SECTION 715 OPENING PROTECTIVES  

715.5 Fire- protection-rated glazing. Glazing in fire window assemblies shall be fire-protection rated in accordance with   this section and Table 715.5. Glazing in fire door assemblies shall comply with Section 715.4.6. Fire-protection-rated glazing shall be tested in accordance with and shall meet the acceptance criteria of NFPA 257. Fire-protection-rated glazing shall also comply with NFPA 80. Openings in non fire-resistance-rated exterior wall assemblies that require protection in accordance with Section 704.3, 704.8, 704.9 or 704.10 shall have a fire-protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour.

Exceptions:

1.Wired glass in accordance with Section 715.5.3.   2.Fire-protection-rated glazing in 0.5-hour fire-resistance-rated partitions is permitted to have an 0.33-hour fire-protection rating.

715.5.1 Testing under positive pressure. NFPA 257 shall evaluate fire-protection-rated glazing under positive pressure. Within the first 10 minutes of a test, the pressure in the furnace shall be adjusted so at least two-thirds of the test specimen is above the neutral pressure plane, and the neutral pressure plane shall be maintained at that height for the bal­ance of the test.  

715.5.2 Nonsymmetrical glazing systems. Nonsymmetrical fire-protection-rated glazing systems in fire partitions, fire barriers or in exterior walls with a fire separation distance of 5 feet (1524 mm) or less pursuant to Section 704 shall be tested with both faces exposed to the furnace, and the assigned fire protection rating shall be the shortest duration obtained from the two tests conducted in compliance with NFPA257.

715.5.3 Wired glass. Steel window frame assemblies of 0.125-inch (3.2 mm) minimum solid section or of not less than nominal 0.048-inch-thick (1.2 mm) formed sheet steel members fabricated by pressing, mitering, riveting, inter­locking or welding and having provision for glazing with 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) wired glass where securely installed in the building construction and glazed with 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) labeled wired glass shall be deemed to meet the require­ments for a %-hour fire window assembly. Wired glass panels shall conform to the size limitations set forth in Table 715.5.3.

715.5.4 Non wired glass. Glazing other than wired glass in fire window assemblies shall be fire-protection-rated glazing installed in accordance with and complying with the size limitations set forth in NFPA 80.  

715.5.5 Installation. Fire-protection-rated glazing shall be in the fixed position or be automatic-closing and shall be installed in approved frames.  

715.5.6 Window mullions. Metal mullions that exceed a nominal height of 12 feet (3658 mm) shall be protected with materials to afford the same fire-resistance rating as required for the wall construction in which the protective is located.  

715.5.7 Interior fire window assemblies. Fire-protection-rated glazing used in fire window assemblies located in fire partitions and fire barriers shall be limited to use in assemblies with a maximum fire-resistance rating of 1 hour in accordance with this section.

715.5.7.1 Where permitted. Fire-protection-rated glazing shall be limited to fire partitions designed in accor­dance with Section 708 and fire barriers utilized in the applications set forth in Sections 706.3.6 and 706.3.8 where the fire-resistance rating does not exceed 1 hour.

715.5.7.2 Size limitations. The total area of windows shall not exceed 25 percent of the area of a common wall with any room.

715.5.8 Labeling requirements. Fire-protection-rated glazing shall bear a label or other identification showing the name of the manufacturer, the test standard and information required in Section 715.5.8.1 that shall be issued by an approved agency and shall be permanently affixed to the glazing.
715.5.8.1 Identification. For fire-protection-rated glazing, the label shall bear the following two-part identifica­tion: "OH - XXX." "OH" indicates that the glazing meets both the fire-resistance and the hose-stream requirements of NFPA 257 and is permitted to be used in openings. "XXX" represents the fire-protection rating period, in minutes, that was tested.

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