Fire-rated glass assemblies from 20 to 120 minutes for stairwells, corridors, atriums, and occupancy separations. Professional installation across Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.
From replacing outdated wired glass in a Dupont Circle historic building to installing 120-minute fire-resistive partitions in a new Tysons Corner office tower, we deliver tested and labeled assemblies that pass fire marshal inspection the first time.
IBC
Compliant
UL
Listed
20-120
Min Ratings
VA Lic
Service Overview
Fire-rated glass is not a luxury -- it is a life safety requirement mandated by the International Building Code in stairwells, corridors, exit passageways, and occupancy separations. When fire breaks out, properly rated glass assemblies compartmentalize flames and smoke, protecting evacuation routes and buying critical time for occupants and first responders.
Expert Glass Repair provides full-service fire-rated glass installation and replacement across Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. We handle every fire-rated glazing need: new construction installations, wired glass replacement programs, code compliance upgrades, fire damage restoration, and building renovation projects.
Every assembly we install is tested, listed, and labeled by an accredited laboratory. We coordinate directly with your architect, fire marshal, and building inspector to ensure your project passes inspection the first time -- no delays, no re-work, no compliance issues.
Complete fire-rated glazing packages for new commercial and mixed-use buildings. Coordinated with your general contractor from submittals through final inspection.
Systematic replacement of outdated wired glass with modern ceramic or intumescent fire-rated glass that meets both fire and CPSC impact safety standards.
Bringing existing buildings into compliance with current fire codes during renovation, change of occupancy, or fire marshal orders. We handle the code analysis and product specification.
Emergency replacement of fire-damaged glass assemblies. We expedite procurement of fire-rated glass and frames to get your building operational and re-occupied as quickly as possible.
We review your building codes, specify the right products, and provide a free detailed estimate.
Fire Rating Classes
Each fire rating corresponds to the duration the assembly withstands standardized fire exposure. The correct rating depends on the wall or opening classification in your building code analysis per IBC Chapter 7 and Table 716.5.
The minimum fire rating required for corridor doors and interior openings in many building types.
Required for 1-hour fire-rated corridor walls and exit access corridors. 45-minute rated assemblies use ceramic glass or fire-rated tempered glass in.
Used in stairwell enclosures, exit passageways, and occupancy separation walls. 60-minute fire-rated glass provides a full hour of fire protection.
Required in 2-hour fire-rated walls and high-hazard separations. 90-minute rated glass uses multi-layer intumescent technology that blocks flames, smoke.
The highest standard fire rating for glass assemblies, used in the most critical fire separations.
Glass Types
Not all fire-rated glass is created equal. Understanding the differences between fire-protective and fire-resistive glazing -- and the specific properties of each glass type -- is critical to selecting the right product for your application.
The original fire-rated glazing material, featuring a wire mesh embedded in the glass during manufacturing.
Advantages
Limitations
Clear, transparent ceramic glass (such as Pyran or Keralite) that provides fire protection without the embedded wire mesh.
Advantages
Limitations
Multi-layer glass with intumescent interlayers that turn opaque and insulating when exposed to fire.
Advantages
Limitations
Specially heat-treated tempered glass that achieves a 20-minute fire rating. Used in doors and sidelites where only a 20-minute rating is required.
Advantages
Limitations
Codes & Standards
Every fire-rated glass assembly we install is tested and labeled by an accredited laboratory. We ensure full compliance with the building codes and testing standards that govern fire-rated glazing in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
International Building Code requirements for fire-resistance-rated construction, opening protectives, fire-rated glazing limitations, and Table 716.5 which specifies the fire rating required for each type of wall and opening classification.
National Fire Protection Association standards for fire doors and other opening protectives (NFPA 80), the Life Safety Code for means of egress and fire compartmentation (NFPA 101), and standard fire tests for doors (NFPA 252).
Underwriters Laboratories fire test standards for window assemblies (UL 9), fire door assemblies (UL 10B), and positive-pressure fire tests of door assemblies (UL 10C). These tests determine the listed fire rating for the complete assembly.
ASTM standards for fire resistance of building construction (E119), positive-pressure fire testing of window assemblies (E2010), and fire testing of glazing in building walls (E2074), including the critical hose stream test.
Consumer Product Safety Commission standard for safety glazing in hazardous locations. Fire-rated glass installed in doors, sidelites, and areas subject to human impact must meet Category I or Category II impact safety requirements.
Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland each adopt the IBC with local amendments that may modify fire-rated glazing requirements. We stay current with all three jurisdictions and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) on every project.
Applications
Fire-rated glass is required by the IBC and local fire codes in locations where fire-resistance-rated construction must include glazed openings. Here are the most common applications we install across the DMV.
IBC requires stairwell enclosures to have fire-rated construction. We install fire-rated glass doors, sidelites, and borrowed lites that bring daylight into stairwells while maintaining the required 60 or 90-minute fire separation.
Exit access corridors in commercial buildings require fire-rated separations. Fire-rated glass in corridor walls and doors provides code-compliant protection without sacrificing natural light and visibility -- critical for modern office design.
Large atrium openings may require fire-rated curtain wall systems or smoke barriers. We install fire-rated glass wall systems that preserve the open, light-filled design intent while meeting IBC Section 404 atrium requirements.
