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Fire rated walls
Transparent fire rated walls tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263 / CAN/ULC S101.
What are fire rated WALLS?
Fire rated walls are tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263 / CAN/ULC S101, the stringent fire resistive wall standard. This includes a fire endurance test, a hose stream test and a radiant heat test that limits the temperature rise on the non-fire side to less than 250° F above ambient. Fire rated walls are rated 60 minutes and over and often used in stairwells, shaft enclosures, fire barriers, occupancy separations and exterior walls in close proximity to property lines.
Working in concert with our fire resistive glass products, our fire resistive framing systems also meet ASTM E119 / UL 263 / CAN/ULC S101 to form a complete transparent fire rated wall assembly. This means designers and building owners can now bring daylight, vision and transparency to fire rated spaces while still maintaining code requirements. Glazing used in fire rated wall applications are marked with a “W” and the corresponding minute rating (ex. W-60, W-120).
Our fire resistive framing systems are listed and labeled by UL and/or Intertek for up to 2 hours and offer the clean, sharp appearance of conventional aluminum storefronts and curtain walls. Available in multiple profiles and finishes to easily match adjacent non-rated wall systems to give designers a seamless look. We also offer full-vision temperature rise doors that can be used with any of our systems.
fire RESISTIVE FRAMING Options
GPX® Architectural Series Fire Resistive
60-120 Minute Fire Resistive Walls
Fire resistive aluminum framing system up to 2 hours with narrow profiles and uniform sightlines. For interior and exterior use.
GPX® Curtain Wall
60-120 Minute Fire Resistive Curtain Walls
Fire resistive aluminum framing system up to 2 hours with narrow profiles and uniform sightlines for multi-story spans of glass. For interior and exterior use.
GPX® Hurricane
45-120 Minute Fire Resistive Hurricane Rated Walls
Fire resistive, hurricane rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Has FL Product Approval for High Velocity Hurricane Zones and TX Department of Insurance Approval for Inland 1 and Seaward Zones.
GPX® Ballistic
45-120 Minute Fire and Ballistic Rated System
Fire resistive, ballistic rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Meets up to UL 752 Level 8 ballistic requirements. For interior and exterior use.
GPX® Blast System
45-120 Minute Fire Resistive and Blast Rated Walls
Fire resistive, ballistic rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Meets up Department of Defense (DoD) Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings for Blast Resistance. For interior and exterior use.
GPX® EZ Frame
45-120 Minute Fire Rated Framing
Flexible, economical and creative solution that meets the fire resistive wall standard without visible metal framing.
GPX Architectural Series Fire Resistive
60-120 Minute Fire Resistive Walls
Fire resistive aluminum framing system up to 2 hours with narrow profiles and uniform sightlines. For interior and exterior use.
GPX Curtain Wall
60-120 Minute Fire Resistive Curtain Walls
Fire resistive aluminum framing system up to 2 hours with narrow profiles and uniform sightlines for multi-story spans of glass. For interior and exterior use.
GPX Hurricane
45-120 Minute Fire Resistive Hurricane Rated Walls
Fire resistive, hurricane rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Has FL Product Approval for High Velocity Hurricane Zones and TX Department of Insurance Approval for Inland 1 and Seaward Zones.
GPX Ballistic
45-120 Minute Fire and Ballistic Rated System
Fire resistive, ballistic rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Meets up to UL 752 Level 8 ballistic requirements. For interior and exterior use.
GPX Blast System
45-120 Minute Fire Resistive and Blast Rated Walls
Fire resistive, ballistic rated aluminum framing system up to 2 hours. Meets up Department of Defense (DoD) Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings for Blast Resistance. For interior and exterior use.
GPX EZ Frame
45-120 Minute Fire Rated Framing
Flexible, economical and creative solution that meets the fire resistive wall standard without visible metal framing.
Maximum Versatility
Our fire resistive framing systems can be used in floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall applications when used with our fire resistive glass products, providing maximum vision and transparency. Available in multiple standard and custom finishes including high performance fluoropolymer finishes by PPG, clear anodized, bronze anodized, black anodized, Decoral®, wood veneer, ornamental metal and more.
