A Fire-Rated Window is a tested window assembly that has proven to offer a certain degree of protection in the face of fire. That may sound like a strange task for a window and it's glass to perform.
Obviously, neither can extinguish a fire or warn a building's occupants that there's any danger. But a tested fire-rated window assembly can keep flames and smoke from spreading from one room to another. The official term for this is compartmentation, and it means that a window and it's glazing can play a vital role in restricting fire damage to a limited area.
Windows containing a fire rating means that the product has been tested and approved by a code recognized testing agency. The test agency we work directly with is Underwriters Laboratories. On a quarterly basis UL does follow-up inspections to ensure we are continually building the windows to the same standards as the windows that were tested. This provides a peace of mind to the end user that they are getting a compliant product.
Our windows have been tested to UL 9 and UL 10C standards. At a test lab the windows are installed into a wall which is mounted to a large furnace. The windows are then exposed to the extreme temperatures in excess of 1700 deg. for a designated period of time ranging up to 60 minutes. After the completion of the fire test the windows are sprayed with a fire hose stream of water with the assembly experiencing impact force and thermal shock. During both phases of testing the glazing and components must remain completely intact to the framing and at no point can flaming occur. Operable windows need to show that they are self-closing.
All operable windows are equipped with devices that utilize a fusible link or electronic resettable device to release an energy source and close the window. Fusible links are designed to melt and release at a designated temperature rise and electronic devices can be wired into alarm systems. Depending on the style of window the energy source used to close the window is a spring device or gravity.
First and foremost you will need to follow all local, state, and international building codes that pertain to your particular area to see what they require in addition to our requirements. Contacting your building inspector or AHJ is an important step. It is important to know that fire rated windows are only to be installed the way they were tested and approved by UL. Any deviation from that will void the fire rating of the window assembly. We send detailed step by step installation instructions with our product and allow the installer a variety of setback options. Lastly, a full set of our instructions can also be found on our website under the installation tab.
The primary purpose of a fire rated window is to limit the threat of fire by containment. Typically, the utilization of fire rated windows is to either protect the paths of egress from interior fires or minimize the hazard associated with exterior wall openings that are created by inadequate separation between buildings. In any case, a properly designed window can provide both the necessary protection against the threat of fire while still achieving the design goals of the project.
Fyre-Tec windows are deemed a superior product based on their inherent ability to combine one of the narrowest sight lines in the industry while imparting the necessary strength and durability. Further, Fyre-Tec offers a number of various fully operable fire rated windows which allows the user the full functionality of a window opening combined with the safety necessary in the event of a fire. Lastly, customers continue to return to us time and time again due to our ability to offer competitive lead times which help keep your project on or ahead of schedule.
Currently Fyre-Tec offers a variety of clear ceramic options that can offer a 45-Min or 60-Min rating when installed in Fyre-Tec frames with a like rating. Our ceramics offer unobstructed viewing and can further be glazed as a full IGU with optional Low-E, tints and muntins. As an alternative to ceramics we also offers three types of reliable and cost effective wired glass options that can be glazed in the very same manner. This option also offers the customer the ability to create a full IGU with the same Low-E, tints and muntins available.
The Fyre-Tec window is a clean, precisely designed steel window offered in a Horizontal Slider, Single Hung, Fixed Lite, Awning or Casement window. Our windows can further be mulled together to create a whole host of configuration options to meet the design specification. We carry a variety of stock colors to meet and match the characteristics of each project. And when needed we offer our customers the ability to custom color match to any particular item.
Due to the uniqueness of a Fire Rated window and the complexity surrounding building code requirements we encourage customers to both spend time on our website at fyre-tec.com to learn more and would further welcome phone calls to discuss your project. Our Project Managers come with decades of experience and would be happy to discuss your next project. Lastly, requests for quotes can easily be originated by visiting the "Get a quote" tab on our website.
