Having a fire resistance rating means the assembly passes ASTM E-119 or UL 263, the fire resistive wall standard. Building materials in this category can block smoke, flames and limit the passage of radiant heat to safe levels to allow the safe egress of building occupants during a fire. Traditionally, building materials that meet ASTM E-119/UL 263 have been opaque – sheet rock, gypsum or masonry. This meant that stairway enclosures were typically dark, cold and unappealing for everyday use.
This is not the case for Purdue. Instead of opaque sheet rock, gypsum or masonry, BSA specified SAFTI FIRST’s SuperLite II-XL 120 in GPX Architectural Series Framing for the 2 hour glass walls and SuperLite II-XL 90 in GPX Builders Series Temperature Rise for the 90 minute doors to add vision and transparency to Stairs 1 and 2 from the basement level all the way to the fifth floor.
