|
Fire protective
glazing blocks smoke and flames, but not radiant heat.
Fire resistive glazing
blocks all three.
To learn more about the dangers of radiant heat transmission, click here.
|
|
|
|
2012 IBC Clarifies Fire Rated Glass Applications
|
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to
"Code Considerations Quarterly," a publication by SAFTIFIRST designed to
help architects and specifiers select the correct fire rated glazing
(FRG) product based on the most current code and testing requirements.
This issue
reviews important revisions affecting FRG in the just-published 2012
IBC. For the first time, the IBC provides an easy-to-use guide advising
where to use fire protective versus fire resistive glazing in door,
window and wall assemblies. Revised Chapter 7 tables now clearly
address size limits and appropriate FRG applications in interior and
exterior walls and exit enclosures and passageways. The new tables
help professionals specify the correct glazing for FRG assemblies, and
avoid the misuse of FRG products listed by testing agencies for end uses
that the IBC prohibits.
If you have a code question that you'd like to see answered in future issues, please email us.
Thank you,
The SAFTIFIRST Team
|
|
|
|
The 2012 IBC door assembly table emphasizes that sidelites and transoms in exit enclosures must be fire resistive (see Carnegie Mellon example above.) |
 The 2012 IBC window rating table clarifies that FRG used in fire walls and fire barriers must be fire resistive (see Pomona College example above). |
|
|
|
|
|
2012 IBC Door Assembly Rating Table
The
door assembly rating table (currently 715.4) in 2012 IBC adds new
columns that provide additional end-use information and limitations, and
illuminate important differences in the permitted uses of fire
protective and fire resistive glazing. One new column spells out
size limits for vision panels which vary based on the application and
whether or not the FRG is fire protective or fire resistive. A
second new column outlines the required fire rating and where fire
resistive rather than fire protective glazing is required in sidelites
and transoms. Click here to download the revised table. Here are highlights: ·
Fire protective (e.g., ceramics and wired glass) door vision panels in
fire walls rated over one hour, one- and two-hour exit enclosures, exit
passageways, and exterior 3- and 2-hour walls are limited to no more than 100 square inches. · Fire protective glazing (e.g., ceramics and wired glass) in sidelites and transom assemblies are prohibited in fire walls, exterior and interior 3- and 2-hours walls, and exit enclosures and exit passageways.
|
|
2012 IBC Fire Window Rating Table
In
the 2012 IBC, the fire window assembly rating table (currently 715.5)
is revised to clearly identify where fire resistive glazing (tested to
ASTM E-119 or UL 263) must be used to block the transmission of radiant
heat. Click here to download the revised table. Here are highlights: · Fire protective glass (e.g., ceramics and wired glass) is prohibited
in 1-hour fire barriers used as exit enclosures or passageways, even if
they are listed for interior 60- and 90-minute windows. Fire
resistive products, on the other hand, are allowed. Fire protective
products are allowed in fire barriers used as incidental use areas and
mixed occupancies. ·
Fire protective glass (e.g., specialty tempered, ceramics and wired
glass) in fire window assemblies is limited to 45-minute applications,
and then its total size may not exceed 25% of the wall area.
Larger glazing applications must be fire resistive glass tested to ASTM
E-119.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Code Changes in 2012 IBC
There are two other significant changes in the 2012 IBC related to FRG applications, marking and labeling. Revised Label Marking Table The
2012 IBC revises the label marking table (currently 715.3) to require
letter designations corresponding to test standard(s) to which the
product was tested. Click here to download the revised labeling table. Fire Protective Door Vision Panels Limited in Size The
2012 IBC removes an exception for fire protective door vision panels
larger than 100 square inches in fully sprinklered buildings. Why?
Because sprinklers do not always work, and because it is important that
building occupants be protected from the dangers of radiant heat when
exiting a building in a fire. The new IBC emphasizes that large vision
panels in exit enclosures and passageways must be fire resistive tested
to the ASTM E-119 or UL 263. Click here to see some large vision panels using fire resistive glazing that meet both 2012 IBC and ADA requirements.
|
|
Free AIA Webinar
Train
with a code expert who sat on the ICC's committee to revise the Chapter
7 tables in the 2012 IBC. Earn an AIA continuing education credit
while reviewing the 2012 IBC and learning ways to select the correct
fire rated glass product. Email us today to schedule your free webinar. |
|
|
|
|
