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The Safety and Durability of Fire Rated Glass Block

Attractive, durable, and energy-efficient, fire rated glass block offers built-in fire resistance while illuminating any space. In many fire-safe buildings, fire rated glass block walls provide an extra layer of protection that traditional materials like wood and drywall cannot. Whether used for fire rated block walls in stairwells, interior partitions, flooring, or exterior cladding, these structural components enhance safety while maintaining aesthetics and natural light. For those wondering, are glass blocks fire rated?—the answer is yes, making them a smart choice for both design and fire protection.

The Finishing Touch on Your Glass Block Project

Glass block options provide endless versatility for creating everything from partition walls to pet kennels and even accent features like desks. With a wide range of patterns, shapes, and finishes available, architects and designers can bring virtually any vision to life. For projects like a glass block accent wall, the finishing touches are just as important. Glass block caps offer a stylish solution, ensuring that the ends of glass block walls are as visually appealing as the design itself, adding both function and beauty to your space.  

Installing Glass Block in Fort Worth's Pioneer Tower

Pioneer Tower

We see a wide variety of glass block projects. We’ll often have projects where we install sets of glass block windows that not only enhance the fashion of a building, but also the safety. We renovate sidewalk vault panels to install LED lighting underneath, providing pedestrians with a beautiful lighting to walk on. We’ve made structures almost entirely built from 4x8x3 Seves Vistabrik, enclosed with glass roofing. There are many different ways to use glass to enhance your facilities.

Our latest project is another example. In their ambitious efforts to transform their structure from great to gorgeous, we’re renovating the Pioneer Tower in Fort Worth, Texas, adding 15 flights of exterior glass block to be used on all four sides of the historic building. Behind it will be LED lighting, ready to light the Texas sky.

They do it big in Texas.

Incorporating Glass Block + Structural Glass Outdoors

Can you use glass blocks for outdoor use? Absolutely. They offer a stylish and functional choice for exterior projects, such as adding a glass block column light to enhance both look and ambiance. As the warmer seasons roll in, more homeowners and builders are focused on creating outdoor spaces that allow natural light to shine through while still offering privacy. Whether it's a small balcony or a large backyard, adding glass blocks can elevate the space while also encouraging time spent outdoors, supporting well-being and health benefits.

Bringing Beauty and Durability to Transportation Stations

A study from the American Public Transportation Association reports that public transportation ridership has increased by 30% in recent years. Whether on a train, bus or ferry, Americans took 2.5 billion trips on public transportation in the third quarter of 2018 alone.

The Advantages of Letting the Light Shine Through in Offices

As the demands of business change, so do office building designs. Decades ago, companies virtually “corralled” their office workers into cubicles and offices with opaque walls to deter interruption and distraction.  Many have started to move away from standard cubicle designs to allow for a more open concept work environment.  Natural light and open environments have proven to be more productive environments that promote productivity and creativity in the office.  With the adaptations of glass block over through the decades, offices can create "private" offices by utilizing a contemporary glass block wall design. 

Protect Yourself and Others with Quality Safety Storm Shelters

The severity of hurricanes and tornadoes in North America in recent years seems to have increased. Although storms vary in number, size, and intensity, continuing construction is occupying more land surface and raising the likelihood of a direct hit on a portion of the population.

Glass Block, The Ideal Windscreen and Rainscreen

As a building material, glass block is durable, sustainable, fire-resistant, and a strong insulator. Its transparent quality supports energy efficiency by allowing light in while softening outside noise. Used as cladding for new construction, glass blocks combine beauty and performance, making them a widely adopted material in architecture around the world.

You might wonder if glass blocks can be used outdoors. Thanks to their distinct properties, they’re now applied in more than just traditional wall systems. A standout use is in glass block rainscreens, which offer protection against wind-driven rain and excess moisture. This application not only shields the structure but also adds a unique design element. With a wide selection of patterns, styles, and shapes, glass block is a versatile and customizable choice for any project.

Impact-Proof Glass for Greater Safety and Security in Schools

As the debate over safety and security in schools continues and the search for solutions continues, school officials and construction engineers are looking for answers to reconfigure access, redesign interior floorplans, and introduce measures to protect students from armed intrusion. Since the Columbine attacks in Colorado in 1999, over 275 school shootings have been reported. While some of these incidents were accidental gun discharges, events such as Sandy Hook Elementary (CT), Parkland (FL), Red Lake (MN), and so many more have left 250 students and teachers dead and many more wounded.

Basement windows are common targets for vandals, as their ground-level placement makes them easy to access and harder for property owners to monitor. Upgrading to high-quality glass blocks through basement block window installation enhances security while offering additional benefits. In areas prone to heavy snow, flooding, or extreme weather, glass block windows provide superior durability over traditional glass. They also stand up to accidental impacts from sports and outdoor activities, reducing the risk of breakage.