76. Wired Glass.—The wire glass now in common use consists of heavy glass plate with wire mesh embedded in it. This glass is obtainable in polished, ribbed, prism, or mazed form, as shown in [Fig. 35 (a), (b), (c), and (d)], respectively. The plain glass, [Fig. 35 (a)], is used where the light is ample, and where it is desired for the occupants to see through the windows. The ribbed is employed usually in factories, and the ribs are generally run in a horizontal direction, so as to throw the light toward the ceiling and floor, thus diffusing it throughout the building. The prism glass is also employed in order to secure a greater diffusion of the light than is possible with the plain or factory ribbed glass, while the mazed glass finds favor where it is necessary to employ an obscured sash, which will still admit plenty of light and present a good appearance but yet cannot be seen through.
The glass used in metallic frames should not be less than ½ inch, or, if polished, ⁵/₁₆-inch, and the embedded wire should not have a mesh larger than 1 inch and should not be less in size than No. 22 Brown & Sharpe wire gauge, which is the standard used in America.
Fig. 35
Fig. 36
77. Design of Sash.—In designing a sash for fire-retarder frames, it is necessary, in order to comply with the Underwriters rules and regulations, to observe that no single light exceeds 24 in. × 30 in. The metallic frames are generally constructed of No. 22 galvanized steel, while the sash are made of a lighter weight, generally No. 24. In unusual localities, where the frames are likely to be subjected to the influence of gases, with known affinity for iron or galvanizing, it is permissible to make the metallic frames of 18-ounce copper, though such frames are not considered the equivalent of an iron frame as a fire-retarder, and such frames should never be used in elevator, vent shafts, or fire-retarder partitions that are liable to intense internal fires.
In order to better explain the construction of the commercial frames, [Fig. 36] is given, which illustrates one of the best frames in the market. In the figure, a vertical cross-section through the window-head sill and parting rail is illustrated. It will be observed that these frames can be neatly framed with architrave mold and stop, as designated at a and b. It will also be observed that the head for the top sash is beveled, as indicated at c, so that a tight joint is insured by the edge of the sash coming in contact with the bevel, and thus compelling a close connection. The parting rails are also constructed with a straight piece entering on a bevel d, so that at this point a tight joint is also secured. By the several offsets in the sill, wind and rain stops are provided, as indicated at e. Sashes constructed in this manner can be made to slide freely, noiselessly, and be made tight against weather and wind, as well as being secured against annoying clattering, or rattling. The sills of metallic frames are generally filled with cement, and sometimes the heads are similarly made solid. Any unusually large surfaces, like that which would occur between twin or triple windows, in the mullion, are securely braced inside with galvanized sheet iron or bar iron.
78. In the construction of metallic sash, solder is never used for holding the parts together, for all parts must be either lock-seamed or riveted, the lock seams being illustrated at g, [Fig. 36]. Soldering may be used only to fill up the joints. The objection to a joint that is only soldered and not lock-seamed is that in a severe fire when the window is subjected to an intense heat, the joint is apt to open by the solder melting out. When the joint opens, flames may go through and the fire-stop will thus be soon destroyed.
In designing the frames, they should have at least a 4-inch lap on the brick reveal on the sides and head, and it is not uncommon to wind-stop the sill by extending upwards a piece of galvanized sheet iron. While such windows as those described will act as a fire-retarder and prevent flames from reaching apartments that they protect, even in cases of severe conflagrations, nevertheless the glass radiates considerable heat, and inflammable goods should not be stored too close to such windows. Neither is it particularly desirable to have window shades secured to the frames of metallic windows. Where the goods in a building are particularly inflammable, the liability to pile them too close to the sash should be entirely eliminated by using window guards, which would maintain such merchandise at a distance of 3 or 4 feet from the window.