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An investment of GB pound 200,000 into the creation of an R&D laboratory has borne its first fruit for CGI International with the release of its latest range of insulating fire rated glass.
The Fireswiss Foam glass has been tested in 10 sizes and applications, most signifi-cantly larger sizes of 1750mm x 3125mm for 60 minutes’ integrity and insulation in timber and steel screens. In single glazed options for timber screens of 60 minutes integrity and 30 minutes’ insulation, CGI has a certified maximum size of 1500 mm x 2500mm.
Suitable for internal and external applications, single glazed and Insulating Glass Units (IGUs) can now be in excess of three meters, meaning that full-height glazed partitions are available.
CGI’s managing director, Phill Millward believes that the larger sizes will see fire glass more readily used: “Glass walls, partitions and walkways are becoming more common-place and we now have a fire-rated glass to meet that need. We’re working hard to im-prove the perception of fire glass amongst architects and get rid of out-dated ‘glass is just glass’ attitudes.”
Tests were carried out to the European fire resistance test standard EN 1364 part 1 and have been verified and incorporated into the Warrington Certification scheme CERTIFIRE in the certificate CF437.