What Fire Rating Can GRC Curtain Walls Achieve?

In modern architectural design, curtain walls are not only an important carrier of architectural aesthetics but also undertake the critical function of safety protection. As an industry specialist in the field of glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC) materials, Qinglong Group, with 28 years of full-chain experience, deeply understands the importance of fire performance for curtain wall systems. This article analyzes the fire rating of GRC curtain walls and their industry application value from three dimensions—material properties, standard certification, and engineering practice—providing professional reference for designers and owners.

The core advantage of the fire performance of GRC curtain walls lies in the nature of the material itself. GRC is made with alkali-resistant glass fibre as the reinforcement and Portland cement as the base material through a special process, and is inherently non-combustible (combustion performance reaching Class A as specified in GB8624). Compared with traditional stone curtain walls, GRC panels weigh only 1/4 as much, yet by adjusting fibre content and mix ratios, they can achieve performance indicators of flexural strength ≥15MPa and fire resistance limit ≥1.5 hours. This dual characteristic of "lightweight high strength + non-combustibility" makes it an ideal choice for the fire protection design of super high-rise building curtain walls. For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

Measuring the fire rating of GRC curtain walls requires combining system design with testing and certification. According to the requirements of the "Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings" GB50016, curtain wall systems must pass the dual verification of "component combustion performance + overall fire protection construction". Qinglong GRC curtain walls strictly follow the "Technical Standard for Building Applications of Glass Fibre Reinforced Cement (GRC)" JGJ/T423-2018, and their detailed design team optimizes fire barrier settings, sealing material selection, and anchoring node treatment according to different building heights. For example, in building projects over 100 meters, by adopting a combined solution of composite fire-resistant rock wool filling + intumescent fire-resistant sealant, the overall fire resistance limit of the curtain wall system can be raised to more than 2 hours, meeting the fire protection requirements of Class I high-rise buildings.

Engineering practice is the best proof of the fire performance of GRC curtain walls. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project that Qinglong Group participated in, the GRC curtain wall system was tested by the National Quality Supervision and Inspection Center for Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems and Fire-Resistant Components, achieving a fire integrity of 180 minutes and winning the AALBORG WHITE Cup GRC Construction Engineering Innovation Award. In a commercial complex project in Nanjing, designers adopted a combined scheme of Qinglong double-curved GRC curtain wall and glass curtain wall, installing fire-resistant rock wool belts at the junctions of the two materials, which not only achieved the elegant fluidity of the architectural form but also ensured the integrity of the fire compartments. These cases confirm the fire adaptability of GRC materials in complex architectural forms.

When choosing a GRC curtain wall fire protection solution, it is essential to focus on the manufacturer's full-chain service capability. As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong Group introduces BIM technology for fire protection node simulation at the detailed design stage, uses automated production lines to ensure material mix precision in the production stage, and achieves installation errors ≤3mm through 3D laser scanning during construction. This integrated "design-production-construction" service model effectively avoids the disconnection between materials and construction that is common in traditional curtain wall fire protection design. Currently, Qinglong GRC curtain walls are widely used in densely populated places such as museums and convention centers, and overseas projects have passed international fire standard certifications such as Singapore BCA and Australia AS1530. For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

As building fire protection requirements continue to escalate, GRC curtain walls are becoming the preferred alternative to traditional curtain wall materials thanks to their material properties and system advantages. Qinglong Group will continue to leverage its 28 years of technical expertise, guided by the mission of "creating beautiful architecture", to provide global customers with GRC curtain wall systems that combine aesthetic value and safety performance, helping to build safer and more creative architectural spaces.