Fire-rated curtain walling
Fire-rated curtain walling is a tested system of frames, fire-resisting glass and seals that holds back fire for a set time, usually 30 or 60 minutes. It looks much like ordinary curtain walling but uses reinforced or specialist profiles, fire-resisting glass and intumescent materials.
It is needed where a glazed wall forms part of a protected escape route, a compartment, or a boundary close to another building.
Guide price: above the £450 to £525 per m² of a standard stick wall
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Where fire-rated glazing is needed
- Glazed walls to protected stairs and escape corridors.
- Facades close to a site boundary, where the unprotected area is limited.
- Glazed walls between compartments, such as an atrium beside office floors.
- Where the facade meets a compartment floor and fire must not pass up the outside of the building.
- Hospitals, schools and residential buildings with a fire strategy that relies on the facade.
- Refurbishments where a fire risk assessment or building control officer has asked for it.
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What fire-rated curtain walling costs
| Item | Typical figure, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard stick curtain walling (for comparison) The floor price before any fire rating | £450 to £525 per m² |
| Laminated inner pane (heat strengthened) Extra over; fire-resisting glass costs more than this | £65 to £75 per m² |
| Windows and curtain walling at a school, with classroom alterations Cumbria County Council, July 2022, awarded value | £161,481 |
Where these figures come from
Per m² rates are for a proprietary aluminium system on a flat elevation, supply and install, excluding VAT, from the RIBA Journal cost guide by Gleeds (March 2025). They do not include scaffolding or access, preliminaries, design fees or testing. Public contract figures are the awarded value on each Contracts Finder notice and cover the whole package described. Fire-rated systems are priced per project. They cost noticeably more than a standard wall because of the fire-resisting glass, the tested frame and the intumescent seals, so budget above the stick rate and ask for the fire-rated area to be priced as a separate line.
Need glazing to an escape route or boundary? Describe the wall and its rating and we will look for a fire-rated glazing specialist.
Get matched3
E, EW and EI: what the classes mean
Fire resistance is classified to BS EN 13501-2 after a fire test. The letters say what the wall achieves; the number says for how long.
The classifications
A rating such as EI 60 means the wall kept its integrity and insulation for 60 minutes in the test. The class needed is set by the fire strategy and Approved Document B, not by the glazing firm.
| Class | What it means | Where it is typical |
|---|---|---|
| E (integrity) | Stops flames and hot gases passing through | Some boundary walls and non-escape locations |
| EW (integrity, radiation) | Also limits heat radiated from the unexposed face | Where people pass near the glass |
| EI (integrity, insulation) | Also keeps the unexposed face cool enough to protect people and materials | Protected escape routes and compartment walls |
Testing and evidence
Curtain walling is fire tested to BS EN 1364-3 (full configuration) or BS EN 1364-4 (part configuration). The quote should name the system, the glass and the test report or classification it relies on, and confirm the tested sizes cover the panes on your drawings. A system tested at one size cannot be assumed to work at a larger one.
The rest of the wall
Approved Document B also deals with fire spread at the junction of the facade and each compartment floor, which needs a fire-stopping detail behind the wall. On residential and some other buildings of 18 m or more, regulation 7(2) restricts the materials in the external wall. Glass and frames are exempt, but spandrel insulation and backing boards are not.
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How a fire-rated package gets done
Confirm the rating
The fire strategy or fire engineer sets the class and duration, and which walls need it.
Match tested evidence
A system with a test report covering the sizes and configuration is chosen and checked.
Install as tested
Frames, glass, intumescent seals and fixings go in exactly as they were tested, with labels on the glass.
Records
Product data, classification reports and photographs are handed over for the building's fire safety file.
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Questions people ask
What is fire-rated curtain walling?
A curtain wall system tested to resist fire for a set time, such as 30 or 60 minutes, using fire-resisting glass, reinforced profiles and intumescent seals.
What is the difference between E and EI glazing?
E glazing stops flames and smoke passing through. EI glazing also limits the heat on the protected side, so people can pass close to it. Escape routes usually need EI.
How much does fire-rated curtain walling cost?
It is priced per project and costs more than standard curtain walling, which runs at about £450 to £525 per m² for a stick system. The rating, pane sizes and glass type drive the premium.
Can existing curtain walling be upgraded to fire-rated?
Not usually by changing the glass alone, because the rating belongs to the tested system as a whole. Normally the affected bays are replaced with a tested fire-rated system.
Who decides if my facade needs fire-rated glazing?
The fire strategy for the building, prepared by the designer or a fire engineer and checked by building control, sets which walls need a rating. For existing buildings, the fire risk assessment may raise it.
Find a fire-rated glazing specialist
Location first, then the package, then your contact details. Each step is short.
We are an introduction service, not a curtain walling contractor. We look for one that covers the project and name them to you first; nothing is passed on until you agree.
Thanks, we have your enquiry.
- We look for a curtain walling contractor that covers the project and handles this kind of package.
- When we find one, we email or call to tell you who they are. Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They review the drawings or the building and price the work. No marketing from us.