Forty years ago, fire rated glass meant just one thing: small panels of traditional wired glass. Today, there is a wide range of affordable clear, wire-free, tint-free glazing alternatives that can be used in windows, door assemblies and glass walls instead opaque masonry or gypsum. Building and fire codes specify the type of fire rated glass that can be used.
Click here to see a video introduction to the range of fire rated glass products made by SAFTIFIRST in the USA. Below are types of glazing materials available for fire rated applications, accompanied by information about SAFTIFIRST glazing products and grouped by whether they are fire resistive or fire protective products.
Products Made in the USA. SAFTIFIRST manufactures the SuperLite glass products and SAFTIfire Framing products in their 50,000 square foot facility in Merced, CA. SAFTIFIRST is also the first and only single-source, USA-manufacturer of fire resistive glass and framing products. This means faster lead times and competitive pricing, with savings passed to our customers. Click here to view our comprehensive line of fire rated glass products. Click here to view our comprehensive line of fire rated framing products.
Fire Resistive Glazing That Meets Wall Requirements
These clear, transparent products are designed to contain flames and smoke, and to block the transfer of radiant heat. They are listed by the recognized testing agencies as transparent walls and are not limited to 25% of the wall area due to radiant heat concerns. This allows for unlimited expanses of glazing whenever visibility or light are a desired design element.
SuperLite II-XL 60-120 is a fire resistive glazing product that blocks radiant heat transfer to meet ASTM E119 requirements. Provides maximum fire and impact safety with hose stream and full radiant heat protection up to 2 hours. Tested to the stringent wall standard and when used with an equally rated heat barrier framing system such as SAFTIfire GPX, this glazing provides floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall design flexibility with unsurpassed clarity and sound reduction.
SaftiFire GPX framing is a fire resistive, aluminum clad framing system available in multiple profiles. Perfect for fire resistive transparent wall/window assemblies tested to ASTM E-119, which limits temperature-rise to 250° F above ambient on the non-fire side. Click here to view a video on GPX Framing.
Fire Protective Glazing Materials
The following products meet fire protective (window/door/side-lite) requirements. The last fire protective ceramic listed with an asterisk*, fails to meet the CPSC safety impact standard and can only be used where accidental impact with the glazing is not a concern.
45-min Fire Resistive
Superlite II-XL 45 is a clear, fire protective product with hose stream that provides full radiant heat protection at a better value than any clear 45 minute fire protective product. Tint-free and optically clear. High 40 STC, approximately 50% better than laminated ceramics.
Specialty Tempered
SuperLite I is the first wireless, monolithic, safety and fire-rated glazing manufactured in the USA, offering excellent clarity with colorless and distortion-free optics. SuperLite I was developed and priced to replace existing traditional wired glass installations, which are now recognized by international building codes as unsafe. SuperLite I remains the choice for use in construction where high impact safety and 20 minute fire ratings are required.
SuperLite I-XL and SuperLite I-XL IGU are patented specialty tempered glazing products that reduce the transfer of radiant heat by reflecting heat back towards the fire source. SuperLite I-XL minimizes the threat of scorching heat which can limit the safe egress of occupants and can cause the fire to spread to adjacent areas. Sprinkler activation does not compromise its performance. Fire fighters and code officials favor SuperLite I-XL because it is quick and safe to remove, allowing for access, smoke release and safe egress of occupants. SuperLite I-XL is clear compared to ceramics with an amber tint and ‘orange peel’ effect. It is also less than half the price of ceramics. Many AHJs consider SuperLite I-XL a superior solution for 45 min exterior glazing, even though it does not pass the hose stream portion of the fire protective testing.
SuperLite X-90 is a Specialty Fire Protective product that offers the most economical fire and safety rated glazing that meets all the standards for 90-minute temperature rise doors. This non-wired clear glazing provides superior visual clarity and is impact safety rated to meet federal and code requirements. SuperLite X-90 can be used in any listed vision lite frame and comes with a lifetime warranty from the factory.
Safety Wired Glass
Superlite I-W is the first patented wired glass product to meet the highest federal impact safety standard, CPSC Cat. II, which requires withstanding 400 ft. lbs. of impact, and can be used in doors and sidelites where impact safety is required. Standard wired glass lost its exemption from safety requirements due to the many injuries caused by its use in K-12 schools.
Impact Safe Ceramics
Pyran® Platinum F is the first fire rated glass ceramic made specifically for architectural applications. It has a neutral coloration designed to more closely match float glass. It is an environmentally-friendly glass ceramic manufactured free of toxins and hazardous heavy metals. A heavy-duty surface applied safety film meets the highest human impact safety requirements. Also available is Pyran® Platinum L – a laminated glass ceramic that also meets the highest human impact safety requirements.
Fire Protective Ceramics*
Pyran® Platinum is the first fire rated glass ceramic made specifically for architectural applications. It has a neutral coloration designed to more closely match float glass. It is an environmentally-friendly glass ceramic manufactured free of toxins and hazardous heavy metals. This product should not be used where accidental impact with the glazing is a concern.