Can fire-rated glass be installed into any frame?

Fire-rated glass can technically be installed in any frame, but pairing it with a non-fire-rated frame will likely cause the assembly to forfeit its fire rating. This applies to both fire-resistive and fire-protective glass.

To retain their fire ratings, fire-rated doors, interior glass partition systems and other assembly types must pair fire-rated glass with fire-rated frames and other components (if they are fire-protective openings).

Considerations for specifying fire-protective glass only

There are instances where a project team will only need to specify lites of fire-protective glass. This narrow scope can occur for a variety of reasons. Original fire-rated glass panes may break from impact, building codes may require fire-rated glass with more stringent impact safety ratings and some building teams may simply need to replace traditional wired glass in retrofits.

When specifying lites of fire-rated glass, it is important that project teams verify the fire ratings of the frames they want to use and then pair them with glass that has equal or greater fire ratings. Likewise, it is also crucial to double check to ensure a system is within code-driven size parameters for the specific application. Both considerations help ensure the full glazing assembly will be code-compliant when installed.

It is also crucial to know the load limits of a framing system. Fire-rated glass can be up to four times as heavy as non-fire-rated architectural glass. Confirming a frame can hold the added weight of fire-resistive or fire-protective glass helps ensure a system will perform as intended in the field and minimize jobsite risk.

The benefits of a full fire-rated glass system

While specifying only lites of fire-rated glass can be a viable option, design teams can sideline potential missteps in engineering a fire-rated glass assembly by collaborating with manufacturers that offer fire-rated doors, interior glass partition systems and other openings that are tested as full systems. Doing so ensures:

• A higher degree of customization potential
• The systems have been engineered to project specifications
• Frames, glass and components all have the same fire rating
• A streamlined installation since the full assembly will arrive on site

Technical Glass Products (TGP) has several fire-rated glass lites and assemblies available. Try TGP’s Product SpeciFIRE® to discover your options today.