Fire-rated glass doors with vision panels, full-lite glass, and sidelites for stairwells, corridors, and occupancy separations. Complete assemblies with rated frames, hardware, closers, and fire-exit hardware for means of egress.
When different building occupancy types share a structure, IBC requires fire-rated separations between them. Fire-rated glass partitions allow visual connection between spaces while maintaining the required fire barrier.
Many historic buildings in Washington DC, Georgetown, and Old Town Alexandria require fire-rated upgrades during renovation. We install fire-rated glass that respects the original architectural character while achieving modern fire protection.
Condominium buildings require fire-rated separations in corridors, lobbies, and stairwells. We work with HOA boards and property managers to plan and install fire-rated glass upgrades during building renovations and capital improvement projects.
Traditional wired glass fails CPSC impact safety standards and is being phased out of buildings nationwide. We replace outdated wired glass with modern ceramic or intumescent fire-rated glass that meets both fire and impact safety requirements.
Benefits
Fire-rated glass is the last line of defense between a fire and the occupants evacuating your building. Properly rated and installed fire-rated assemblies compartmentalize fire and smoke, buying critical evacuation time.
Fire-rated glazing is not optional -- it is a code requirement in locations specified by IBC Chapter 7 and NFPA 101. Our installations pass fire marshal and building inspector review the first time, avoiding costly delays and re-work.
Modern fire-rated glass is crystal clear, replacing the old wire-mesh aesthetic with transparent panels that flood stairwells, corridors, and lobbies with natural daylight. Better wayfinding, improved occupant experience.
Buildings with fully compliant fire-rated assemblies command higher property values and may qualify for reduced insurance premiums. Non-compliant buildings face liability exposure, fines, and potential closure orders.
Fire-rated glass eliminates the industrial look of traditional wired glass and solid fire-rated walls. Architects and building owners can achieve open, contemporary designs without compromising fire separation requirements.
Multi-layer intumescent fire-rated glass provides significant sound reduction between spaces -- often achieving STC ratings of 35-45. This dual benefit makes it ideal for corridor and office separation walls where both fire and acoustic performance matter.
Our Process
Fire-rated glass installation demands precision, code knowledge, and attention to detail. Every label, every glazing compound, every piece of hardware must be part of the tested assembly. Here is our proven process.
We review your building plans, perform a thorough site survey, identify all locations requiring fire-rated glazing,
We specify the appropriate fire-rated glass type (ceramic, intumescent, or fire-rated tempered), frame system, glazing materials, and hardware.
Fire-rated glass and frames are ordered from certified manufacturers including AGC, Pilkington, SCHOTT, and Technical Glass Products.
Our experienced glaziers install the fire-rated assembly per the manufacturer tested configuration. Frames are plumbed and leveled,
We coordinate directly with your fire marshal and building inspector for final approval.
Why Us
20+
Years in the DMV
Two decades of fire-rated glazing experience in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. We know the code requirements, the inspectors, and the building stock across the entire metro area.
IBC
Code Expertise
We do not just install glass -- we analyze your building code requirements, specify the correct products, prepare submittals, and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction from start to finish.
100%
First-Pass Inspections
Our fire-rated assemblies are installed per the manufacturer tested configuration with all labels preserved. We coordinate directly with fire marshals and building inspectors for seamless approval.
UL
Listed Assemblies
Every fire-rated glass assembly we install carries current listings from UL, Intertek, or WHI. We source from certified manufacturers including AGC, Pilkington, SCHOTT, and Technical Glass Products.
Full
Turnkey Service
From code analysis and product specification through procurement, installation, and final inspection -- we handle the entire fire-rated glazing scope so you have a single point of responsibility.
VA
Fully Insured
Fully licensed and insured in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. Every installation is documented with manufacturer certificates, UL listing numbers, and installation photographs.
Common Questions
Have a specific question about fire-rated glass for your project?
Call (703) 679-7741Service Area
Based in Arlington, Virginia, we serve the entire Washington DC metropolitan area. From federal buildings on the National Mall to commercial office towers in Tysons Corner to condominiums in Bethesda, our fire-rated glass installations protect buildings and occupants across the region.
Our experience with fire-rated glazing in historic buildings along Embassy Row, federal properties near the National Mall, commercial towers in Tysons Corner and Bethesda, and condominium buildings throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland makes us uniquely qualified for fire-rated glass projects in the DMV. We understand the specific code requirements, inspection processes, and architectural sensitivities of working in the nation’s capital.
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View ServiceCall us today or request a free estimate. We will review your building code requirements, recommend the correct fire-rated glass products, and provide a detailed proposal for your project.
Free Code Analysis
We review your building plans and identify every fire-rated glazing requirement
20 to 120-Minute Ratings
Full range of fire ratings for any application and code requirement
All Glass Types
Ceramic, intumescent, fire-rated tempered, and wired glass replacement
Listed Assemblies
UL, Intertek, and WHI listed and labeled glass, frames, and hardware
Turnkey Installation
From submittals through inspection -- single point of responsibility
Inspector Coordination
We work directly with your fire marshal and building inspector