Safe Glass For Schools
Glazing News for School Construction

Safe Glass for Schools

Library at Sunset Elementary, San Ysidro, California

Before the development of fire-resistive glazing, building-material choices were limited when building codes required fire-resistive performance. Typically, designers used conventional solid walls where codes mandated fire safety. For decades, traditional wired glass was the only fire-rated glazing available. But, its application in schools has been severely limited because it is not impact safe and it fails to protect people and property from the dangers of radiant heat.

Renovated counseling center, North Layton Junior High

Advances in fire-rated glazing have delivered new tools to designers working to maximize: aesthetics, daylight reaching deep inside a school building, and campus security.  Today, architects apply fire-rated glazing instead of opaque masonry or gypsum in school walls, doors, lobbies, interior courtyards, roofs and exit corridors.

Still, confusion persists about which fire-rated glazing options will meet building codes and provide continuous passive fire protection.

SAFTIFIRST maintains this website to provide up-to-date information on:

  • Building codes affecting fire-rated glazing applications.
  • Trends in school design and funding, particularly the use of glazing to improve student performance, energy efficiency and school safety.
  • Real-life examples of fire rated glazing in schools that create aesthetic, green and safe schools of the future.
  • Below are links to a few of this website’s informative pages.

  • Using fire-resistive glazing to block radiant heat
  • Portland Public Schools held accountable for wired glass injury
  • Ways to make unsafe wired glass installations safe
  • How to create large vision areas in paths of egress under 2012 IBC and ADA
  • The link between visibility and safe schools
  • SAFTIFIRST emails quarterly newsletters on related topics. To read archived issues, go here.

     

    © 2010 SAFTI FIRST Fire Rated Glazing Solutions