{"id":941,"date":"2023-10-16T03:42:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T03:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/?post_type=education&p=941"},"modified":"2023-12-06T08:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T08:44:09","slug":"why-glass-safety-matters","status":"publish","type":"education","link":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/education\/why-glass-safety-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Glass Safety Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Installing the right type of glass can help protect students and staff from all types of potential threats without sacrificing the sense of openness and visual connectivity that glass provides. Whether the goal is to prevent injuries from accident impact with the glazing, ensure occupant comfort or save lives during a fire, active shooter, hurricane, tornado or earthquake, school districts and school designers can use glass to address these safety concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the ways that today\u2019s high performance glass products help keep schools secure, welcoming and conducive to learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Natural Surveillance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person is less likely to do harm when someone is watching. Glazing in windows and doors increase transparency and visibility throughout the building, which improve everyday safety and supervision. This lessens the instances of bullying, which tend to occur in areas that are closed off from view, such as stairwells. Architects are incorporating glass \u2013 specifically, fire rated glass \u2013 in these stairwells to allow vision while still meeting code requirements. Having light and vision in these stairwells also encourage their everyday use, contributing to better health and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exterior glazing also allows students and staff to have line of sight to the outdoor environment. If there are security or privacy concerns, these windows can be modified with reflective film or switchable glass. This allows light to still pass through and selectively block the attacker from seeing into the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Occupant Comfort<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorporating vision with glass doesn\u2019t have to mean sacrificing occupant comfort either. Today\u2019s high performance glass products can help manage glare, UV transmission, draft or heat to ensure that students and staff can learn and work comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound or acoustics is another consideration, especially in schools. Whether its significantly reducing the noise from the outside environment or between classrooms and other indoor spaces, schools can use glass with high STC and OITC ratings in windows and doors to minimize the disruption caused by uncontrolled sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Impact Safety (Wired Glass)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wired glass, though once a common choice for windows in schools due to its fire-resistant properties, has increasingly become a potential threat to safety. Its design, featuring embedded wire mesh, actually weakens the glass and pose significant life threatening injuries to those unfortunate enough to accidently impact it. When shattered, it breaks into large shards, exposing wire mesh can create sharp, jagged edges that can trap a victim\u2019s limb. Because wired glass was widely used in schools, majority of these injuries happened to unsuspecting school children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, the 2003 version of the International Building Code (IBC) has banned the use unsafe wired glass in doors, sidelites and hazardous location in new school construction. However, with thousands of schools build prior to 2003, the wired glass danger still exists in numerous educational facilities across the United States. School administrators and facility managers can take a proactive approach and replace the existing wired glass with safe, affordable and USA-made alternative such as SuperClear 45-HS and SuperClear 45-HS-LI from SAFTI FIRST. These products are readily available and can be used in existing hollow metal framing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about how schools can keep students safe and avoid potential liabilities, read this article<\/a><\/mark> or watch this video<\/a><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about SuperClear 45-HS and SuperClear 45-HS-LI by SAFTI FIRST, click here<\/a><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fire Safety (Radiant Heat)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear, fire rated glass makes it possible to add light and vision to in areas fire rated areas that have typically used opaque materials such as sheetrock, gypsum or masonry. Today\u2019s advanced fire rated glass products go beyond what unsafe wired glass or tinted, brittle ceramics can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These clear, USA-made products are more durable, affordable and can be used to add vision and maximum fire protection in critical areas such as exit corridors, stairwells, occupancy separations or lot lines. They can be used in fire rated doors, windows, storefronts, walls and even floors up to 2 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of fire rated glass: fire protective and fire resistive. Fire protective glass contains the visual elements of a fire, which are flames and smoke. This glass type is typically rated up to 45 minutes and are subject to size limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to containing flames and smoke, fire resistive glass also effectively limits the transmission of dangerous radiant heat. This glass type is rated from 60 to 120 minutes are not subject to the size limitations imposed on fire protective glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever stood in from of a fire, you\u2019ve experienced radiant heat first hard. In small doses, it can be warm and inviting. However, in large quantities, such as heat generated from a building fire, it can be deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiant heat is invisible, extremely intense, electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light with little resistance from air. When these waves strike an object they are absorbed and their energy is converted to heat. If the object is a combustible material, such as paper, fabric, or wood, a fire will start when the material\u2019s ignition temperature is reached. Radiant heat is extremely dangerous to building occupants since it can quickly reach a level that causes unbearable pain, followed rapidly by second degree burns, preventing safe egress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By effectively limiting the transmission of radiant heat, fire resistive glass ensures safe egress is possible and that the spread of fire is contained, providing valuable time for evacuation procedures. The significance of providing protection against dangerous radiant heat in school settings cannot be overstated, as it directly contributes to the overall safety and well-being of those within these educational environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more on why controlling radiant heat is necessary to fire safety, read this article<\/a><\/mark> or watch this video<\/a><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Active shooter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glass safety is of paramount importance in the context of active shooters in schools. In the unfortunate event of an active shooter situation, having the right type of security glazing can be a crucial line of defense to protect students and staff. Properly designed and fortified windows and doors can deter or delay the attacker’s access, buying precious moments for lockdown procedures and law enforcement response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Glass Association\u2019s School Security document reports that from 1970 to 2021, there were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n