Can fire-rated and conventional curtain wall systems match?

The aesthetic gap between traditional fire-rated and conventional curtain wall systems has long proved challenging for architects and design professionals. In large part, this was due to the design limitations associated with traditional fire-rated frames. While effective in blocking fire, their bulky, unsightly appearance made it impossible to create visual harmony with non-rated framing systems. To help resolve this dilemma, manufacturing advances over the last decade have given rise to fire-rated curtain walls with narrow mullion profiles and large expanses of fire-rated glass that more closely achieve a visual match with surrounding framing systems.

TGP has been at the forefront of this transition to matched systems. Through work with building teams on a diverse set of projects such as New York City’ Fulton Center transit hub to the Art Institute of Chicago’s Modern Wing, TGP’s product development specialists have developed several complementary framing systems, including:

• Fireframes® Curtainwall Series fire-rated frames
• Fireframes® Aluminum Series fire-rated frames
• SteelBuilt Curtainwall® Systems (non-fire-rated frames)

Designers can combine these product lines with one another or with other steel and aluminum assemblies for a cohesive look, and can specify powder-coated frames in virtually any color, custom shapes, cover caps or even wood veneer.