Glass Block Installation and Installation Supplies

Installation Types

• Hurricane rated: Florida and many other coastal areas have specific building codes to withstand hurricanes codes use standard glass block with 1/4″ wall thickness, but the block  has to be 4″ wide and all of the installation supplies have to be 4″ wide to match.  This installation is very similar to a standard installation with a couple of minor changes.
• Impact rated (no shutters required): Impact-rated installations can withstand branches or other debris hitting the window at high speeds.  These kind of insallation is Miami-Dade and State of Florida Approved and uses 4″ hollow glass block and installation supplies but instead of aa 1/4″ face of glass the thickness of the glass is 3/4″.
• 45-minute fire-rated: This installation on an exterior or interior wall is similar to a standard installation but requires different installation supplies, including a fire-rated caulking that is used on the perimeter, and glass block with 1/2″ thick walls.
• 90-minute fire-rated: Many housing types with multiple units tied together, such as condo or apartment buildings, require a 90-minute fire rating so that if a fire breaks out it is less likely to spread to other residences in the same building.  This is a more involved installation process. In addition to using impact glass block with 3/4″ walls, this  installation includes steel angle iron around the perimeter to hold the block in place and provide a little bit of space around the block. When the glass expands from heat, it can expand into the steel angle iron.
• Tornado approved / bomb resistant / bulletproof: The strongest of all glass block installations, these are often used in military bases and subway stations. They use solid glass blocks, but each one has a different installation technique and of course as with all of the glass block installation types, we can support you with through the process and providel the correct supplies.  These blocks are also graffiti resistant.