EXPERT INSIGHTS
Featured Insight
The Art and Science of Designing Safer Schools
The Art and Science of Designing Safer Schools
Date: 6/8/2023
The building industry is at a critical point. As more school districts incorporate voluntary security measures, everyone involved in school planning has pushed to innovate architectural systems and de...
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Understanding the Pros and Cons of Ballistic Glass
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Ballistic Glass
Date: 4/28/2026
For many education, government and commercial projects, enhancing building security has become a higher priority goal as project owners evaluate multiple ways of keeping occupants safe. Design teams h...
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Planning for Fire-Resistance Rated Requirements Without Compromising Aesthetics
Planning for Fire-Resistance Rated Requirements Without Compromising Aesthetics
Date: 4/21/2026
Although necessary, planning buildings around fire- and life-safety code requirements can often make designers feel like they are in a zero-sum game where code compliance and design freedom are mutual...
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Fire-Rated Glazing for Zero-Lot-Line Walls: What Architects Need to Know
Fire-Rated Glazing for Zero-Lot-Line Walls: What Architects Need to Know
Date: 4/17/2026
While the use of fire-rated glazing is predominately relegated to applications within the built environment, there are contexts for which fire and life safety codes require exterior fire-resistive wal...
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Featured Insight
Codes, Standards and Guidelines: Navigating Safer School Design Resources
Codes, Standards and Guidelines: Navigating Safer School Design Resources
Date: 10/21/2025
Designing safer schools involves planning for multiple contingencies. While fire safety has been a part of local building codes since Boston officials first prohibited wooden chimneys and thatched roo...
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Featured Insight
Forced-entry Resistance: What it Means and How it Supports Building Security
Forced-entry Resistance: What it Means and How it Supports Building Security
Date: 10/15/2025
Designing for school safety almost always involves buying time. For example, fire- and life-safety code requirements mandate the use of fire-rated materials and systems in an effort to provide occupan...
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Featured Insight
Part of a System: How Fire-Resistant Glazing Plays a Part in Life-Safety Design
Part of a System: How Fire-Resistant Glazing Plays a Part in Life-Safety Design
Date: 5/24/2024
Life-safety design pertains to a building’s ability to protect its occupants from fire and other life-threatening emergencies. Many materials can contribute to life-safety designs, but some may limit ...
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Featured Insight
Glass is in Session: Specifying Fire-Rated Glazing for Educational Settings
Glass is in Session: Specifying Fire-Rated Glazing for Educational Settings
Date: 9/14/2023
Due to the well-studied evidence that access to daylight supports academic success, glass has become a mainstay in school design. It can help bring light into a school’s interior and support the colla...
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In Profile: How Narrow, Fire-Rated Frames Support School Building Design
In Profile: How Narrow, Fire-Rated Frames Support School Building Design
Date: 4/5/2023
The majority of a child’s time is spent at school, second only to sleep, according to a recent report from the Federal Reserve. Creating a learning environment that meets fire- and life-safety code re...
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Featured Insight
Commentary: System Solutions–Meeting the Need for School Safety and Security
Commentary: System Solutions–Meeting the Need for School Safety and Security
Date: 9/13/2021
As incidents over the last decade have shown, safety and security are more than just buzzwords in schools and universities. Many educational environments are increasing safety protocols and adopting v...
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