Cracks in laminated glass

[Guest Andy3142]

Our multi-occupied  housing co-op has two stairway fire doors with  panels of laminated fireproof glass approx 60 high x 80 cm wide . (I don't know what type of glass, but good quality.)

They both have cracks where a large triangular corner has cracked, a triangle say 20 cm vertical by 60 cm wide in both cases. Questions:

--- Do they continue to offer fire protection, or do they need to be replaced?

--- It seems strange that  they would both crack in the same way, and I wonder if they could have been installed too tightly or something like that ... any thoughts on this?

Many thanks

Andy

[Tom Sutton]

As it isn't 6mm wired glass, do you have proof that it is FR glazing you should have a certificate or the glass is acid etched with the trademark and the British Standard it was tested to, either way if it is cracked then it needs replacing. As you have said it shouldn't have cracked as it did which would indicate it wasn't fitted correctly.

[Guest Andy3142]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for this. It does have an etched mark in German saying its fire glass, and the guy who came to quote for replacing it recognised it at once as fire glass.  Yesterday I saw a mirror with a similar crack that looked like it had come from dropping it on its corner, so I think it is indeed installed wrongly.

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

Laminated fire glass is not toughened and so must be treated with care. Its the lamination that provides the fire and heat protection seethe video at 

Some fire resisting glass is tempered rather than laminated and so can withstand greater shock. Contact a fire glass specialist and specify your requirements.