MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Fire-rated glass system, various ratings (6mm-25mm monolithic; 23mm-52mm laminated/IGU)

Specialty Glass
mineral › Glass › Specialty Glass
mineralglassfire-ratedsafety-glassborosilicateglass-ceramiclaminatedAS1530.4NCC-compliantBAL-ratedbushfirepassive-fire-protection
ATLAS CODE
MIN-GLA-SPE-002
Fire-rated glass system, various ratings (6mm-25mm monolithic; 23mm-52mm laminated/IGU)
Category mineral
Material Family Glass
Regulatory Status Non-combustible
Density
2230 kg/m³
Carbon (A1-A5)
1350 kgCO₂eq/tonne
Fire Class
Non-combustible
Lifespan
30 years
Description

Fire-rated glass systems encompass two primary technologies: monolithic borosilicate glass-ceramics (6mm-25mm) offering integrity-only protection, and laminated/IGU systems (23mm-52mm) providing both integrity and insulation ratings. Glass-ceramic products like SCHOTT Pyran utilise low thermal expansion borosilicate compositions, while laminated systems such as Pilkington Pyrostop incorporate intumescent interlayers that foam when exposed to heat, creating an opaque barrier against fire, smoke, and radiant heat transfer.

Primary Sectors
[Commercial][Healthcare][Residential][Industrial]
Typical Uses
  • Fire-rated doors and windows in commercial buildings
  • Fire stairs and egress pathways requiring FRL -/120/120
  • Smoke lobbies and fire control rooms
  • Boundary walls and external facades
  • Bushfire-prone area construction (BAL-40 to BAL-FZ)
  • Hospital and healthcare facility compartmentation
  • Educational facility fire separation
  • High-rise residential fire safety systems
  • Industrial facility hazard separation
  • Heritage building fire upgrades
Recycled Content 25
Renewable Content 0
Recyclability 100
Embodied Carbon 1350 kgCO₂eq/tonne
Embodied Energy 15 MJ/kg
EPD Available Yes
Advantages
Maintains visibility during evacuation scenariosPrevents spread of fire, smoke and toxic gasesProvides radiant heat protection up to 40kW/m²Available in large sheet sizes (up to 1.3m × 2.5m)Can achieve FRL ratings up to -/180/120Compatible with aluminium and steel framing systemsNo spontaneous breakage risk (no nickel sulphide inclusions)Impact safety ratings available (AS 2208 compliance)Clear appearance without amber tinting in modern productsWithstands thermal shock and direct flame impingement
Cautions
Significantly higher cost than standard glazing (3-5× premium)Limited supplier base in Australian marketWeight implications for structural design (especially laminated)Requires certified framing systems for rated assembliesInstallation requires specialist contractorsCannot be cut or modified on siteLong lead times for non-standard sizes (8-12 weeks)Limited thermal insulation in integrity-only productsReplacement costs high if damagedTesting and certification requirements add project complexity
TECHNICAL DATA: PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES MIN-GLA-SPE-002
Density (Dry) 2230 kg/m³
Specific Gravity 2.23
Porosity 0 %
Water Absorption 0 %
Hardness 418 kg/mm²
Surface Roughness 0.02 μm Ra
UV Resistance Excellent
Chemical Resistance Class 1 ISO 719
pH Tolerance 1-14 pH
Compressive Strength 1000 MPa
Tensile Strength 45 MPa
Flexural Strength 69 MPa
Shear Strength 35 MPa
Elastic Modulus 64 GPa
Yield Strength N/A
Impact Resistance Grade A AS 2208
Bearing Capacity 800 MPa
Poisson's Ratio 0.2
Creep Resistance Excellent
Abrasion Resistance High
Thermal Conductivity 1.1 W/m·K
Thermal Resistance 0.18 m²·K/W
Specific Heat Capacity 750 J/kg·K
Thermal Expansion 3.3 ×10⁻⁶/K
Melting Point 820 °C
Ignition Temperature N/A °C
Sound Transmission Class (STC) 31 STC
Noise Reduction Coeff. (NRC) 0.05
Optical
Light Transmittance 87 %
Light Reflectance (LRV) 8 %
Solar Reflectance (SRI) 0.84

Fire-rated glass technology evolved from wired glass in the 1960s to modern borosilicate glass-ceramics developed by SCHOTT in the 1980s. The introduction of clear, wireless glass-ceramics revolutionised fire-rated glazing by eliminating the visual obstruction and corrosion issues of traditional wired glass. Australian adoption accelerated after the 2009 Victorian bushfires led to stricter BAL requirements in AS 3959. The NCC 2022 update further strengthened requirements, mandating FRL -/120/120 for many applications previously accepting lower ratings. Current developments focus on larger panel sizes, improved optical clarity, and integrated systems combining fire, security, and acoustic performance.

SAFETY, ECOLOGY & INSTALLATION MIN-GLA-SPE-002
Flame Spread Index 0
Smoke Developed Index 0
Combustibility Class Non-combustible
Ignition Temperature N/A °C
Fire Resistance Rating 30-120 minutes
Heat Release Rate 0 kW/m²
Toxicity of Combustion None
Embodied Carbon (A1-A3) 1350 kgCO₂eq/tonne
Embodied Energy 15 MJ/kg
Water Footprint 28 L/kg
EPD Available Yes
Recycled Content 25%
Renewable Content 0%
LEED Points 2 points
Circular Economy Score 7 /10
VOC Emissions 0 g/L
Skill Level Specialist
Crew Size 3-4 persons
Installation Time 2 hours/m²
Curing Time 24 hours
Setting Time 1 hour
Temperature Range 5 – 35 °C
Humidity Range 30 – 85 %RH
Required Tools
Glass suction cups (rated for weight)Laser level for alignmentTorque wrench for frame assemblyNon-marring installation blocksGlazing packers and wedgesApproved glazing silicone
Certifications Required
Fire-rated glazing installer certificationWorking at heightsGlass handling license
Weather Limitations
No installation in winds >30km/hTemperature 5-35°CNo rain during silicone application
COMMERCIAL, LOGISTICS & REGULATORY MIN-GLA-SPE-002
Material Cost 800 – 2500 AUD/m²
Installation Cost 300 – 600 AUD/m²
Annual Maintenance 15 AUD/m²/year
Lifecycle Cost (50yr) 45 AUD/m²/year
Market Availability Limited
Lead Time 6-12 weeks
Design Life 30 years
Warranty Period 10 years
Maintenance Interval 1 year
Service Temp Range -40 – 200 °C
Freeze/Thaw Resistance Excellent
Dimensional Stability Excellent
Certifications Held
CodeMark certification (ABCB)WaterMark (if applicable)Product Technical StatementEnvironmental Product Declaration (EPD)ISO 14001 manufacturingGreen Star contribution eligibleNo lead or arsenic contentRoHS compliantREACH regulation compliant
Fire Code Compliance
AS 1530.4-2014 Fire resistance testsAS 1905.1 Fire-resistant doorsAS 1530.8.2 Bushfire exposure tests
Standards Compliance
NCC 2022 Volume One Section CNCC Specification 12 Fire doors and windowsBCA Type A and B construction requirementsASTM E119 Fire test methodsASTM E2010 Positive pressure testingASTM E2074 Fire door assembliesISO 3585 Borosilicate glass propertiesISO 12543 Laminated glassISO 719 Chemical resistanceEN 13501-2 Fire classificationEN 1363-1 Fire resistance testsEN 357 Fire-resistant glazing classification

DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.

ID: MIN-GLA-SPE-002 Schema: v3.0