2 Hour FIRE RATED WINDOWS

The Protection of Fire Rated Windows

In commercial and multi-unit residential buildings, the use of appropriate fire-rated materials is paramount to ensuring the well-being of occupants and protecting property. One critical component is the use of fire-rated windows, specifically those listed and labeled to withstand fires for extended durations, such as one-hour (60-minute), 90-minute, or even two-hour (120-minute) windows. Let’s explore the features, applications, and advantages of fire-rated windows.

Understanding Fire-Rated Windows

Fire-rated windows are designed to resist the spread of flames and smoke during a fire for specified durations. Designations such as 45-minute, one-hour/60-minute, 90-minute, or two-hour/120-minute refer to the window’s ability to maintain its integrity and insulation against fire, heat, and smoke in the event of a fire for the specified timeframes. These classifications are crucial for providing occupants with sufficient evacuation time and enabling more effective responses from firefighters.

Features of Two-Hour Fire-Rated Windows to meet UL 263 or ASTM E119

Extended-duration fire-rated windows, such as two-hour (or 120-minute) fire-rated windows, offer the maximum levels of resilience and protection. Crafted with fire-resistive glazing materials, including tempered glass and advanced elements, these windows act as a shield against high temperatures and prevent structural failure amidst prolonged fire exposure. These windows’ integrity and insulation form a linchpin for slowing the progression of fire and establishing a secure zone for evacuation. In addition to rugged fire-rated glass, specialized seals and gaskets play a role in the two-hour fire rating of these windows, effectively sealing the window against flames and smoke.

Containing a fire within specific compartments not only protects occupants and allows time for safe evacuation but mitigates a fire’s impact on the overall structure. To be sold as such, two-hour fire-rated windows must undergo rigorous testing by recognized laboratories. Such labeling provides assurance not only to the specifying architects and contractors but to the end users of the structure as well.

Applications for Two-Hour Fire-Rated Windows

Extended-duration fire-rated windows are called for across the construction landscape. Mandated in many commercial structures and high-rise buildings where the risk of fire escalation is heightened, these windows become integral to ensuring compliance with building codes, safeguarding the occupants, and protecting valuable assets.

In facilities housing critical infrastructure like data centers, server rooms, and control rooms, the use of extended-duration fire-rated windows is paramount. Two-hour/120-minute fire-rated windows help to create fire-resistant compartments that provide a protective shield for critical equipment essential to the facility's operations. Furthermore, in healthcare facilities, including hospitals and skilled care facilities, extended-duration fire-rated windows are crucial. Their use is vital to ensuring the safety of patients, especially those with mobility challenges, during a fire emergency. Finally, two-hour fire-rated windows are essential for zero lot line windows and an appropriate choice for high-rise buildings, where extended evacuation is often necessary.

Advantages of GBA Extended Duration Fire-Rated Windows:

In addition to meeting and exceeding both American and European fire safety standards across its product line, and two-hour fire-rated windows from GBA Architectural Products + Services offer design choices to suit any architectural style and please clients.

Two-hour/120-minute fire-rated glass block from GBA is available in a 7½‘’ unit. This window meets the ASTM E119 Wall Rating of 120 minutes. GBA’s two-hour fire-rated glass block naturally illuminates dark spaces without sacrificing fire protection. The glass block can be customized for privacy with the addition of a Sahara Finish on either one side or both sides of the glass. The wave pattern of this glass block adds privacy with the distortion of figures on either side of the glass.

Select GBA Architectural Products + Services for a wide selection of the most trusted fire-rated windows. With their decades of industry expertise, GBA is a leader in innovative building solutions. Architects and builders can confidently rely on GBA's commitment to safety and the unwavering reliability of the products they sell and install. Moreover, GBA's dedication to design versatility ensures that their fire-rated windows seamlessly integrate into a wide array of architectural styles, granting builders the flexibility to customize without compromising on the windows' safety features. The extended fire resistance of fire-rated windows from GBA offers a crucial layer of protection to any fire-protection strategy. GBA Architectural Products + Services emerges as a preferred choice, marrying industry expertise, design flexibility, and a steadfast commitment to long-term safety.

Since its establishment in 1985, GBA has been the preferred glass block supplier for a myriad of applications, including hundreds of high-profile projects across the U.S. GBA's 120-minute fire-rated glass block windows not only provide a reassuring blend of safety and customization but also embody the company's extensive industry expertise.