Blog

It’s undeniable that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has built a reputation as a premiere agency that tests and lists fire rated glazing products. In addition to doing a tremendous job at testing and listing products, UL is also an accredited standards developer in the US: For fire protective (or fire-protection-rated) glazing, UL has developed UL 9,...

London fire shines spotlight on fire prevention, protection and education It has been a month since news of the tragic Grenfell Tower Fire in London shook the entire world.  While the investigation is still underway, many experts have been weighing in on how a tragedy of this magnitude could have happened, and how it can...

The ASTM E-119 test is the most stringent and most difficult test to pass for all fire rated glazing assemblies. Glazing that meets the ASTM E-119 standard are classified as “fire resistive” or “fire-resistance-rated” in Chapter 7 of the IBC. Marked with a “W”, it can be used as fire barriers in exit enclosures, exit...

After SAFTI’s 38 years in the fire rated glazing industry, I still get asked, “what does ‘SAFTI’ in SAFTI FIRST mean?” I also get the question as to why I formed a separate company when O’Keeffe’s Incorporated was already an established company and brand in the architectural glazing community for our leadership in monumental skylight...

Transparent Fire Resistive Butt-Glazed Walls up to 2 hours SuperLite II-XLM is a fire resistive multi-laminate glass product that meets ASTM E-119/UL 263/NFPA 251 and CAN/ULC S101 up to 2 hours. Designers can now achieve truly transparent fire resistive glass walls up to 2 hours without vertical mullions or spacers using SuperLite II-XLM, the latest...

Between regular updates to fire rated code requirements in the IBC and several fire rated glazing product choices, choosing the correct and code approved fire rated glazing product can be confusing. This why over the years, we’ve come up with several articles, newsletters, technical bulletins and case studies on several topics ranging from IBC updates,...

Don’t Get Caught in the 60-minute Trap When it comes to fire rated glass, there is probably nothing more confusing than the 60-minute application – what product to use, how much of it, and what happens when sprinklers are present. While the temptation to use a one-size-fits-all fire rated product advertised as ‘unlimited’ with ratings...

New York City’s Lot Line Requirements Bulletin. Today’s buildings use glass extensively in the envelope for its ability to provide clear views and natural daylighting. Advances in glazing technology over the years has allowed designers to specify glazing systems that are also energy efficient and noise mitigating. When needed, the same glazing system can also...

Limitations when it comes to fire rated glass I don’t know of any fire rated product that doesn’t have its limitations. So let’s be honest, advertisements urging designers to “be unlimited” when it comes to using glass ceramics, or any other fire protective glazing, are misleading.  Especially when they tout fire ratings up to 3...

Fire rated door assemblies play an important role in saving lives and minimizing property damage by providing safe egress and compartmentalizing smoke, flames and when required, dangerous radiant heat. Today’s fire rated doors frequently incorporate glazing to enable vision and transparency that maximize natural or shared lighting as well provide additional security to areas that...