Fire-rated glass, to the minute.
Fire-rated glazing protects egress paths, separates fire areas, and satisfies IBC Chapter 7 and the Florida Building Code. ACG installs UL-listed assemblies from 20-minute to 120-minute ratings — including HVHZ + fire-rated combinations — built around TGP (Technical Glass Products) systems.
Two categories. One code path.
Fire-protective glazing limits the passage of flames and smoke but transmits radiant heat. It is rated up to 45 minutes for openings of 100 SF or less, and 20 minutes for unlimited size. Typical applications: corridor windows, door vision panels, transoms.
Fire-resistive glazing limits flames, smoke, and radiant heat. Rated 60, 90, or 120 minutes and tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263, it is treated as a wall assembly under the building code — which is what allows the larger glazed areas in stairwell separations, exit-access corridors, and area separations.
Which one your opening needs is dictated by IBC Chapter 7 / FBC based on occupancy, construction type, and location within the structure. Fire-resistive is required wherever the assembly substitutes for a rated wall; fire-protective covers most door and small-opening applications. Both the glass and the framing must be tested and rated at or above the code minimum — a rated lite in an unrated frame is a failed inspection.
American Commercial Glass is a Florida-licensed installer (FL CGC #1531993) of both categories, with fire-rated work delivered on healthcare, school, multifamily, and public-sector projects. Where a spec calls for a Vetrotech or other equal system, we price and coordinate the specified product. See TGP fire-rated installation or the fire-rated glazing explainer.
One blocks heat. One doesn't.
Systems we install.
Where fire-rated glass goes.
Healthcare
Hospital corridors, emergency-department separations, and operating-area boundaries — rated openings that keep smoke out of patient movement paths.
Education
School stairwells, corridor separations, and gymnasium walls — vision panels and rated lites where supervision and life safety meet.
Multifamily
Unit-to-corridor doors and stairwell vision panels in mid- and high-rise residential — the most common fire-protective application in Florida.
Office & mixed-use
High-rise stair enclosures and area separations between tenancies — fire-resistive assemblies that read as glass, not as a rated wall.
Hospitality
Back-of-house separations and kitchen exhaust boundaries — rated glazing that keeps sightlines open in guest-facing areas.
Public sector & federal
Specified rated separations for government and essential facilities. See our government glazing detail.
The standards behind the rating.
UL 9 / UL 10B
Positive-pressure and neutral-pressure fire testing for window and door assemblies. Every listed assembly carries a permanent label — inspectors check for it.
NFPA 252 / 257
Fire test standards for door assemblies (252) and window assemblies (257). Florida adopts these by reference through the FBC.
IBC Chapter 7 / FBC
Dictates the required rating by occupancy, construction type, and location in the building — and whether fire-protective or fire-resistive glazing is required at each opening.
Wired glass is out
Traditional wired glass is largely obsolete — restricted in many applications by the IBC since 2003 under CPSC 16 CFR 1201 safety-glazing rules. Modern assemblies use ceramic, intumescent, or filmed/laminated glass.
Fire-rated glazing FAQ.
How long are fire-rated assemblies rated for?
20, 45, 60, 90, 120, or 180 minutes. Both the glass and the framing must be tested and rated equal to or greater than the code minimum for the opening.
Can fire-rated glass be impact-rated for HVHZ?
Yes — TGP and Vetrotech both make combined fire-rated and impact-rated assemblies. Rare but possible; send drawings for spec confirmation.
Can fire-rated glass be reused after a fire?
Depends on the type. Fire-resistive glass with intumescent interlayers foams and swells when exposed to heat and must be replaced afterward. ACG installs and, when needed, replaces assemblies to restore code-compliant protection.
Who installs fire-rated glass in Florida?
ACG installs fire-rated glass and framing through TGP on commercial projects across Florida and the Southeast, matching each assembly to its required rating and coordinating sequencing with the GC through Procore.
Rated openings on your drawings?
Send plans and we’ll confirm system selection, the code path, and budget — a scoped proposal comes back in 48 hours.