Wire Glass is glass with supplementary security elements that make it less likely to break, or less likely to pose a threat when broken.
CHOOSE GLASSOPOLIS for UL filmed wire. For decades wire glass was the best fire-rated glass around. It survives a fire, but it was not impact-safe. In the last 10 years traditional wire glass has been phased out of the building code in the US. But its now available from Glassopolis in an upgraded format to fit back into the building code. Glassopolis applies an impact-safety film that is specially approved by UL to not jeopardize its fire-ratings. Protect3™ Safety Glass is a ¼” (6mm) thick glazing material consisting of fire-rated wire glass with a surface applied fire-rated and impact-safety rated film. It is UL tested, classified and labeled with fire-ratings up to 90 minutes with hose stream and has impact-safety ratings to ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16CFR1201 (Cat A Wire Glass is a kind of safety glass. Chicken Wire Glass is also a type of Wire Glass. Wire Glass is glass with supplementary security elements that make it less likely to break, or less likely to pose a threat when broken. Consistently it was known as fire rated glass. Wire Glass is a type of glass into which a wire mesh-work is installed during production. WiredGlass has an brunt protection similar to that of regular glass, but in case of breakage, the mesh retains the pieces of glass. The code history. Traditional wired glass (non-safety) is not banned. It can still be used in fire windows in non-hazardous locations, but is limited to 25 percent of the wall area. This size limitation applies to all fire protective glazing. Traditional wired glass (non-safety) is not banned. Confusion in the marketplace continues to surround wired glass due in part to its code history. In 1977, the CPSC developed 16 CFR 1201 to protect people from injuries due to accidental impact with glazing in certain locations. Illustration of the IBC Change Affecting Use of Wired Glass in Impact/Safety Applications Outlined below is the old (IBC 2000) and new (IBC 2003) wording regarding Safety Glazing. The areas relevant to wired glass are underlined. Exemption for Wire Glass in these areas only was withdrawn.Now, other more expensive fire rated glazing products are availible that also comply with category I and/or II safety requirements.Plenty of Fire and Safety rated glazing products are now available. Q. We are replacing two (possibly three) pieces of Obscure Laminated Wire Glass at the hallway entrance to an elevator hoistway. The building, where the replacement glass is required, was erected around the turn of the 20th century. I have seen many terrible injuries from wire glass over the last 25 years. When a body part goes thru the glass, usually a hand and arm, the person instinctively pulls the hand back. That action strips the skin and tendons and leaves the person with many years of surgical reconstruction and a lifelong injury. A lite of annealed glass must first be cut to size and then tempered in a tempering furnace. All tempered glass bears a small acid-etched label, usually found in the bottom right or left hand corner of the glass. This label, or “bug” as it is commonly called, signifies compliance to various standards. Square or diamond wire patterns available, as is the option of either clear glass or obscure glass (smooth-rough finish). Wire glass meets the requirements of ANSI Z97.1-1984, but does not meet the impact requirements of CPSC 16 CFR 1201. Contrary to popular belief, wired glass has not been banned from use. Traditional wired glass can still be used in annealed glass applications—if it meets the wind and thermal load requirements—and in fire window assemblies that are not in hazardous locations. However, it is limited to 25 percent of the wall area. This size limitation applies to all fire protective glazing products. Traditional wired glass (non-safety) is not banned. Confusion in the marketplace continues to surround wired glass due in part to its code history. In 1977, the CPSC developed 16 CFR 1201 to protect people from injuries due to accidental impact with glazing in certain locations.
http://glassopolis.com/ProductCategories/FireRated/Protect3SafetyGlass/tabid/483/Default.aspx http://www.bearglass.com/pages/index.php?p=wire_glass http://glassmagazine.com/article/commercial/wired-glass-still-misunderstood-product-118017 http://www.anemostat.com/DoorProducts/literature/IBC-Code_Wire_Glass.pdf https://www.glass.org/industry-resources-ask-the-expert-faq.html http://www.stilesdoors.com/techdata/pdf/Basic%20Glass%20Guide%200710.pdf http://glassmagazine.com/article/commercial/wired-glass-still-misunderstood-product-118017
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