fire Protective.
Q: When is 60 or 90 minute Fire Rating Door and a Temperature Rise Limit Required?
A: Click Here to find out more about 60 and 90 minute Fire Rated Door 450 Degree Temperature Rise Requirements.
Q: How do I select the right product?
A: Click here to find out more about how to choose the right product.
Q: How do I find out more about fire rated glass marking and labeling?
A: Click here for our fire rated glass marking and labeling guide.
Q: Where do I find information regarding fire glass sound attenuation and light transmission?
A: Click here for our fire rated glass technical data and performance sheet.
Q:What is FireLite?
A: FireLite is basically a clear glass-ceramic material very similar to electric ranges and stove flat glass cook-tops which are typically black, with heating elements on the underside and allow heat to transfer to pots and pans for relatively safe cooking procedures. Firelite is also similar to fireplace glass-ceramic panels such as Neoceram.
The "FireLite" brand family of clear glass-ceramic product glazing panes provide fire protective performance for vision frames in rated doors, and windows in fire rated wall partitions. These products are tested by Underwriter Laboratories to fire protective standards which provide proper listing and sizes for various fire ratings by minutes and applications up to 90 minute in a wall and up to 180 minutes in a rated door, with maximum allowable clear view "daylight" size limitations.
Ray-Bar's UL File number for FireLite, FireLite-NT, FireLite+Plus and FireLite IGU fire rated products is R38927.
FireLite meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C and National Fire Protection Association standards NFPA 80, 252 and 257 and passes positive pressure and the required Hose stream tests.
FireLite glass-ceramic is available as Impact Resistant as 3/16" thick "FireLite-NT" with a surface applied clear safety film on 1-face, or as 5/16" thick "FireLite+PLus" with 2 layers of FireLite glass-ceramic laminated together with a special clear interlayer bonded in between. Both of these FireLite clear glass-ceramic fire rated products meet current International Building Code IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for Impact Resistant glazing occurring in "hazardous locations" defined such in doors vision window frames, or in sidelights, or in walls located within 24" of a door opening, and meeting ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II impact resistant safety performance standards, and are permanently labeled as such. This fire rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke.
This product is not a barrier to radiant heat.
Q: What is WireLite?
A: WireLite is a 1/4" thick fire rated wired glass in a standard Diamond pattern for installation in vision frames in fire rated wood or metal doors or windows in walls.
WireLite is fire protective tested, classified and listed by Underwriters Laboratories for doors up to 90 minutes (with maximum clear "daylight" view size limitations)and for windows that occur in fire rated walls up to 45 minutes. Ray-Bar's UL File number for WireLite and WireLite IGU fire rated products is R38927.
WireLite meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C and National Fire Protection Association standards NFPA 80, 252 and 257 and passes positive pressure and the required Hose stream tests.
1/4" thick "WireLite-NT" with a surface applied clear safety film on 1-face is Impact Resistant and meets current International Building Code IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for Impact Resistant glazing occurring in "hazardous locations" defined such in doors vision window frames, or in sidelights, or in walls located within 24" of a door opening, and meeting ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II impact resistant safety performance standards, and are permanently labeled as such.
Ray-Bar only offers this fire rated glass product as clear safety filmed Impact Resistant "WireLite-NT", for practical, ethical and safety peace of mind.
This fire protective rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke.
This product is not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing for flame, smoke and radiant heat please request Pilkington Pyrostop.
Q: What is Fireglass 20?
A: Fireglass 20 is a 1/4" thick very clear tempered fire rated glass for installation only in doors to meet a 20 minute rating.
Fireglass 20 is a heat-tempered safety glass and meets current International Building Code IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for Impact Resistant glazing occurring in "hazardous locations" defined as in door vision window frames.
Fireglass 20 meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C and National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 252, WITHOUT HOSE STREAM test.
Fireglass 20 is listed under UL file number R13377.
Fireglass 20 will not pass the hose stream test, and is not resistant to thermal shock.
Tempered glass is typically 4x (400%) stronger than regular monolithic annealed glass, and also stronger than wired glass.
is fire protective tested, classified and listed by Underwriters Laboratories for doors to 20 minutes (with maximum clear "daylight" view size limitations).
