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USA-Made Fire Rated Glass Now First Choice for Transportation Projects

Discover how USA-made fire-rated glass is revolutionizing transportation infrastructure, enhancing safety, sustainability, and design in federally funded projects.
Dec. 10, 2024
4 min read
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Last month, Building Design & Construction reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allocated nearly $1 billion for airport construction projects. According to the report, this funding will support 125 airport projects aimed at enhancing passenger experience, accessibility, and sustainability.

For architects, this investment highlights a growing trend: the prioritization of innovative, sustainable, and safety-focused materials in transportation infrastructure. One such material—fire rated glass—is increasingly setting benchmarks in design and performance across airports, train stations, bus terminals, and ferry terminals.

As millions of passengers navigate these transit hubs daily, fire rated glass offers a transformative solution that blends robust safety measures with aesthetic and environmental benefits. Below, we explore why fire rated glass is becoming a cornerstone in transportation architecture and how SAFTI FIRST® is leading the charge.

1. Unparalleled Safety with Aesthetic Appeal

Fire rated glass delivers essential safety features by acting as a barrier against fire, smoke, and radiant heat while maintaining visual openness. This dual-purpose functionality is crucial in high-traffic environments, such as transit hubs, where clear sightlines improve natural surveillance and create a sense of security. Architects can specify fire rated glass to enhance safety without compromising the welcoming, light-filled aesthetics passengers expect.

2. Enhanced Spatial Perception and Wayfinding

By replacing opaque barriers with transparent fire rated glass, architects can create spaces that feel larger, more connected, and less congested, even during peak hours. Clear sightlines help passengers intuitively navigate through complex transit hubs, improving overall flow and efficiency.

SAFTI FIRST’s USA-made fire rated glass walls and doors provide visual connectivity at Grand Central Station, helping passengers navigate one of the busiest subway stations in NYC, especially during peak commute hours. Photo credit: SAFTI FIRST.
SAFTI FIRST’s USA-made fire rated glass walls and doors provide visual connectivity at Grand Central Station, helping passengers navigate one of the busiest subway stations in NYC, especially during peak commute hours. Photo credit: SAFTI FIRST.

 

3. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Fire rated glass plays a significant role in reducing a building's carbon footprint. Its ability to transmit natural light deep into interior spaces reduces the need for artificial lighting, cutting energy consumption and aligning with the green building practices increasingly prioritized in federally funded projects.

SAFTI FIRST’s 2 hour custom USA-made fire rated glass floor at San Francisco’s Union Square Station allows natural daylight to penetrate into the interior spaces below. It also provides a visually captivating entrance and unique passenger experience. Photo credit: SAFTI FIRST.
SAFTI FIRST’s 2 hour custom USA-made fire rated glass floor at San Francisco’s Union Square Station allows natural daylight to penetrate into the interior spaces below. It also provides a visually captivating entrance and unique passenger experience. Photo credit: SAFTI FIRST.

 

4. Durability Meets Design Flexibility

Modern fire-rated glass products are engineered for durability and multifunctionality. In addition to fire protection, these systems can provide resistance to hurricanes, blasts, forced entry, and even bullets. Architects can also specify decorative, bird-friendly, or energy-efficient glass options, ensuring design flexibility without sacrificing performance.  SAFTI FIRST® has fully automated, in-house laminating capabilities and is currently developing security glazing products for ballistic, blast, forced entry, hurricane and tornado.

5. Compliance with BABAA Regulations

For federally funded infrastructure projects, sourcing USA-made materials isn’t just a preference—it’s often a legal requirement under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). SAFTI FIRST® proudly meets these standards as the leading USA manufacturer of fire rated glass and framing systems, making us an ideal partner for BABAA-compliant projects.  We’ve supplied numerous BABAA-compliance letters for many projects, including airports and other transportation terminals.

Understanding the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA)

Enacted in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, BABAA requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in federally funded projects originate from the United States. For architects and construction managers, adherence to BABAA is critical for project approval and compliance.

The Act extends its provisions to construction materials such as non-ferrous metals, plastics, polymers, glass, lumber, and drywall. Federal guidelines emphasize that all manufacturing processes, from raw material production to final assembly, must occur domestically.

Click on the image above to learn about the differences between Buy America, Buy American and Build America, Buy America Act – and how SAFTI FIRST meets all three.
Click on the image above to learn about the differences between Buy America, Buy American and Build America, Buy America Act – and how SAFTI FIRST meets all three.

 

SAFTI FIRST®: Your Partner in BABAA Compliance

For projects that require BABAA compliance, SAFTI FIRST®’s vertically integrated manufacturing process for its fire rated glass and framing products ensure compliance with BABAA requirements. Key aspects of our approach include:

  • Domestic Sourcing: We source components from US-based suppliers, supporting local economies and ensuring full compliance with BABAA standards.
  • USA-Based Manufacturing: Every stage of production, from raw material handling to final assembly, takes place within our state-of-the-art, fully-automated facilities in Merced, California, guaranteeing quality and regulatory adherence.

As federal funding for infrastructure projects grows, partnering with a BABAA-compliant manufacturer like SAFTI FIRST® ensures not only compliance but also access to high-performance, design-forward solutions.

For architects shaping the future of transportation, fire rated glass offers an unparalleled opportunity to redefine what’s possible in safety, sustainability, and design. With SAFTI FIRST® as your partner, you can confidently navigate the challenges of federally funded projects while contributing to the broader goals of innovation and American manufacturing.

Together, we’re creating transit hubs that are not only functional but transformative—spaces where safety and design harmoniously coexist to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

If you have any current or upcoming projects that need fire rated glass or framing, please give us a call at 888.653.3333 or visit us online at www.safti.com.

About the Author

Bill O'Keeffe

About the Author: Bill O’Keeffe is the President and CEO of SAFTI FIRST Fire Rated Glazing Solutions, a leading USA-manufacturer of advanced fire rated glass and framing systems.  An industry veteran and innovator with over 45 years of experience in architectural glazing, he was first to introduce and manufacture clear, fire resistive glazing products in the US.  He is also a safety advocate who exposed the dangers of traditional wired glass, which lead to code changes and fire rated glass products that are safe, affordable and clear alternatives to traditional wired glass.  Today, Bill continues to develop building products that enable architects to create beautiful, safe and energy-efficient spaces with advanced glazing systems.

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