When using glass in fire-rated locations, is impact safety glass always required?
No. Building codes clearly define where impact safety glass is required. Common applications for high impact glass are doors, sidelites, glass located near the floor, and other “hazardous locations”, as defined by building codes. In those areas, any fire-rated product would also need to be impact safety-rated. In areas where human contact is not a concern (transoms, some windows) an impact rating would not be required. For those areas, there are fire rated products that are not impact rated which are generally less expensive than glazing that offers both fire and impact protection. However, keep in mind that schools are high activity areas that can present abnormal situations. A window in the middle of a school wall that doesn’t technically require impact safety ratings may still fall victim to the energy of students pushing and shoving. Therefore, it may be best to err on the side of caution and use an impact safety-rated product even when codes don’t demand it. If, due to the IBC, I’
