Can fire-rated and conventional curtain wall systems match?>
Fire-rated glazing with a seamless surface appearance is the next step in a long evolution of fire-rated glazing with aesthetics comparable to non-rated systems. A recent introduction is TGP’s Fireframes SG Curtainwall® Series. The innovative system is designed to achieve the clean sightlines and seamless aesthetic of silicone glazed (SG) curtain walls systems, maximize light penetration and defend against the spread of flames and smoke in fire-rated applications. It consists of fire-resistance-rated glass attached to narrow, steel, fire-rated frames with a toggle retention mechanism to anchor the glazed lites. The assembly is silicone sealed and requires no pressure plates or caps. Once installed, the toggle retention system becomes completely hidden, allowing for a smooth, frame-free exterior surface. On the back side of the system, steel fire-rated frames provide high strength and clean sightlines.
Another notable development is butt-glazed fire-rated glass walls. Comprised of fire-rated glass wall panels with butt-glazed joints in a heat-resistive perimeter frame, TGP’s Fireframes ClearView® System allows for longer spans of uninterrupted glass free of vertical mullions. The system is available with vertical butt-glazed joints as narrow as 5 mm to improve sightlines and allow for nearly colorless transitions between glass panels.
