Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS › Chapter 7 - Fire and Smoke Protection Features › Section 715 - OPENING PROTECTIVES › Subsection 715.5 - Fire-protection-rated glazing

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Glazing in
fire window assemblies
shall be
				  fire-protection rated in accordance with this section and Table 715.5. Glazing
				  in
fire door
assemblies shall comply with Section 715.4.7.
				  Fire-protection-rated glazing shall be tested in accordance with and shall meet
				  the acceptance criteria of NFPA 257 or UL 9. Fire-protection-rated glazing
				  shall also comply with NFPA 80. Openings in nonfire-resistance-rated
exterior wall
assemblies that require protection in accordance
				  with Section 705.3, 705.8, 705.8.5 or 705.8.6 shall have a fire-protection
				  rating of not less than 3/4
				  hour.
Exceptions:
1. Wired glass in accordance with Section
				715.5.4.
2. Fire protection-rated
				glazing in 0.5-hour fire-resistance-rated partitions is permitted to have an
				0.33-hour fire-protection rating.
TABLE 715.5 FIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY FIRE PROTECTION
				  RATINGS
TYPE OF ASSEMBLY
REQUIRED
ASSEMBLY
RATING (hours)
MINIMUM FIRE
WINDOW
ASSEMBLY
RATING (hours)
Interior walls:
Fire walls
All
NPa
Fire barriers
> 1
NPa
1
3/4
Smoke barriers
1
3/4
Fire partitions
1
3/4
1/2
1/3
Exterior walls
>1
11/2
1
3/4
Party wall
All
NP
NP = Not Permitted.
a. Not permitted except as specified in Section
								715.2.
715.5.1
Testing under positive pressure.
NFPA 257 or UL 9 shall evaluate
				fire-protection-rated glazing under positive pressure. Within the first 10
				minutes of a test, the pressure in the furnace shall be adjusted so at least
				two-thirds of the test specimen is above the neutral pressure plane, and the
				neutral pressure plane shall be maintained at that height for the balance of
				the test.
715.5.2
Nonsymmetrical glazing systems.
Nonsymmetrical fire-protection-rated
				glazing systems in
fire partitions
,
fire
				barriers
or in
exterior walls
with a
fire
				separation distance
of 5 feet (1524 mm) or less pursuant to Section
				705 shall be tested with both faces exposed to the furnace, and the assigned
fire protection rating
shall be the shortest duration obtained
				from the two tests conducted in compliance with NFPA 257 or UL 9.
715.5.3
Safety glazing.
Fire-protection-rated glazing installed in
fire window
				assemblies
in areas subject to human impact in hazardous locations
				shall comply with Chapter 24.
715.5.4
Wired glass.
Steel
				window frame assemblies of 0.125-inch (3.2 mm) minimum solid section or of not
				less than nominal 0.048-inch-thick (1.2 mm) formed sheet steel members
				fabricated by pressing, mitering, riveting, interlocking or welding and having
				provision for glazing with
				1/4-inch (6.4 mm) wired glass
				where securely installed in the building construction and glazed with
				1/4-inch (6.4 mm) labeled
				wired glass shall be deemed to meet the requirements for a
				3/4-hour
fire window
				assembly
. Wired glass panels shall conform to the size limitations set
				forth in Table 715.5.4.
TABLE 715.5.4 LIMITING SIZES OF WIRED GLASS
				  PANELS
OPENING FIRE PROTECTION RATING
MAXIMUM
AREA
(square inches)
MAXIMUM HEIGHT
(inches)
MAXIMUM
							 WIDTH
(inches)
3 hours
0
0
0
11/2-hour doors in exterior
							 walls
0
0
0
1 and
							 11/2 hours
100
33
10
3/4
							 hour
1,296
54
54
20 minutes
Not Limited
Not
							 Limited
Not Limited
Fire window assemblies
1,296
54
54
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 square inch = 645.2
							 mm2.
715.5.5
Nonwired glass.
Glazing
				other than wired glass in
fire window assemblies
shall be
				fire-protection-rated glazing installed in accordance with and complying with
				the size limitations set forth in NFPA 80.
715.5.6
Installation.
Fire-protection-rated glazing shall be in the fixed position or be
				automatic-closing and shall be installed in
approved
frames.
715.5.7
Window
				mullions.
Metal mullions that exceed a nominal height of 12 feet (3658
				mm) shall be protected with materials to afford the same
fire-resistance rating
as required for the wall construction
				in which the protective is located.
715.5.8
Interior fire window
				assemblies.
Fire-protection-rated glazing used in
fire window
				assemblies
located in
fire partitions
and
fire barriers
shall be limited to use in assemblies with a
				maximum
fire-resistance rating
of 1 hour in accordance with
				this section.
715.5.8.1
Where
				3/4-hour fire protection
				window assemblies permitted.
Fire-protection-rated glazing requiring
				45-minute opening protection in accordance with Table 715.5 shall be limited to
fire partitions
designed in accordance with Section 709 and
fire barriers
utilized in the applications set forth in
				Sections 707.3.6 and 707.3.8 where the
fire-resistance rating
does not exceed 1 hour.
715.5.8.2
Area limitations.
The total area of windows shall not exceed 25
				percent of the area of a common wall with any room.
715.5.9
Labeling requirements.
Fire-protection-rated glazing shall bear a
label
or other
				identification showing the name of the manufacturer, the test standard and
				information required in Section 715.5.9.1 that shall be issued by an
approved agency
and shall be permanently affixed to the
				glazing.
715.5.9.1
Identification.
For fire-protection-rated glazing, the
label
shall bear the following two-part identification: "OH -
				XXX." "OH" indicates that the glazing meets both the fire protection and the
				hose-stream requirements of NFPA 257 or UL 9 and is permitted to be used in
				openings. "XXX" represents the fire-protection rating period, in minutes, that
				was tested.