Fire Proof Glass FAQs

Building codes call for Impact Resistant Safety Glass anywhere a space is classified as a "Hazardous Location."

For a full breakdown of where these requirements apply, see our Fire Codes page.

The following Ray-Bar products meet International Building Code IBC 2406 Safety Glazing requirements:

• 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed)
• 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated)
• 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed)
• 1/4" FireGlass 20 (Tempered)
• All Pilkington Pyrostop glass (Multi-Laminated)

See the full lineup of Ray-Bar's Impact Resistant Fire Rated Safety Glass products and options.

Conventional wired glass does not meet ANSI Z97.1 impact performance standards, so it's not permitted in Hazardous Locations under IBC 2406.

Ray-Bar's WireLite-NT solves this problem — it's safety filmed to meet ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II Impact Resistance standards, complies with current IBC 2406 requirements, and is available in 45-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute fire ratings.

Window glass and door vision glass ratings and labeling requirements vary depending on the type of Fire Rated Wall Partition involved.

For the specifics, see our guide to walls, doors, and window ratings, fire ratings, and glass label markings.

Fire Protective: Protects as a barrier against fire, flames, and smoke to a specific standard and time duration, but is not a barrier to heat.

• See Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), 5/16" FireLite+Plus (Laminated), 1/4" WireLite-NT (Safety Filmed), and 1/4" FireGlass 20 (Tempered, for Doors only)

Fire Resistive: Protects as a barrier against fire, flames, smoke, and thermal conductive and radiant heat transfer to a specific standard and time duration, meeting Wall Assembly Criteria Test Standards ASTM E-119 and UL 263.

• See Ray-Bar's Pilkington Pyrostop Multi-Intumescent Gel-Laminated Fire Glass products

See also our Fire Rated Glass Product Comparison: Fire Resistive vs Fire Protective.

60- and 90-minute fire rated doors with a 450-degree temperature rise limit are required for specific exit applications, including interior stairways, ramps, and exit passageways.

Learn more in our 60 and 90 minute Fire Rated Door Temperature Rise Requirements guide.

Choosing the right fire rated product depends on your specific application and rating requirements. Browse our full lineup of Ray-Bar Fire Rated Glass Products, which also includes references to relevant Fire and Safety Codes and Standards.

Marking and labeling requirements are covered in our Fire Rated Glass Permanent Marking and Labeling Guide.

Our fire rated glass technical data and performance sheet covers sound attenuation, weight, insulation value, and light transmission across our fire glass products.

FireLite is a clear glass-ceramic material, similar in composition to the flat black glass cook-tops used on electric ranges (which allow heat to transfer safely to pots and pans), and to fireplace glass-ceramic panels like Neoceram.

The FireLite family of clear glass-ceramic glazing panes delivers fire protective performance in vision frames for rated doors, and in windows within fire rated wall partitions. Underwriters Laboratories tests and lists these products for fire ratings by minutes and application — up to 90 minutes in a wall and up to 180 minutes in a rated door — each with maximum allowable clear-view "daylight" size limits.

• UL File Number (FireLite, FireLite-NT, FireLite+Plus, FireLite IGU): R38927
• Meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C, and NFPA 80, 252, and 257
• Passes positive pressure and Hose Stream testing

FireLite glass-ceramic is also available as Impact Resistant, in two forms:

• 3/16" FireLite-NT — a clear safety film applied to one face
• 5/16" FireLite+Plus — two layers of FireLite glass-ceramic laminated together with a clear interlayer

Both meet current International Building Code IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for Impact Resistant glazing in hazardous locations — door vision window frames, sidelights, or walls within 24" of a door opening — and satisfy ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II impact resistance standards, with permanent labeling to match. This fire rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke.

This product is not a barrier to radiant heat.

WireLite is a 1/4" thick fire rated wired glass with a standard Diamond pattern, built for vision frames in fire rated wood or metal doors, and in windows set into walls.

• UL-listed for doors up to 90 minutes (with maximum clear "daylight" view size limits) and windows in fire rated walls up to 45 minutes
• UL File Number (WireLite, WireLite IGU): R38927
• Meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C, and NFPA 80, 252, and 257; passes positive pressure and Hose Stream testing

The 1/4" thick WireLite-NT version adds a clear safety film applied to one face, making it Impact Resistant and compliant with current IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for hazardous locations — door vision window frames, sidelights, or walls within 24" of a door opening — while meeting ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat II standards, with permanent labeling.

Ray-Bar only offers this product in the clear safety filmed, Impact Resistant WireLite-NT version, for practical, ethical, and safety reasons.

This fire protective rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke. This product is not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing that protects against flame, smoke, and radiant heat, ask about Pilkington Pyrostop.

FireGlass 20 is a 1/4" thick, very clear, tempered fire rated glass built specifically for doors carrying a 20-minute rating.

• Heat-tempered safety glass, meeting current IBC 2406 "Safety Glazing" requirements for hazardous locations such as door vision window frames
• Meets UL 9, UL 10B, UL 10C, and NFPA 252 — without the Hose Stream test
• Listed under UL File Number R13377
• Does not pass the Hose Stream test and is not resistant to thermal shock

Tempered glass is typically 4x (400%) stronger than regular monolithic annealed glass, and also stronger than wired glass.

FireGlass 20 is UL-tested, classified, and listed for doors up to 20 minutes (with maximum clear "daylight" view size limits), and is intended only for 20-minute rated door vision frame applications — it cannot be used in windows within a fire rated wall assembly.

This fire rated glass product is a barrier to flame and smoke. This product is not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing that protects against flame, smoke, and radiant heat, ask about Pilkington Pyrostop. For higher-rated fire protective options against flame and smoke, see our FireLite product line and technical data.

For any fire rating over 20 minutes, UL 9 and NFPA 257 require this test in the U.S. (and it's mandatory for all fire glazing products in Canada). Here's how it works:

• The glazing material or assembly is fire-tested in a furnace heated to more than 1,600°F for 45 minutes
• While still hot, it's immediately hit with a water "hose stream" at 30 psi or more
• This checks erosion, impact forces, sudden cooling ("thermal shock"), and overall integrity

Please note: FireGlass 20 clear tempered fire glass does not pass the Hose Stream test, and is only rated for door vision frames at 20 minutes in the U.S.

All of Ray-Bar's 3/16" FireLite, 3/16" FireLite-NT, 5/16" FireLite+Plus, FireLite IGUs, and 1/4" WireLite-NT pass UL's Hose Stream test.

Ray-Bar's UL File Number for these fire rated glazing products is R38927.

These fire protective rated glass products are a barrier to flame and smoke. They are not a barrier to radiant heat. For fire resistive glazing that protects against flame, smoke, and radiant heat, ask about Pilkington Pyrostop.