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the fire rated glazing specification is easily achievable, primarily by creating a double glazed unit which features a performance solar control product on the external face. This was the requirement for a recent mixed use development on Kensington High Street in London. Glazing for this high profile building was specified to balance a 60-minute EI60 fire rating with solar control in very colour neutral double glazed units, which allow daylight maximisation (Lt 64) and achieve a solar factor of 35%.
with either an intumescent fire resistant gel cavity, or an argon filled cavity. A sealed unit comprising 6 mm glass, a 15 mm argon filled cavity and fire resistant glass, for example can offer a Ug value of 1.0 W/m2 in combination with an EI60 fire rating.
K
Internal climate & solar control The role that today’s glass products can play in preventing summertime overheating and providing a stable internal climate is becoming increasingly important and valued, particularly given the recent introduction of Approved Document O to address this issue in domestic properties. Adding solar control functionality within
Enhanced security & safety Impact resistance, blast resistance and other design goals can also be incorporated into a fire resistant glazing specification. This is one of the most common types of enquiry from architects given how glazing must often protect people, and high value and sensitive assets in many commercial and public environments.
By combining different products, many different performance goals can be achieved in this area as two recent architectural specifications demonstrate. The first was for a data centre where a 120-minute fire rating was required along with a BS EN 356 P6B rating to protect key areas of the building in the event of a fire or security threat.
Another project required a two-hour fire rating in combination with blast resistance for a major transport hub.
Understanding glazing’s potential & limitations
The key to developing an effective fire resistant glazing specification that meets other performance goals is to understand how to combine different products, the maximum sizes possible and framing arrangements, along with any limitations that could prevent targets being achieved. This is why it is crucial to consider how the glazing will help achieve the design intent at the earliest stage as the resulting specification could impact on the aesthetics, size and orientation of a glass feature – and even add functionality to a space that had not been previously realised. The key is to think in bespoke terms about the glazing. Doing so will enable you to capitalise on the opportunity to create high quality internal environments which offer assured protection in the event of a fire and provide a high level of client satisfaction.
Cath McLean is segment manager – glass at Promat UK
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF MARCH 2022
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