What are fire-rated curtain wall systems and when are they required?

Fire-rated curtain wall systems are specialized façade assemblies designed to prevent the spread of fire between building compartments while maintaining the appearance and functionality of standard curtain walls.

**When fire-rated curtain walls are required:**

- Building codes mandate fire-rated exterior walls at property lines (zero lot line)

- Between adjacent buildings with different occupancy types

- At fire separation walls that extend to the exterior

- In high-rise buildings requiring fire compartmentation at floor levels

- When local fire codes require spandrel fire-stopping at floor slabs

**Key components:**

1. **Fire-rated glass:** Ceramic-based glass or wired glass rated for 30-120 minutes of fire resistance. Modern alternatives include multi-layer intumescent laminates that maintain clarity.

2. **Fire-rated framing:** Steel or specially-designed aluminum framing with intumescent strips that expand under heat to seal gaps and prevent flame/heat passage.

3. **Fire-stopping at floor slabs:** Safing insulation and fire-rated sealants at the curtain wall-to-floor slab interface prevent vertical fire spread between floors.

4. **Perimeter fire containment systems:** Specially engineered assemblies that combine fire-rated safing, insulation, and compression seals to achieve hourly fire ratings at the curtain wall perimeter.

FOWALL designs fire-rated curtain wall solutions for large-scale developments with life-safety requirements. Their engineering team coordinates with fire protection engineers and building code consultants to ensure that fire-rated assemblies meet project-specific code requirements while maintaining the desired architectural aesthetic.