The David Eccles School of Business on the University of Utah campus is a new state-of-the-art teaching, learning, and research facility designed to meet future growth in student enrollment. SAFTI FIRST heard about this project following a successful AIA lunchtime presentation at MHTN Architects by Kevin Turner, SAFTI FIRST’s local architectural representative.
The design called for a 28- x 18-ft two-hour interior glass wall with a 90 minute full-vision door in an exit enclosure/stairwell. The architects selected fire rated glass to meet fire rating requirements while providing maximum visibility in the space. The project’s specifications also required the fire rated glass to have the same optical clarity as the adjacent non-rated glass systems.
To meet both the design and code requirements, SAFTI FIRST provided SuperLite II-XL 120 in GPX Framing for the walls and SuperLite II-XL 90 in GPX Door Framing for the full-vision door. With their clean lines, sharp edges and multiple finish options, the GPX Frames matched the non-rated storefront systems. Matching the optical clarity of the adjacent non-rated glazing was easily achieved through SuperLite II-XL’s superior optical clarity, free of wires or any tints.
In addition, designers were able to take advantage of SuperLite II-XL 120’s large clear view areas, which is currently the largest available in the market for 2-hour fire resistive applications.
Project Summary
Project: David Eccles School of Business, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Architect: MHTN Architects
Contract Glazier: Mollerup Glass
Products used: SuperLite II-XL 90/120 in GPX Framing
As far as the code requirements are concerned, 2-hour exit enclosures allow 90 min. doors with full vision lights using glazing tested to ASTME 119 for 90 minutes. Any other glazing in the enclosure wall, including sidelites and transoms around the door, must have a 2-hour rating that meets the ASTM E-119 wall requirements (see Tables 716.5 and 716.6 in the 2012 IBC).
SuperLite II-XL in GPX Framing meets the ASTM E-119 requirement for up to 2 hours and is impact safety rated to CPSC Cat. II, the maximum safety standard. This ability to block radiant heat transfer also made it possible to have a full-vision 90 minute door. If fire protective glazing such as wired glass and ceramics were used in the vision panel, it would be limited to 100 square inches.
At the end of the project, the architects were able to create a 2-hour exit enclosure/stairwell that provided vision and maximum fire safety using fire rated glazing that seamlessly matched the look of other non-rated glazing systems. As an additional benefit, natural daylight was also able to penetrate further into the building because of the transparency provided by the fire rated glass wall.
To locate the SAFTI FIRST representative in your area, click here. +
Related Stories
| Sep 13, 2012
Margulies Perruzzi Architects completes office design for Pioneer Investments
MPA updated the office design and additional support space consisting of five floors at Pioneer’s Boston office located at 60 State Street.
| Sep 12, 2012
Harvesting new ways to eliminate waste at the USDA
After installing 20 high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers in restrooms throughout the USDA headquarters; the USDA reports seeing an immediate 50% reduction in the use of paper towels.
| Sep 11, 2012
RTKL appoints Lance Hosey as Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President
Author and authority on green design to spearhead RTKL Performance-driven DesignSM initiative.
| Sep 11, 2012
McQuade appointed CEO of Tishman Construction
McQuade will focus on driving the growth of the company into new markets and expanding market share in its current areas of operation.
| Sep 11, 2012
Ecosystem Management & Associates joins HDR
EM&A staff will do business as part of HDR Engineering and HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction.
| Sep 10, 2012
Specialty door types—plenty of functional variety
In the MasterFormat section 08 30 00, Specialty Doors and Frames, a number of door types are listed for special functions, access locations, sliding and folding hardware, and even pressure-resistant types.
| Sep 7, 2012
7 Do's and Don'ts for PV roof rack installation
As PVs grow in popularity, nearly half of all installations require roof rack systems. Our expert tells how to do the job right and protect your client’s roof.
| Sep 7, 2012
Net-zero energy pioneers on the el-hi frontier
Getting to net-zero is not easy, but the promise of eliminating energy bills and using state-of-the-art technology as a learning lab can make a compelling case to reach for net-zero.
| Sep 7, 2012
Healthcare architects get a preview of tomorrow’s medical landscape
The topic on everyone’s mind was how the Affordable Care Act would impact healthcare design and construction––and whether the law would even make it past the coming election cycle.
| Sep 7, 2012
Goettsch Partners designs new tower in Abu Dhabi
Al Hilal Bank’s 24-story flagship development provides contemporary office space.