Unyielding Performance
Aside from meeting the stringent ASTM E119 / UL 263 / CAN/ULC S101 fire resistive wall criteria, our fire resistive framing systems can be customized to protect against bullets, blast, hurricane, forced entry, attack, and more. Our GPX® Architectural Series Fire Resistive is the only fire resistive framing approved as components in the NFRC CMAST database.
Fire rated WALL Applications
Our fire rated walls can be used in the following applications: 1-2 hour fire resistive walls, storefronts and curtain walls. Can be used in interior and exterior applications. Can be combined with SAFTI FIRST®’s Fire Rated Door Systems for a complete fire rated wall and door assembly.
Featured Videos
Browse our collection of educational video resources to help you learn more about fire rated glass and framing.
What do building teams need to know about sprinkler trade-offs to meet fire resistive requirements?
Season 2 Episode 3: What do building teams need to know about sprinkler trade-offs to meet fire resistive requirements? Tim Nass, VP of Sales at SAFTI FIRST®, answers our industry's most frequently asked questions.
TIMTALK: One Vanderbilt
Sophisticated. Elegant. Iconic. These are some of the words being used to describe One Vanderbilt Avenue, the 77-story skyscraper that has redefined the Manhattan skyline. At 1,401 feet tall, it is the tallest office tower in Midtown, with a prime location just steps from another world-famous architectural icon, Grand Central Terminal. SAFTI FIRST® provided clear, USA-made, fire resistive, low-iron glass and framing systems to this monumental project.
PODCAST: Increasing Clear Views in Fire Rated Glazing
When it comes to fire rated glazing, size matters. In this podcast, Tim Nass talks about how SAFTI FIRST® answers the design community’s demand for larger clear views and increased transparency in fire rated glass walls and full-vision door applications.
TIMTALK: Orlando VA Medical Center
The Orlando VA Medical Center needed glazing that would not only provide light and transparency, but fire and hurricane protection and improved energy performance. SuperLite® II-XL in GPX® Hurricane Framing from SAFTI FIRST® was installed in exterior fire-rated locations that were exposed to the elements. These assemblies were rigorously tested and certified for fire and radiant heat protection for up to two hours, large missile impact, air and water infiltration, and cyclic wind loading.
TIMTALK: 520 West 20th Street
The architects at Morris Adjmi wanted large, 11-ft. tall glass walls to highlight the breathtaking views for the reimagined Warehouse in New York City’s growing architectural wonderland of Chelsea. However, the building was on a lot line, mandating 2 hour fire walls. SAFTI FIRST® made this dream a reality by supplying the largest tested and listed 2 hour fire resistive glazing available today. The inclusion of low-iron glass in the fire-resistive glazing units ensured superior clarity and aesthetic continuity with the adjacent non-rated windows. The fire resistive units incorporated high performance glazing and were filled with argon for energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Narrated by Tim Nass, VP of Sales at SAFTI FIRST®.
Innovative Design Applications Using Advanced Fire Rated Glazing Technology
Tim Nass shares his expertise in glazing history and how it fits into the architectural process during the 2020 GlassCon Global VE. Architects have always pushed the limits of what building products can do, and fire rated glazing is no exception. This program shows how fire rated glazing has evolved from small doorlites and openings using wired glass and ceramics to floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, multi-tasking fire resistive glazing systems. Case studies showing these innovative design applications in real-word settings will be used to show participants how architects continue to push the boundaries of what fire rated glass can do.
PODCAST: Unique & Innovative Fire Rated Glazing Applications
Architects have always pushed the limits of what building products can do, and fire rated glazing is no exception. In this podcast, Tim Nass, talks about the projects that have spurred SAFTI FIRST® to bring unique & innovative fire rated glazing products to the market.
The Impact of New Fire Rated Glazing Technologies to Design, Performance and the Environment
In this short, informative and entertaining talk, SAFTI FIRST®'s VP of Sales Tim Nass speaks about the emerging applications for fire rated glazing technology. He discusses how the impacts of these developments have opened new opportunities to bring transparency and light to any fire rated space, and pushed fire rated glazing system manufacturers to design products that appear and perform just like any other glazing system in the project.