Fireglass 20 is only for 20 minute rated door vision frame applications, and can not be utilized in any windows that occur in a fire rated wall assembly.
This fire rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke. This product is not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing for flame, smoke and radiant heat please request Pilkington Pyrostop. For higher rated fire protective glass products for flame and smoke please see our FireLite product lines and technical data.
Q: What is a "Hose Stream" test?
A: As required in the U.S. by UL 9 and NFPA 257 for fire ratings over 20 minute, immediately after the glazing material fire test is conducted at the testing lab facility in a furnace heated for 45 minutes at more than 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, then the glazing material or assembly while still hot is subjected to a water "hose stream" of over 30 psi or more,for testing erosion, impact forces, sudden cooling (AKA "thermal shock") and integrity. In Canada all fire glazing products must pass this test.
*Please Note: Fireglass 20 clear tempered fire glass does NOT pass the Hose Stream test, and is only for vision frames installed in doors for a 20 minute rating in the U.S.
*All 3/16" FireLite, 3/16" FireLite-NT, 5/16" FireLite+PLus, FireLite IGU's and 1/4" WireLite-NT offered by Ray-Bar all pass the Hose Stream Test as performed by UL.
Ray-Bar's UL file number for these fire rated glazing products is R38927.
These fire protective rated glass products are a barrier to flame and smoke.
These products are not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing for flame, smoke and radiant heat please request Pilkington Pyrostop.
Basic Fire Glass Glossary and Terminology
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 doers 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.
*See Ray-Bars 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 1/4" Fireglass 20 (Tempered for Doors only)
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
*See Ray-Bar's offered Pilkington Pyrostop Multi-Intumesent Gel-Laminated Fire Glass products.
Float Glass:
Any glass manufactured by a "float" processof 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:
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.
*See Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite (Monolithic), 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed) and 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated) Clear Ceramic Fire Glass products.
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"
*See Ray-Bar's FireLite+Plus Laminated Fire Glass product.
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.
*See Ray-Bar's offered Pilkington Pyrostop Multi-Laminated Fire Glass products.
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"
*See Ray-Bar's FireLite-NT or WireLite-NT Clear Safety Filmed Fire Glass products.
Wired Glass:
Glass that has a internal wired grid typically in a diamond pattern. Wired glass is considered unsafe and hazardous unless it is either safety filmed or laminated
*I.E. Ray-Bar's WireLite-NT safety fire rated glass product which 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.
*Ray-Bar offered Fireglass 20 is a clear fire rated tempered glass product for door vision windows only and rated to 20 minute. 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.
*See Ray-Bars 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 1/4" Fireglass 20 (Tempered for Doors only) or Pilkington Pyrostop (Multi-Laminated) Impact Resistant Fire Rated Safety Glass products for Hazardous Locations.
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.
*See Ray-Bar's Hazardous Locations Safety Glazing Guide
*See Ray-Bars 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 1/4" Fireglass 20 (Tempered for Doors only) or Pilkington Pyrostop (Multi-Laminated) Impact Resistant Fire Rated Safety Glass products for Hazardous Locations.
Click Here for a list of Ray-Bar's Impact Resistant Fire Rated Safety Glass products and options.
Thermal Shock:
Sudden temperature change that cause 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.
*See Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite (Monolithic) , 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed) and 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated) Clear Ceramic Fire Glass products.
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
*Ray-Bar offers many types of fire rated glazing tape products.
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.
*See Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite (Monolithic), 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), or Pilkington Pyrostop (Multi-Laminated) Fire Rated Glass products all pass the Hose Stream Test Requirements and are properly permanently labeled.
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
Click here to find out the difference between Fire Resistive VS Fire Protective.
Click Here to find out more about 60 and 90 minute Fire Rated Door 450 Degree Temperature Rise Requirements.
*See Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed) Fire Protective Glass products.
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)
Contact Us to Learn How Ray-Bar Can Be Your Fire Rated Glass Products Supplier
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.