How does the required hose stream test work and why does it matter?>
What do I need to know about impact safety testing for fire-rated glazing?>
Can fire-rated glass pass any additional performance tests?>
The impact safety test determines whether glass can resist breaking into dangerous shards under various impacts. During this test, a piece of glass is mounted in a vertical frame. A punching “speed” bag is filled with 100 lbs. of lead shot and swung, in pendulum fashion from various heights to impact the glass.
A 48-inch drop represents 400 ft. /lb. of impact, and is called “Category II” by the U.S. CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission). It is the highest level of required impact safety, representing the impact of a full-grown adult running into the glass. While tempered and laminated safety glass often are used for impact protection, there are numerous products available today that meet this impact rating and also offer high levels of fire protection.
An 18-inch drop represents 150 ft. /lb. of impact, and is called “Category I” by the CPSC. Glass that can only meet this test is limited to a maximum size of 9 square feet per lite. The 18-inch drop approximates the impact from an 85 lb. child running into the glass.
