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Can Glass Withstand Fire Damage?
You've done your best to protect your Tucson, AZ home from every type of damage, including fire damage. However, there is one specific material you are unsure of how to protect, your glass windows. Windows are the eyes of your home, allowing in light while keeping out other elements. What they may not be able to keep out though is fire. This leads many homeowners to question whether glass can withstand fire damage.
Answering the question if glass can withstand fire damage requires understanding the following:
- Is glass flammable?
- At what temperature does traditional glass break?
- What's the difference between traditional glass and fire-rated glass?
- How does fire-resistant glass get its rating?
- What are the types of fire-resistant glass?
- Who should use fire-resistant glass?
- What other fire safety measures can you take?
Get out the Windex, because it's time to put a shine on whether glass can withstand fire damage or not!
Is Glass Flammable?
Glass is the byproduct of melting sand, making it an oxide of silicon. Because silicon dioxide has already been burned, it cannot burn any further. As Firefighter Insider points out, this means that glass is not flammable. It is very difficult to make glass burn.
At What Temperature Does Traditional Glass Break?
First and foremost, traditional glass can not withstand fire damage. Most house fires reach temperatures as high as 1,100° F (593° C). As Glass on Web points out, traditional glass begins to shatter around 250° F. Since house fires reach that temperature within minutes, ordinary glass will start breaking almost right away.
The Difference Between Traditional Glass & Fire-Rated Glass
Most homes and businesses have windows made of glass. Some windows are double-paned, meaning they have insulated glass between the panes. Keep in mind that the additional insulation does nothing for a raging house fire. Fire-rated glass is considered a barrier that acts to protect anything and everything in the fire's path.
How Does Fire-Resistant Glass Get Its Rating?
Fire-resistant glass is tested and rated in the following way:
- A structure is lit on fire.
- Monitor the temperature as it reaches 1,000° F.
- Bring in trained fire department pros to eliminate the fire with a special hose.
After that, the glass panes are examined to see if they were able to tolerate the "thermal shock," which is basically dumping gallons of water on a very, very hot object. Depending on the amount of time the glass retained its integrity, a rating is assigned.
What Are The Types of Fire-Resistant Glass?
There are a couple of different fire-resistant glass types, two being E-Class Glass & El-Class Glass.
E-Class Glass:
- Inhibits fires from spreading & carrying dangerous chemicals beyond the affected room or space
- Favorable over household window panes due to the additional protection provided
El-Class Glass:
- Known for being strong & heavy-duty
- This type of glass also features added insulation that traps the heat as much as possible
Who Should Use Fire-Resistant Glass?
Unless you live in a tall high-rise or work in a large office building, the majority of homes do just fine with traditional glass. However, given the fact that fire-resistant glass is made to help those inside a building escape during a fire, it's not a bad idea to at least consider installing it.
What Are Other Fire Safety Measures You Can Take?
You've probably heard before that it's always best to be over prepared rather than underprepared and the same goes for preventing fires. Using both fire sprinklers and fire-resistant glass inhibits the flames from surrounding your entire home. Although, it's vital to keep in mind that traditional windows and sprinklers can make for a dangerous situation.
Thermal shock, which is the quick cooling of a surface after high heat, is a real problem. This can make the glass window shatter, allowing for the flames to spread and heat to escape easily, according to How Stuff Works.
Conclusion
Since traditional glass shatters around temperatures of 250° F, it cannot withstand fires, which typically reach temperatures as high as 1,100° F. Your best bet, if necessary, is to install fire-rated glass that is specifically designed to withstand fire damage.