Glass is an amazingly versatile material, not only because it can be used for many different applications, but also in terms of how it can be treated in different ways in order to adapt it for a specific purpose; making it fire safe for instance.

Builders, architects and manufacturers are continuously working to stay up to date with fire safety guidelines to ensure they meet regulatory needs. There are many components to consider in terms of fire safety, from flammable wall treatments, to the melting temperature of structural elements in a building. One element of housing manufacture in particular which is making great developments in its ability to be fire resistant is glass.

Types of Fire Safe Glass

Georgian Wire Cast – A typical fire safe solution in the UK, is the use of Georgian Wire glass. Georgian Wire is a flat glass, stippled on one side and cast with steel mesh within the width of the glass. The steel mesh helps contain broken pieces of glass should it break during a fire.

Georgian Wire Polished Glass – Georgian Wire Polished Glass is clear with an inset of steel mesh, known as a safety glass due to it adhering to the British Standard 6206 Safety Glass criteria.  It is strengthened by a thicker type of wire and due to its manufacturing process, it is also able to withstand up to 30 minutes of fire exposure before it loses its integrity. As with the Georgian Wire Cast, if the glass breaks then the mesh will help it to stay in place. It can also be used in a variety of buildings, from schools to offices.

Tempered or Toughened Glass – Tempered or toughened glass are the same type of temperature treated safety glass, but the manufacturing process is slightly different. Standard toughened or tempered glass can resist temperatures of up to 500° F, which is double the amount that float glass can withstand, but is still minimal in comparison to 1600° F temperature that fire-rated glass can survive.

Fire-Rated Glass Ceramic – Fire rated ceramic glass, comes in a clear non-wired variety in order to allow a greater number of applications. This product is both flexible and versatile yet has a higher melting point than traditional Georgian wire glass. This type of glass does reduce the risk of glass damage in a fire, however it does not insulate against the heat of the fire. Fire glass ceramic is also available as an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU). This type of unit can be used with all kinds of glass fittings, including:

• Float glass
• K-Glass
• Low-e glass
• Mirrored glass

The IGU is made up of two layers of glass with an air space between the layers. Both the layers and air space allow for a greater protection against heat, in the case of a fire.

Always be sure to use a reputable and professional glazing company for all types of glass and glazing work. If you are based in the South East of England, we recommend Glaziers Essex.