When the new Aspen Art Museum opened its doors to the public in August 2014, it was met with much excitement, and for good measure. Designed by Pritzker prize winning architect Shigeru Ban, the brand new 33,000 square foot museum boasts of large, exterior glass walls designed to keep the visitors engaged with views of the beautiful Aspen landscape. A woven screen encloses the glass curtain wall to provide shading from direct sunlight. But with the glass still exposed to the elements, it needed to be able to perform in extreme climates in addition to providing maximum daylight and clear views – and the fire resistive curtain wall was no exception.
With sections of the glass curtain wall also functioning as an elevator enclosure, it had to meet the fire resistive wall criteria ASTM E-119 for 2 hours. In addition, the system also had to be air and water tight and meet rigorous thermal performance requirements.
SAFTI FIRST’s engineering team provided design assistance to the architects and supplied a 2-hour fire resistive curtain wall with SuperLite II-XL 120 with Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass insulated with Viracon VE13-85 in GPX Curtain Wall Framing. SAFTI FIRST’s GPX Curtain Wall system is tested to the following standards:
- ASTM E 283-04, Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors
- ASTM E 331-00, Standard Test Method for Metal Curtain Walls and Doors by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
- AAMA 501.1-05, Standard Test Method for Metal Curtain Walls and Doors by Uniform Dynamic Pressure
- ASTM E 330-2, Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
- AAMA 501.4-09, Recommended Static Test Method for Evaluating Curtain Wall and Storefront Systems Subjects to Seismic and Wind Induced Interstory Drifts
- Thermal Cycling and Condensation Evaluation
- Interstory Vertical Displacement Tests
SAFTI FIRST also provided thermal analysis to ensure that the energy requirements for this project were met. In an article that appeared in Glass Magazine, Jason Nimmo, Harmon Inc.’s project manager for Aspen Art Museum, said that “the exterior fire-rated IGUs were the most impressive, at 2-1/2-inch overall thickness. These IGs had to accomplish three different elements: match non-rated glass in adjacent systems, achieve the specified fire rating, and thermally insulate as well as the non-rated IGs.”
Lastly, the 2-hour fire resistive curtain wall was supplied with custom tie-backs without exposed fasteners to make sure that it worked seamlessly with the adjacent non-rated curtain wall.
Since SAFTI FIRST provided design assistant early in the project, the engineering team was able to address the expectations and challenges of the project, as well as coordinate delivery schedules with the building team. The result is a beautiful and code compliant fire resistive curtain wall that enhanced the new Aspen Art Museum’s overall design and performance.
--
Project Name: Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, CO
Architects: Shigeru Ban Architects / CCY Architects
General Contractor: Turner Construction
Glazing Contractor: Harmon Inc.
Fire Rated System: SuperLite II-XL 120 with Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass insulated with Viracon VE13-85 in GPX Curtain Wall Framing
Related Stories
Fire-Rated Products | Aug 15, 2017
Walking on glass: Clear floor system offers largest two-hour fire- resistive panels
The system uses the largest tested and listed individual glass panels for two-hour fire-resistive glass floor applications.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Jul 19, 2017
London fire shines spotlight on fire prevention, protection and education
As shocking as the Grenfell Tower fire was, it is not an isolated incident.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Jun 13, 2017
Fire resistive glass floors make a dramatic statement in Nashville’s historic neighborhood
SAFTI FIRST supplied a single glass unit comprised of non-slip rated Starphire tempered laminated Glass with 1/8” Non-Skid White Dots from Oldcastle insulated to custom SuperLite II-XL fire resistive glazing.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Jun 13, 2017
Hidden risks and costs of using sprinklers as an alternate to 1-2 hour fire resistive glazing
The ASTM E-119 test is the most stringent and most difficult test to pass for all fire rated glazing assemblies.
| Jun 5, 2017
Fire-rated frames deliver the natural look of wood
The TimberLine Series pairs a high-strength steel subframe with a wood-veneered metal cover cap to produce a slender fire-rated frame.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Mar 22, 2017
Fire resistive glazing systems provide architects, owners and envelope consultants assurance of documented performance
It may look like a regular window, but these advanced fire resistive glazing systems are recognized in the code as transparent walls because of its ability to block smoke, flames and significantly limit the passage of dangerous radiant heat.
Sponsored | | Nov 10, 2016
Fire-rated glazing replaces drywall partition to transform ‘almost unusable’ space into a ‘showstopper’
The space, which the firm hoped to use as a gathering place for employees and clients, had no access to daylight.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Nov 10, 2016
Truly transparent: Fire resistive butt-glazed walls up to 2 hours
SuperLite II-XLM is a fire resistive multi-laminate glass product that meets ASTM E-119/UL 263/NFPA 251 and CAN/ULC S101 up to 2 hours.
