Fire Protection Glazing
Expert installation and replacement of fire-rated glass systems. Wired glass, ceramic fire glass, and intumescent glazing with 20-minute to 3-hour fire ratings. Code-compliant assemblies for commercial buildings across DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
Fire-Rated Products
From wired glass replacements to intumescent fire-resistive walls, we install every type of fire-rated glazing for commercial buildings.
Traditional fire-rated glass with embedded steel wire mesh. Provides fire protection by holding glass fragments in place when cracked by heat.
Clear, wireless fire-rated glass made from transparent ceramic material. Brands include Pyran, FireLite, and TechnoFire.
Multi-layer glass with transparent intumescent interlayers that expand and opacify when exposed to heat. Blocks both flames and radiant heat transfer.
Insulated glass units with fire-rated glass on one or both lites. Provides fire protection combined with thermal insulation, condensation resistance,
Vision panels and sidelights for fire-rated doors. Available in wired, ceramic, and intumescent types.
Horizontal fire-rated glass assemblies for floor openings and skylights. Provides fire compartmentalization between floors while allowing light transmission.
Engineering Detail
Fire-rated glass maintains the fire compartmentalization of a building by preventing flames, smoke, and in some cases radiant heat from passing through glazed openings during a fire event.
Fire-protective glass (ceramic, wired) blocks flames and smoke but transmits radiant heat. Fire-resistive glass (intumescent) blocks all three. The distinction determines where each type can be used: fire-protective is limited to smaller openings, while fire-resistive can fill entire walls.
Ceramic fire glass is made from a glass-ceramic material with near-zero thermal expansion. Unlike ordinary glass that shatters from thermal shock, ceramic glass remains intact when one side is exposed to furnace temperatures (up to 1600F). It maintains its structural integrity for the full rated duration.
Intumescent fire glass contains transparent gel layers between glass plies. At approximately 250F, the gel begins to expand and turn opaque white, forming an insulating barrier that blocks radiant heat transfer. Each layer activates sequentially, providing progressive protection over the rated time.
Fire-rated glass must be installed as part of a complete tested and listed assembly. The frame, glazing tape, glazing beads, and glass must all be from the same tested configuration. Substituting any component -- even a different brand of glazing tape -- can invalidate the fire rating.
The red tape visible around the glass perimeter is intumescent glazing tape. In a fire, it expands to fill the gap between the glass and frame, creating a smoke seal and holding the glass in the frame even as the frame expands from heat. It is a critical component of every fire-rated glazing assembly.
Fire-rated glass is tested per ASTM E119 (wall assemblies), UL 10B/10C (door assemblies), and NFPA 252/257. The test exposes one side to a standardized temperature-time curve while monitoring the unexposed side for flame passage, temperature rise, and hose stream impact resistance.
Applications
Exit stairwell walls and doors require 60 to 120-minute fire ratings. Fire-rated glass allows borrowed light and wayfinding visibility while maintaining the fire-rated enclosure that protects the means of egress.
One-hour and two-hour fire-rated corridors in office buildings, hospitals, and schools. Sidelights, transoms, and borrowed-light openings in corridor walls require fire-rated glass matching the wall rating.
Vision panels in fire-rated doors for offices, schools, hospitals, and hotels. Door glass ratings from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. Must be installed with listed glazing kits and intumescent tape.
Fire separation between atriums and adjacent floors. Intumescent fire-resistive glass creates transparent fire barriers that maintain the open, airy design of lobby spaces while meeting code requirements.
Fire-rated glass in hospitals, nursing homes, and medical office buildings. Patient room doors, corridor walls, operating suite separations, and smoke compartment barriers all require fire-rated glazing.
Classroom corridor walls, gym separations, and auditorium fire barriers. Modern fire-rated glass replaces the traditional solid wall, creating safe sight lines for security and natural light.
