Can fire-rated glass be used as a floor system?

Yes. To help teams maintain compliance in buildings that need horizontal fire separation, innovations in fire-rated glazing allow it to be specified as a fire-resistant floor system. These multifunctional systems can support structural loads and allow daylight to penetrate deep into buildings while creating a critical barrier against the spread of flames, smoke and heat. Today, design professionals can use these advanced systems in a range of applications that require a code-approved fire barrier between floors, including lobby floors or ceilings, atriums, corridors near exits and other public areas of egress.

While fire-rated glass floor systems were initially specified as a way to reclaim unused daylighting in areas requiring a fire barrier between floors, design teams are increasingly using it in lightwells and as infill solutions to push the limits of what is possible with stringent fire and life safety requirements. For instance, slip-resistant solutions, like Technical Glass Products’ (TGP) Fireframes ClearFloor® System, can support loads of up to 150 pounds per square foot (psf) and bathe interior spaces in natural daylight. Available with fire-resistance ratings of up to 120 minutes, this fire-resistant floor system can be specified in a variety of glazing colors and textures, allowing for design customization while achieving fire- and life-safety code requirements.