F
ire resistant glass of this type is used extensively
throughout modern buildings. Its fire resistance
pedigree is well recognised and its ability to bring
high light levels and visibility into the heart of a build-
ing well established. Such fire-resistant glass is also
adaptable and can offer a range of other benefits.
These benefits include safety, security and good
sound insulation, which in particular might be under-
estimated. Equally, the inadequate fire resistance of
standard plastic laminate layers used, for example,
for impact safety, security and acoustic performances,
tends not to be fully appreciated.
Fire resistance � integrity
Resistance against fire can be achieved on two
levels. The first is integrity performance which
requires a resilient and robust barrier against flames
and hot gases. Integrity performance, however, has
no specific requirement in terms of keeping back
the heat of a fire, which can be intense and unpre-
dictable in modern interiors with synthetic plastic
fixtures, fittings and furnishings.
Smoke generation on the non-fire side can also
be a major threat to the safety of occupants as they
exit the building, since smoke build-up can rapidly
lead to difficult escape conditions. The sensitivity of
the barrier to heat and flames therefore needs to be
carefully checked to minimise the risk of smoke
from the barrier itself (especially if an organic inter-
layer used within a glazed structure is unprotected
and runs the risk of becoming exposed directly to
fire).
Fire resistance � insulation
The second and higher level of fire resistance is the
insulation class which requires the temperature rise
on the protected surface of a test panel to be within
the prescribed limits of a maximum individual
18 INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
FIRE RATED GLASS
The adaptability
glass
By Mike Wood
Global Consultant,
Fire Protection and
Glass Design, Pilkington
Fire protection makes sound sense
It is a great benefit when several functional objectives can be achieved at the
same time by the same specification, especially when the separate requirements
are in themselves individually challenging. The perfect example is the design
flexibility provided by fire-resistant laminated glass based on a special glassy
intumescent interlayer.

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