Why Choose Us
Building owners and property managers across the DC metro area trust Expert Glass Repair for fire-rated glass installations that keep buildings code compliant and occupants safe. We understand listed assemblies, inspection requirements, and the critical details that make fire-rated glazing perform when it matters most.
All fire-rated glass installations comply with IBC, NFPA 80, NFPA 101, and local fire codes.
We install fire-rated glass for every duration requirement, from 20-minute corridor applications to 180-minute fire barrier walls and stairwell enclosures.
Broken fire-rated glass creates an immediate code violation and fire hazard. We provide emergency board-up and expedited replacement to restore your fire rating.
Full commercial general liability and workers compensation. Fire-rated assembly documentation provided with every installation. Over 20 years of fire-rated glazing experience.
Common Questions
Fire-rated glass is glazing tested and certified to resist fire, heat, and smoke for a specified duration. Ratings range from 20 minutes to 3 hours. It is required by building codes in fire-rated walls, doors, corridors, stairwells, and exit enclosures to maintain fire compartmentalization while allowing visibility.
Fire-protective glass blocks flames and smoke but allows radiant heat to pass through. It is limited to smaller openings. Fire-resistive glass blocks flames, smoke, and radiant heat. It can be used in larger openings without size limitations because it prevents heat transmission to the unexposed side.
Yes. Wired glass can be replaced with modern wireless fire-rated alternatives including ceramic glass (Pyran, FireLite) that provide equal or better fire ratings without the embedded wire. These are also safer because they do not produce sharp wire edges when broken.
The required rating depends on the wall or door assembly and building code. Exit stairwells typically require 60 or 90 minutes. Fire-rated corridors may need 20 to 45 minutes. Fire barrier walls can require up to 120 or 180 minutes. A fire protection engineer or local fire marshal determines the specific requirement.
Yes. Fire-rated glass must be installed in fire-rated frames that match or exceed the glass rating. The frame, glass, and glazing materials must be tested and listed as a complete assembly. Using a non-rated frame with fire-rated glass invalidates the fire rating.
For common sizes of wired and ceramic fire-rated glass, we provide same-day or next-day replacement. Custom sizes and intumescent products may require 3 to 10 business days. We provide fire-rated temporary boarding while waiting for custom glass.
About Fire-Rated Glass
Fire-rated glass is one of the most critical yet least understood components of commercial building fire protection. Every fire-rated wall, corridor, and stairwell in a commercial building is designed to compartmentalize fire, giving occupants time to evacuate and firefighters time to respond. When that fire barrier includes glass -- for doors, sidelights, borrowed light, or transparent walls -- the glass must maintain the same fire rating as the surrounding construction.
For decades, wired glass was the only option for fire-rated glazing. While it performs adequately in fire, wired glass presents serious safety hazards. The embedded wire weakens the glass, making it easier to break than standard annealed glass, and the broken wire creates sharp edges that cause severe lacerations. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has documented thousands of injuries from wired glass in schools and other buildings. Modern ceramic and intumescent alternatives provide equal or better fire performance with dramatically improved safety.
Expert Glass Repair installs and replaces fire-rated glass in commercial buildings throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. We work with all major fire-rated glass manufacturers including Schott (Pyran), Technical Glass Products (FireLite, Pilkington Pyrostop), and AGC (Pyrobel). Every installation is documented with the listed assembly information required by fire inspectors. Fully insured -- serving DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
Service Areas
Fire-rated glass installation and replacement for commercial buildings throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.
Fire-rated glass service for Tysons office buildings, Reston hospitals, Arlington schools, and Northern Virginia commercial properties.
Fire-rated glass for Bethesda medical centers, Silver Spring apartments, and Montgomery County commercial buildings.
Fire-rated glass for DC office buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools, and government facilities.
Ready to Get Started
Broken or missing fire-rated glass is an immediate code violation that compromises building safety. Contact Expert Glass Repair for fast, code-compliant fire-rated glass installation and replacement.