University Fires Up Facility With Fire-Rated Glazing
The Earth, Energy & Environment Center (EEEC) is one of the latest state-of-the-art educational buildings located at the University of Kansas. To create the innovative facility, a key goal during the design phase of the EEEC was to produce transparent learning areas that would allow fellow students and peers to look into active labs and tech areas, promoting inspiration and discovery.
The Earth, Energy & Environment Center (EEEC) is one of the latest state-of-the-art educational buildings located at the University of Kansas. The facility houses classrooms and laboratories for faculty, staff and students to conduct research on energy production and the environment. According to Cannon Design, “the building is a figurative and literal bridge between basic and applied sciences.” It is designed to “transform traditional academic barriers and create a dynamic environment for research teams and students.”
To create the innovative facility, a key goal during the design phase of the EEEC was to produce transparent learning areas that would allow fellow students and peers to look into active labs and tech areas, promoting inspiration and discovery. One challenge was maintaining the open, shared-use research concept in areas where the building code requires fire resistance. This included the main entrance and second-floor corridor overlooking the stairway.
To meet the challenge of fire resistance and transparency, the design team selected the Fireframes ClearView™ System from Technical Glass Products (TGP). The 60-minute fire-rated system incorporates butt-glazed fire-resistive glass with a fire-resistive perimeter frame. It features narrow 5 mm butt joints and does not require glass units with internal spacers and edge sealants. This blend of performance and aesthetics allows the system to have nearly colorless transitions between adjoining pieces of low-iron glass while still serving as a barrier to flames, smoke and heat.
In application, the Fireframes ClearView System works with and complements the non-rated butt-glazed systems used elsewhere throughout the building. It provides long spans of uninterrupted glass free of vertical mullions, improves views and enhances light transmission. Its narrow Fireframes® Heat Barrier Series perimeter frame profiles add function and style and help ensure occupants have unhindered views into and out of windowed laboratories.
As an added benefit, the Fireframes ClearView System is easy to install and has low maintenance requirements. This helped the EEEC general contractors and glaziers complete the installation of the entire fire-rated glazing system three days ahead of schedule.
The Fireframes ClearView System is UL-classified and labeled for interior applications, rated for up to 60 minutes and tested in accordance with ASTM E-119. It also satisfies the CPSC 16CFR1201 (Category II) safety-glazing classification.