First Floor Fire Innovation
29 January 2004
Specialist glass from Pilkington, supplied by Pilkington Merchanting and Processing UK, is an integral element in the design of an innovative loaded fire resistant glass floor system...
Specialist glass from Pilkington, supplied by Pilkington Merchanting and Processing UK, is an integral element in the design of an innovative loaded fire resistant glass floor system. The system has been developed in conjunction with T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd the glass processing and framing specialists.
Previously, fire-resistant glass floors requiring insulation necessitated a two-part design, with a safety loaded glass system above and a separate fire-resistant frame and glass below. The new system operates as a single unit, offering enhanced design flexibility, easier installation and ease of maintenance.
Construction of the floor consists of a composite frame made up of different components and a precise combination of Pilkington Optifloat™ and Pilkington Pyrostop™ glass. In recent fire tests carried out at the Chiltern Fire Test Centre, the system surpassed all relevant standard requirements, including the new European fire tests, by realising a 72 minute structural load fire resistance to the most onerous level of 4.5KN concentrated load, a result never before achieved by a loaded fire-resistant glass floor. This led to the classification of the system to 60 minutes fire resistance for integrity and insulation to a modular size of 1.3 x 1.3 m, an industry first and a major breakthrough in the design of loaded glass floors.
According to Paul Baggett of T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd, the combination of top quality components enables the system's excellent performance standards to be realised. "A clear, multi laminate glass, Pilkington Pyrostop™ provides a high level of fire integrity and is also heat insulating," he explains. "When used in conjunction with the floor frame, the combination provides an excellent barrier against fire hazards and impact resistance, whilst still retaining the elegance and design potential of a single component system."
Pilkington Processing and Merchanting UK is renowned for the assurance it offers in terms of the quality of the end product and throughout all stages of the manufacturing process. With 21 branches nationwide, the company merchants bulk glass and processed bespoke products. T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd has been involved in the use of Pilkington Pyrostop™ and other Pilkington products for many years and has gained a reputation for excellence in glass processing and framing.
Specialist glass from Pilkington, supplied by Pilkington Merchanting and Processing UK, is an integral element in the design of an innovative loaded fire resistant glass floor system...
Specialist glass from Pilkington, supplied by Pilkington Merchanting and Processing UK, is an integral element in the design of an innovative loaded fire resistant glass floor system. The system has been developed in conjunction with T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd the glass processing and framing specialists. Previously, fire-resistant glass floors requiring insulation necessitated a two-part design, with a safety loaded glass system above and a separate fire-resistant frame and glass below. The new system operates as a single unit, offering enhanced design flexibility, easier installation and ease of maintenance.
Construction of the floor consists of a composite frame made up of different components and a precise combination of Pilkington Optifloat™ and Pilkington Pyrostop™ glass. In recent fire tests carried out at the Chiltern Fire Test Centre, the system surpassed all relevant standard requirements, including the new European fire tests, by realising a 72 minute structural load fire resistance to the most onerous level of 4.5KN concentrated load, a result never before achieved by a loaded fire-resistant glass floor. This led to the classification of the system to 60 minutes fire resistance for integrity and insulation to a modular size of 1.3 x 1.3 m, an industry first and a major breakthrough in the design of loaded glass floors.
According to Paul Baggett of T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd, the combination of top quality components enables the system's excellent performance standards to be realised. "A clear, multi laminate glass, Pilkington Pyrostop™ provides a high level of fire integrity and is also heat insulating," he explains. "When used in conjunction with the floor frame, the combination provides an excellent barrier against fire hazards and impact resistance, whilst still retaining the elegance and design potential of a single component system."
Pilkington Processing and Merchanting UK is renowned for the assurance it offers in terms of the quality of the end product and throughout all stages of the manufacturing process. With 21 branches nationwide, the company merchants bulk glass and processed bespoke products. T&W Ide Fire Products Ltd has been involved in the use of Pilkington Pyrostop™ and other Pilkington products for many years and has gained a reputation for excellence in glass processing and framing.