The Ontario Building Code | Wired Glass and Glass Block
3.1.8.14. wireref ="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="Electricians in East York">wired glass and glass Block
(1) Except as permitted by Articles 3.1.8.16. and 3.1.8.17. for the separation of exits, an opening in a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not more than 1 h is permitted to be protected with fixed wireref ="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="Electricians in East York">wired glass assemblies or glass blocks installed in conformance with nfpa 80, "Fire doors and Other opening Protectives".
(2) wireref ="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="Electricians in East York">wired glass assemblies permitted by Sentence (1) and described in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-2, "Fire Performance Ratings", are permitted to be used as closures in vertical fire separations without being tested in accordance with Sentence 3.1.8.4.(1).
(3) glass blocks permitted by Sentence (1) shall be installed in accordance with Subsection 4.3.2. and reinforced with steel reinforcement in each horizontal joint.
In Plain Language
Wired glass and glass block can be used to protect openings in fire separations rated up to 1 hour (except where separating exits, which has its own rules), provided they're installed per NFPA 80 and meet the additional standards described.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.