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Internal glazing, safely C


reating safe buildings is an absolute priority and strictly governed by the Building Regulations in all four


UK nations. However, internal spaces still need to be comfortable, energy efficient, fit for purpose and aesthetically pleasing to be most practical, sustainable, popular with users and – in commercial terms – a valuable asset on which a healthy return can be yielded.


This is where today’s fire glass products and fully tested fire rated glazing systems can help; ensuring architects and specifiers do not have to compromise on design goals while meeting the required passive fire protection standard. This reduces the risk of the finished installation – whether a glass partition, screen or many other types of interior feature – falling short in terms of meeting the client brief.


Frameless and slim-frame internal glazing, typically butt-jointed to maximise light transmission, is a defining feature of contemporary interior design. Despite this trend running in parallel with a continuous toughening of fire safety standards, innovation in glazing technology has ensured that architects can still achieve their design intent.


Specified for a reason There is no margin for error with fire rated glazing. To have complete assurance on the fire resistant glazing specification’s performance, the design must be supported by credible evidence that it will perform as promised. This is why a fully tested system approach has major advantages. When a design is agreed, it is important to remember that any deviation from the assembly, such as substituting just one element with a supposed like-for-like product, could undermine performance. This would mean no certainty of the system’s ability to meet the specified fire rating in the event of a fire.


But this need not be a barrier to tailoring the glazing design to suit the building requirements. The multi-functionality of advanced glass products and an


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understanding of how to combine them can give interior spaces greater flexibility and perhaps, new purpose.


Better acoustic performance Acoustic insulation is a key specification goal in many commercial and public spaces. Fire rated glazing already offers a higher acoustic rating than standard glazing due to the way it is manufactured. Promat Pyrosec 16 glass, for example, has a thickness of 17.3 mm which gives it an acoustic rating of 39 dB Rw (compared with 30 dB Rw for a ‘standard’ 16.8 mm acoustic glass). But the acoustic rating can be improved even further with enhancements to the glass specification. Adding a PVB layer in a single glazed application such as a glass


partition, for example, will enhance the sound reduction performance. So too would opting for a double glazed unit which utilises an intumescent fire-resistant gel within the cavity.


Added thermal benefits


Certain applications may need the design to achieve a higher level of thermal insulation as well as fire resistance. For example, vision panels between a warehouse and office areas overlooking production/ operational spaces, or where the fire rated glass is on the outside of the building to prevent fire spread from one building to another. Here, the specification could be adapted to become a fire rated double glazed unit,


ADF MARCH 2022


Cath McLean of Promat UK gives a technical breakdown on why the latest generation of fire resistant glazing allows internal glass elements to be designed to deliver multiple performance benefits – without compromising safety


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