Crittall style fire rated glass partitions meet 2 classifications, Integrity - E and Insulation - EI as detailed in the European standard EN357. These requirements are usually listed in minutes, i.e., 60/30 means 60 minutes Integrity and 30 minutes Insulation.
CRITTALL STYLE FIRE SCREENS
E: Integrity
Category E - Integrity is the ability of the glass partition to form a barrier to prevent the passage of flames or hot gases through the glass when exposed to fire on one side and to prevent the occurrence of flames on the unexposed side. Glass in category E: Integrity offers effective protection from flames and smoke but does not prevent the transmission of heat in the event of a fire.
EI: Integrity and Insulation
Category EI - Insulation offers the highest level of protection from flames, smoke and heat. The glass performs to the standard E when in it also restricts temperature rise on the unexposed face to below the required standard when exposed to fire on one side.
INTER PANEL GLAZING JOINTS
Glass partition screens appear frameless with dry joint inserts. These have better appearance than silicone joints and enable the system to be dismantled or reconfigured with minimal disturbance. Installation time is also improved which benefits cost. Our single and double glazed Crittall style systems can both be installed using dry joint technology. For single glazed systems the flat aluminium painted bars are adhered to both sides of the glass where the panels meet so the glass joints are not visible. For double glazed systems the bars are applied to only one skin of glass so the second skin has visible dry joints. The bars can be applied to either the outer or inner glass skin depending on the customers wish. With Fire rated systems the glass panel joints require a ceramic fire tape to the centre with intumescent mastic capping to each face. This conforms to the fire rating required and glass thickness used but is then covered by the aluminium flat bars to each side so becomes invisible.
MANIFESTATION
The minimum DDA requirement for commercial glazing is 2 levels of manifestation between 850-1000mm and 1400-1600mm from the floor. With Crittall style systems the applied bars negate the need for this as they already provide a visible barrier, however, in addition to adhering vertical and horizontal bars we can also add manifestation for privacy where its required. In the main, most Crittall style schemes are divided in height into 3 or 4 equal panels with one or possibly two rows having etched manifestation when needed.
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