The Rise of Fire-Rated Glass Skylights for Homes and Commercial Buildings
Over the years, skylights have evolved from primitive styles into more audacious and sleek designs, outperforming older variants with impressive architectural features. Many homeowners call it a saving grace during hot summers and cold winters, but it offers way better benefits than just being a protective shield.
Recent models of skylights have built-in features that allow high resistance to fire, making them a better choice for buildings while preserving their structure and limiting heat transfer. This article will cover the essentials of fire-rated skylights, why they are a safer choice, and how they are the best protective window for your ceiling as a homeowner.
What Makes Fire-rated Skylights Unique?
As the name implies, the first thing that comes to mind is how they can be a solid protection against fire rather than just being generic glass panels like other variants.
Another feature that contributes to fire-rated skylights being superior to others is their integrated parts and fire-resistant standards. It consists of a fire-resistant glazing, the frame, and the underpinning curb or upstand. All of which must work together to maintain fire integrity and insulation under real fire exposure.
Most fire-rated skylights come in different ratings, such as the EI30, EI60, or EI90. The E in each acronym stands for the Integrity, which prevents flames and hot gases from entering an apartment or office building during a fire outbreak.
Meanwhile, the I stands for Insulation, which limits the rise in temperature of safer parts of a building, usually within limits of 140°C. While the performance of each class differs depending on the amount of heat or fire, they serve to provide clear, measurable fire resistance, meaning that in case of a fire, the skylight remains a barrier for a set period ranging from 30 to 120 minutes.
Perks of Installing Fire-Rated Skylights Into Your Home
Aside from being a fire-resistant model, there are other perks attached to installing a fire-rated skylight into your home, especially if you are on a budget or living in specific locations.
Regulatory Compliance
The building code in many regions varies from one another, and ignoring these rules can delay permits, result in fines, or endanger occupants.
The International Building Code (IBC) establishes minimum guidelines for building systems, ensuring key areas like sanitation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire, explosion, and other hazards are covered.
This gives homeowners the sense of responsibility to comply with the necessary precautions during construction and roof installations. For instance, some roofs must resist fire by law, especially those over staircases, corridors, and dividing walls. This is why you cannot just decide to install a standard skylight in a fire-rated roof just because it’s cheaper or looks nicer.
Protecting Escape Paths
Many buildings are designed to accommodate fire-rated roofings; however, when an opening in that roof becomes a potential weak spot, and as a homeowner has already proceeded with the installation of a regular skylight, fire and smoke can break through that spot much faster than the rest of the roof, thereby weakening the fire barrier and putting lives at risk. With fire-rated skylights, you can protect hallways and emergency exits, allowing people to escape safely during fire outbreaks.
Provides Natural Lighting
Fire-rated skylights still offer impressive lighting that keeps interiors bright without compromising structural integrity, helping to reduce dependency on artificial light. While many homeowners who opt for fire-rated skylights are usually particular about their fire resistance features, forgetting that some models even come with coatings to block UV rays and prevent excessive heat gain, offering balanced daylight with added protection.
Key Tips for Installing Fire-Rated Skylights
Below are some crucial details you should know about before and during the installation of skylights into a home or office.
- Install at the mandatory locations: As previously mentioned, there are some places in a home or building where fire-rated skylights are supposed to be installed. These locations include corridors, schools, shared walls, and staircases.
- Use integrated systems: Integrated systems include framing, glazing, and curb; all of these pieces come rated and tested together from the factory and not pieced together from separate parts. Always ensure your contractor gets these parts from a licensed distributor to avoid excessive spending on fixing problems.
- Ensure proper installation: Aside from using integrated systems, also ensure to work with certified installers. This is because using fire-rated components in a non-rated setup may void certifications and fail under fire conditions.
Endnote
The rise of fire-rated glass skylights for homes and commercial buildings cannot be ignored, especially with the rapid increase in fire accidents during dry seasons. This is why they are essential in preserving fire barriers, meeting building codes, and allowing safe daylighting.
Whether it’s a sleek modern design, walkable glass, or friendly variants, fire-rated skylights offer safety and elegance performance that would make you get the best out of your money for years to come.
