Fire-Rated Framing and Curtain Walls: Protection Against Hurricanes
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collected by the Environmental Protection Agency, the intensity and frequency of hurricanes and tropical cyclones has seen a general increase over the past 30 years. In 2024, we saw these trends in real time as hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread damage across the Southeast. Just two weeks apart, these storms left over three-million people without power, leveled thousands of homes and businesses and impacted the health and wellbeing of hundreds.
In the wake of these storms, it is important for design teams to understand how materials and systems can support hurricane-resistant designs. Knowing this can help project teams more readily protect those in hurricane zones as well as mitigate potential damage caused by extreme weather.
This is especially critical when it comes to protective glazing. Hurricane-rated glazing options can help design teams meet standards for hurricane-prone areas without compromising design intent. While in itself, designing façades that can withstand hurricane-force winds and impact, there are instances where protective layers overlap. In these applications, fire-rated hurricane curtain walls can provide a code-driven solution that maintains daylight and views that distinguish contemporary building design.
What are hurricane-resistant building materials?
Unlike fire-rated framing and glass, which are subjected to a few related tests to simulate performance during fire conditions, hurricane-resistant materials must meet minimum requirements for a variety of testing standards. These tests include impact-resistance (ASTM E1886, ASTM E1996, TAS 201), air leakage (ASTM E283), water infiltration (ASTM E331), wind pressure resistance (TAS 203, AAMA 506) and many others.
Due to the stringent requirements of High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ), including Miami-Dade County, designers, detailers and specifiers for these zones were once limited to opaque materials for exterior walls. Metal roofs, cladding, concrete and masonry have all provided hurricane-resistant façades. However, these materials limit access to daylight and views of the world outside the building—two important considerations for occupant-centric design.
Curtain wall systems can help project teams create visually stunning building envelopes that also support daylighting strategies. In addition to meeting test requirements for hurricane-resistance, curtain wall systems from Technical Glass Products (TGP) can achieve fire ratings to increase their ability to be used in a variety of project applications.
Fire-rated hurricane curtain walls offer durability and design flexibility
Due to their composition, many hurricane-rated building materials, like metal and concrete, can also defend against fire and smoke. Fire-rated hurricane curtain walls are no exception. For example, the Fireframes® Curtainwall Hurricane Series from TGP feature fire-rated frames that have a maximum design load up to ± 110 pounds per square foot (psf), roughly the equivalent of a 207 mph wind speed. These narrow-profile steel frames offer strength and durability that exceeds other materials—such as aluminum. Able to withstand hurricane-force winds and impact from flying debris, these systems can also have a fire rating.
When paired with insulated glazing units (IGU) like Pilkington Pyrostop® fire-resistive-rated and High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) glass, fire-rated hurricane curtain walls can help designers create stunning facades that also meet fire- and life-safety code requirements for projects in High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ). While exterior glazing may not commonly require fire ratings, projects with certain building return conditions or ones near the lot line or other buildings may be required to have fire ratings.
In addition to meeting code requirements, fire-rated hurricane curtain walls with narrow-profile frames can support large glass panels to maximize access to daylight and views to adjacent areas.
What are the benefits of fire-rated framing in hurricane zones?
In addition to supporting designs that prioritize access to daylight and occupant safety, narrow-profile, steel fire-rated frames can also protect occupants from windborne debris and rain.
Fire-rated hurricane curtain walls are able to provide this level of protection without films or shutters. As a result, architects can design glazed façades that connect occupants to nearby landscapes, provide increased access to daylight and support contemporary façade design all while defending occupants against dangerous weather conditions.
Steel fire-rated hurricane curtain walls feature components that mitigate water-intrusion and subsequent corrosion. These systems also have more ability to move with extreme wind than masonry construction, which can help them better withstand hurricanes and tropical storms.
Fire-rated hurricane curtain walls are as impressive as the nature that surrounds them
While there are many paths to meeting the building requirements of places like Miami-Dade County and other High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) locations, fire-rated hurricane curtain walls help building professionals create more weather-resistant buildings without compromising design aesthetics.
These curtain wall systems allow occupants within a building to see the shores and coastlines that call so many people to live and visit the Southeast and Gulf each year. This contributes to a built environment that is more connected to its location and a more positive occupant experience.
