Beyond fire safety: The role of fire safety glass in modern airport design
As airport design shifts from purely functional spaces to passenger-focused environments, safety remains paramount, making fire safety glass an ideal choice. This versatile material not only ensures fire protection but also meets the unique demands of airport environments, supporting architects and designers in creating spaces that prioritise both passenger safety and comfort.
Here, Andy Lake, Projects Director for UK & Ireland at Pyroguard, explores how fire safety glass is transforming airport design by balancing aesthetics with essential safety features.
Compartmentation
Compartmentation is a critical element of passive fire protection in airport design, dividing the building into a series of fire-safe areas to contain potential fires. With the unique challenge of evacuating thousands of passengers and staff during an emergency, designing safe escape routes and clear access for emergency services is essential. This can be achieved by carefully specifying fire safety glass across various classifications, from E-rated glass (which protects against flames and smoke) to EI-rated glass (providing the highest level of protection, including heat insulation), ensuring robust protection throughout the airport.
Anti-Attack protection
Of course, passenger safety extends beyond fire risks to address threats like violent attacks or even domestic terrorism. Specifying fire safety glass systems with anti-attack classifications can offer additional protection for passengers and airline staff. Tested according to EN 356 standards, these systems undergo a hard body drop test using a 4.11kg steel sphere to ensure resilience against impact from heights up to 9 m and – to reach the higher ratings in EN 356 – an axe attack.
Acoustics
For some, the holiday experience begins the moment they arrive at the airport, while for others, airports can feel like a highly stressful environment. Providing a cool and comfortable space for passengers to relax in is therefore a crucial aspect of any design brief, with good acoustics playing an essential role.
Noise pollution, defined as any sound above 65 dB[i], is considered a ‘silent threat’ by scientists. In airports where noise levels can reach 140 dB, well above the 85 dB threshold for ear protection, high Rw Value glass is essential. Toughened laminated fire safety glass offers an effective solution, providing both fire protection and acoustic control, depending on the pane thickness, glass density and number of interlayers.
Design
All of this said, material specification is about more than just functionality. Given the focus on enhancing the passenger experience, airport interiors represent an opportunity to impress and make a statement, whether that is through incorporating biophilic design, installing striking water features or designing contemporary glass façades and atriums.
Here, fire safety glass can really shine, offering the same aesthetic appeal and visual impact as standard glass. With the correct technical expertise, systems can incorporate fire-rated glass in exceptionally large pane sizes, or butt-joint applications where no vertical frame profiles are required, achieving a sleek, more streamlined look.
Smoke control
In large airport spaces with long halls and passageways, smoke containment poses a unique challenge. During a fire, toxic smoke can be more deadly than flames, impairing breathing and visibility and hindering safe evacuation. In fact, most fire-related fatalities result from smoke inhalation rather than burns.
To address this, smoke control solutions are essential, helping contain or redirect smoke within a building’s passive fire protection strategy. Glazed smoke control systems, made from toughened glass and suspended from the ceiling, offer an effective and visually appealing alternative to traditional heavy barriers or mechanical smoke curtains, enhancing both safety and aesthetics.
With over 35 years of experience, Pyroguard has been at the forefront of manufacturing and supplying the most extensive range of fire safety glass solutions on the market, backed by a wealth of rigorous testing. Our heritage, combined with deep industry knowledge and specialised technical expertise, empowers architects to design spaces that are not only safe and functional but also visually striking.
For more information, please contact us.
[i] https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/what-is-noise-pollution-causes-effects-solutions#:~:text=WHAT%20IS%20NOISE%20POLLUTION%3F,is%20painful%20above%20120%20dB.