What Fire Rating Can GRC Curtain Walls Achieve? Analysis of Influencing Factors and Improvement Measures

As the "outer garment" of modern architecture, the fire safety of building curtain walls directly concerns the safety of life and property. Among various curtain wall materials, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) is widely applied for its advantages such as light weight, high strength, and flexible styling—but what fire resistance rating can it actually achieve? And how can it be scientifically improved? As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in the UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials field, Qinglong Group will provide an in-depth analysis of the fire protection code behind GRC curtain walls, covering technical principles, influencing factors, and optimization solutions.

Core Positioning of GRC Curtain Wall Fire Ratings: From Material Nature to Standard Grading

The fire performance of GRC curtain walls essentially stems from its composite material properties—with cement as the base material and glass fiber as the reinforcement, it is inherently non-combustible (Class A fire-resistant material characteristics). According to the national standard Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings (GB50016), the fire rating of curtain wall materials must meet requirements for building height and usage function, among others. Under normal circumstances, GRC curtain walls can achieve Class A1 (non-combustible) or Class A2 (limited combustibility). The Technical Standard for Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) in Buildings (JGJ/T423-2018), whose revision Qinglong Group participated in, clearly stipulates that high-quality GRC components can maintain structural stability at high temperatures, with a fire resistance limit of 1-3 hours. This performance makes GRC an ideal choice for fire-resistant curtain walls in high-end public buildings such as grand theaters and commercial complexes.

Three Key Factors Affecting the Fire Performance of GRC Curtain Walls

Material formulation is the foundation. The content and distribution of glass fibers directly affect GRC's high-temperature resistance. Qinglong uses high-purity alkali-resistant glass fibers (content ≥5%) combined with low-calcium cement; tests at 1200°C show that its components achieve a 30% higher strength retention rate than ordinary GRC. Production technology determines stability. Qinglong's self-developed "spraying-vacuum forming" process ensures uniform fiber dispersion, avoiding heat concentration caused by localized voids, whereas the manual slurry-laying process adopted by some manufacturers in the industry tends to cause fiber agglomeration, resulting in large fluctuations in fire performance. Joint design is the weak link. If flammable materials are selected for the sealing rubber strips and metal connectors of traditional curtain walls, a "fire protection shortboard" will form. In the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, Qinglong adopted fireproof rock wool filling plus stainless steel fire-resistant pin-bolt connections, raising the overall system's fire resistance limit to 2.5 hours.

Full-Chain Improvement Strategy: A Closed Fire Protection Loop from Design to Maintenance

Specialized fire protection optimization is required at the detailed design stage. Through parametric modeling, Qinglong's BIM team conducts simulation calculations on curtain wall keel spacing and fire compartment divisions. For example, in the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, hyperbolic GRC panels were designed integrally with fire and smoke barrier strips, achieving a unity of aesthetic form and fire safety. Strict quality control is enforced in production. Qinglong's Guangxi production base is equipped with a fire performance testing laboratory, and every batch of products must pass 12 indicator tests, including combustion heat value and smoke toxicity. Construction and installation emphasize detail control: 3D laser positioning technology is used to ensure fire-resistant wool is tightly packed, and fire-retardant coating is applied as a secondary treatment to on-site cut areas. After-sales maintenance establishes a regular inspection mechanism. For high-temperature and high-humidity regions, Qinglong provides fire performance retesting services every two years, promptly replacing aged sealing components.

As a national high-tech enterprise and a participant in formulating GRC industry standards, Qinglong Group has always taken "Creating Beautiful Architecture" as its mission, integrating fire safety into the full life-cycle management of GRC curtain walls. From the Class A1 fire-resistant curtain wall of a super high-rise landmark project in Guangzhou to the 3-hour fire-resistant GRP daylighting roof of an airport in Malaysia, Qinglong's 28 years of full-chain experience proves that the fire performance of high-quality GRC curtain walls depends not only on the materials themselves, but even more on systematic technical solutions and rigorous engineering management. Choosing a supplier with integrated capabilities in detailed design, manufacturing, construction and installation, and after-sales maintenance is the fundamental guarantee for ensuring curtain wall fire safety.