Differences between Fireproof Glass and General Glass

Glass is a common building material widely used in construction, decoration, and other fields. There are many types of glass, among which fireproof glass and general glass have significant differences in performance, application, and other aspects. Understanding these differences is crucial for building safety and the rational selection of glass materials.

In terms of fireproof performance, the difference between the two is huge. General glass is made of silica, soda ash, limestone, etc., and it is easy to soften and melt at high temperatures. During a fire, ordinary glass will crack within a few minutes in an environment of 700 - 900°C, unable to block the spread of flames and heat, and become a channel for the rapid spread of fire. In contrast, fireproof glass, through special processing techniques, can maintain integrity and heat insulation for a certain period during a fire. For example, common monolithic fireproof glass can remain unbroken for 90 - 180 minutes under the impact of high - temperature flames of about 1000°C, effectively blocking the penetration of flames and heat, and winning precious time for personnel evacuation and fire rescue.

The manufacturing process of fireproof glass is more complex. Grouted fireproof glass is composed of two or more pieces of glass combined with a special fire - resistant liquid poured in the middle. The main components of the fire - resistant liquid are inorganic compounds such as sodium silicate and borax. These components are transparent liquids at room temperature and do not affect the light transmittance of the glass. When encountering high temperatures, sodium silicate will undergo a chemical reaction and rapidly expand to form a dense heat - insulating foam layer, effectively preventing heat transfer. During production, the glass is first cleaned and fixed in a specific mold, and the fire - resistant liquid is evenly poured into the gap between the two pieces of glass through professional equipment, and then cured to make the fire - resistant liquid and the glass closely combined. For wired fireproof glass, a pre - woven steel wire mesh is laid on the forming equipment before the glass liquid enters the forming process. When the glass liquid flows through, the steel wire mesh is pressed into the glass. The steel wire mesh generally uses high - strength stainless steel wire or low - carbon steel wire, which can enhance the overall strength and impact resistance of the glass. During a fire, even if the glass is broken by heat, the steel wire mesh can hold the broken glass fragments, keeping a certain degree of integrity and preventing the spread of flames and high temperatures through the broken parts. Monolithic fireproof glass is usually made by a special chemical treatment of ordinary glass, usually using the ion - exchange method. Ordinary glass is immersed in a molten salt containing potassium ions, and the sodium ions on the glass surface exchange with the potassium ions in the molten salt. Since the radius of potassium ions is larger than that of sodium ions, a compressive stress layer is formed on the glass surface after the exchange, which greatly improves the strength and heat resistance of the glass. In a fire, this compressive stress layer can resist the thermal stress generated by high temperatures, keeping the glass intact for a certain period.

In terms of price, due to the complex manufacturing process and high raw material costs of fireproof glass, it is much more expensive than general glass. The market price of 5 - millimeter - thick ordinary flat glass is about 3 - 7 Dollar per square meter, while the price of 5 - millimeter - thick fireproof glass is 10 - 20 Dollar per square meter.
In conclusion, there are significant differences between fireproof glass and general glass in fireproof performance, manufacturing process, and price. When designing and decorating buildings, we should make choices according to actual needs. In densely populated places such as shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, and schools, as well as key parts of high - rise buildings such as stairwells and evacuation passages, fireproof glass must be used to ensure safety. For interior decoration of ordinary residences, general glass can meet the needs of aesthetics and lighting while also controlling costs.