Fire-rated glass, on the other hand, can typically survive heat over 1600 degrees F. Fire-rated glass can withstand such high heat because it is engineered differently than non-rated glass. There are three main types of fire-protective glass: polished wired glass, specially tempered glass and glass ceramic.
Regular glass is not safe to use around a flame or heat source. It will break and potentially shatter into sharp pieces that can cause injury. On the other hand, fire glass is specifically designed to handle high temperatures and fire without so much as cracking.
WHAT IS FIRE RATED GLASS? Fire Rated Glass (also known as Fire Resistant Glass) is specialist glass that has been proven to provide a period protection against fire during a Fire Resistance Test.
Standard tempered glass products have a fairly high heat rating; these materials generally shatter around 500 °F. But this is not high enough to ensure optimal safety. Fire-rated glass, on the other hand, is specially manufactured to be able to withstand high heat.
With the additional weight, fire-resistant glass may require more robust, fire-rated frames. When specified in key areas of the built environment, this material can provide performance and fire and life safety benefits to justify its cost.
Fire Glass Saves You Money
Fire glass gives off more heat than wood, or fake logs combined. Not only is gas cheaper than burning wood, but adding the extra heat given off by the glass ensures you get more bang for your buck! Fire glass accomplishes this by reflecting and radiating heat from the fire.
We can cut to size both acrylic and polycarbonate sheets. These materials are heat resistant but aren't as resistant as glass. So, if you are on the lookout for glass alternatives and substitutes, then contact Me and My Glass. Our professional and friendly team can provide plastic products for a range of uses.
Check for a tempered glass stamp in one of the corners: Most manufacturers mark tempered glass to identify it. Test the glass surface with polarised lenses: Tempered glass will show a distinctive strain pattern in polarised light. Regular glass will not.
Hazardous areas: Certain areas within buildings, such as storage rooms for flammable materials or server rooms, require fire-rated glass that can withstand radiant heat. EW-type glass is suitable for such applications, providing additional protection against heat transfer.
Fire Glass Sizes
Standard fire glass comes in a variety of sizes for any gas fire feature, though our experts recommend half-inch diameter for most outdoor fire pits—it's easier and more economic. Smaller sizes, like quarter-inch or half-inch, offer better heat distribution and a consistent flame.
The wire mesh helps the glass withstand heat and thermal shock but leaves an institutional appearance, is relatively weak and only meets 100ft/lb impact safety standards. Specially tempered glass is clear with high impact ratings but does not pass the hose stream test required for fire-ratings over 20 minutes.
Fire-rated doors in the home are also required in a two-storey residential property that has a door leading from a garage to the main house. The purpose of fire-rated glazing is to protect exit ways from a building for a pre-prescribed amount of time to ensure that everyone can escape safely in the event of a fire.
USUALLY FIREPLACE GLASS IS TEMPERED GLASS - BUT NOT ALWAYS!
This type of glass is used in fireplace doors and is typically heat resistant to about 400 Degrees F. If you have a wood stove or a gas fireplace, you may need to look at using either Neoceram or Pyroceram glass instead, which is much more heat resistant.
If you're not careful, the answer is 'yes', the glass on your fireplace or stove can crack or break.
Both tempered and laminated glass are more expensive than normal glass, due to their specialized nature. Because of this, safety glass is often used sparingly throughout a home, instead of being used for every window, door, and glass fixture in the house.
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with the main glass-forming constituents' silica and boron oxide. Borosilicate glasses are known for having very low coefficients of thermal expansion (∼5 × 10−6/ °C at 20 °C) making them resistant to thermal shock more so than any other common glass.
Tempered glass, when broken, shatters into small, relatively harmless pieces, while laminated glass remains intact. Additionally, tempered glass often has a slightly curved edge due to its manufacturing process, while laminated glass may have a visible interlayer.
This is a definite NO! Ordinary glass is not safe. It can pop or even throw off a glass shard. Laminated glass (like your car windshield) will turn black and melt.
Producing high-quality fire glass and getting it to the customer without damage or degradation makes the fire glass more expensive. Another possible cause of high prices is excessive overhead for the brand.
Fire glass is a type of nonflammable tempered glass used in gas or propane fire pits in place of gas logs. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, fire glass is both decorative and functional. This durable glass is designed to withstand high temperatures and won't melt, burn, or lose its color.
Unlike natural gas that is clean and light, LP gas is a denser, heavier fuel that requires the addition of air to the gas. Otherwise, it won't burn cleanly and will produce a black soot. This soot is visible as smoke rising from the flames that also leaves a black coating on your fire glass and fire pit.
Clear glass is versatile and can complement any backyard decor. It also allows the flames' natural colors to shine through, creating a beautiful contrast against the crystal-clear glass. Clear is often the go-to choice when deciding what color glass looks best in fire pits as it blends seamlessly with any design style.
We recommend using sand or pea gravel (fine) to achieve this result. DO NOT use lava rock, lava pebbles, rocks/pebbles or any other porous material UNDER the fire glass as natural gas or propane (LPG) may sink between the gaps, becoming trapped and potentially causing hot glass to pop or jump from your fire pit.