Fire-Rated Windows in Calgary

Installation, Replacement and Code Compliance

When a building inspector flags a fire separation issue, when a renovation crosses a code threshold, or when a tenant changeover triggers a permit review, fire-rated windows become a project that needs to get done quickly and correctly. JP Glass installs fire-rated window assemblies across Calgary for property managers, small commercial GCs, and building owners. Project quotes within 24 hours. We handle the whole scope: spec confirmation, supply, install, ULC documentation, and inspector sign-off support.

Already have a fire-rated frame and just need glass replaced? See our wired glass repair and replacement service at /wired-glass-calgary/ for per-pane swap-outs.

Lifetime Warranty

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On Site and Mobile Service

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OEM Glass

Original parts for a perfect fit

Common Reasons Calgary Buildings Install Fire-Rated Windows

Not every fire-rated window project is a new construction. Most of our jobs come from one of these scenarios:

Building inspector code violation

Inspector found non-compliant glazing in a fire-rated wall during a routine inspection or following a complaint. Building owner has 30 to 90 days to remediate. Common at strata corporations, older office buildings, and converted residential properties.

Tenant fit-out or renovation

New tenant moving into commercial space wants to reconfigure walls. The reconfiguration affects fire separations. Permit review requires fire-rated assemblies in new wall openings. Common in retail-to-office conversions, restaurant fit-outs, medical clinic build-outs.

Suite changeover requirements

Apartment or condo board has separation walls between units that need fire-rated upgrades when the City inspector reviews them. Sometimes triggered by insurance audits.

Building expansion or addition

New construction joining existing building creates fire separation requirements at the junction. Often retrofit work in mixed-use buildings.

Failed previous install

Previous contractor installed non-compliant glazing or lost the ULC documentation. We replace with compliant assemblies that pass inspection.

Owner-initiated upgrade

Building owner wants to add code-compliant fire separations proactively before listing the property for sale, refinancing, or insurance renewal.

The scope range we typically handle: 1 to 25 fire-rated window units per project. Single-unit emergency replacements through full floor-by-floor retrofits. We don’t bid on large new-construction projects above 50 units because those go to volume-discount manufacturers. Our sweet spot is the small-to-medium project that needs hands-on execution.

Fire Rating Durations Made Simple

The fire rating duration tells the inspector how long the assembly holds back fire. In practical terms, you pick the rating that matches the wall the window sits in.

Here's how it works in everyday language:

20-minute rated Lightest rating. Used in some corridor walls and limited applications. Cheapest option, but most Calgary projects need higher.
45-minute rated Common for stairwell side walls in mid-rise buildings and exit corridors. Most frequent rating we install.
60-minute (1-hour) rated Suite-to-suite separations in multi-unit residential. Mechanical room walls in small commercial.
90-minute rated Higher-hazard separations. Exit shafts, electrical rooms, larger mechanical spaces.
120-minute (2-hour) rated Property-line walls, vertical exit enclosures in taller buildings. Most demanding standard window assembly.
180-minute (3-hour) rated Severe hazard separations. Rare for windows, more common for doors and walls.

The simple rule: your wall has a rating (the architect or building permit drawings tell you what). The window in that wall must match the wall rating, OR be smaller than 25 percent of the wall area, in which case a reduced rating might work. We figure this out from your drawings or from a site visit, and we quote what the code actually requires.

The Two Glass Options Most Calgary Projects Use

Fire-rated windows come in a half-dozen glass types but for 90 percent of Calgary commercial projects, two options handle the job:

Wired glass

The traditional product. Embedded steel mesh holds glass together during fire exposure. Visible wire pattern. Cheapest fire-rated option, code-compliant for fire-protective applications. We stock this in Calgary and can install within 1 to 2 weeks for standard sizes. Most projects use this unless there's a specific reason not to.

Ceramic glass (Pyran Platinum, FireLite)

Clear appearance, no wire pattern. Looks like regular glass but carries 20 to 180-minute fire ratings. Costs 2 to 3 times wired glass. Used when the property owner or tenant wants the visual upgrade, or in projects where impact safety glazing is also required and tempered ceramic is the simpler solution.

Other options exist (laminated fire-resistive glass like Pyrostop or Keralite, intumescent glass, tempered fire-rated) but they’re project-specific. We bring those in when the spec calls for them. For routine commercial projects, wired or ceramic covers the scope.

Project Sizes We Handle

Our typical project size and the lead times that come with each:

Project Scope	Typical Building	Lead Time	Install Time
1 to 3 units (emergency)	Single inspector callout	3 to 7 days	1 day
3 to 8 units	Small office, plaza unit, condo common area	7 to 14 days	1 to 2 days
8 to 15 units	Mid-rise stairwell scope, multi-unit residential	14 to 21 days	2 to 4 days
15 to 25 units	Full floor or section retrofit	21 to 35 days	4 to 7 days
25+ units	Whole-building retrofit	35 to 60 days	1 to 3 weeks

We work around tenant schedules and business hours where possible. Stairwell installs typically happen between 7 AM and 5 PM, weekday access. Higher-disruption work (corridor pane replacements with door closures) we schedule for evenings or weekends. The cost adjustment for off-hours work is around 20 to 30 percent.

Real Cost Per Installed Window in Calgary

Pricing per fully installed fire-rated window assembly (glass + frame + install + ULC labeling) for 2026:

Spec	Per Unit Cost (Installed)	Project Total (10 units)
20-minute wired glass, standard size	$850 to $1,150	$8,500 to $11,500
45-minute wired glass, standard size	$1,000 to $1,350	$10,000 to $13,500
60-minute wired glass, standard size	$1,200 to $1,600	$12,000 to $16,000
90-minute wired glass, standard size	$1,500 to $1,950	$15,000 to $19,500
120-minute wired glass, standard size	$1,800 to $2,400	$18,000 to $24,000
60-minute ceramic glass (clear)	$2,300 to $3,150	$23,000 to $31,500
90-minute ceramic glass	$2,800 to $3,750	$28,000 to $37,500
Custom oversize or non-standard frame	Quote-specific	Project quote

What's included in the per-unit cost

Glass material (wired or ceramic)
Steel frame (hollow metal galvanized standard)
Intumescent glazing tape and hardware
Installation labor
ULC certification labeling and documentation
Removal of old assembly (where applicable)
Compliance documentation for inspector

What's NOT included

Drywall, paint, or finishing work around the frame
Electrical or fire alarm modifications
Permit fees (we'll pull permits as your agent for an additional fee)
After-hours install premium (20 to 30 percent)
Travel beyond standard Calgary service area

For projects over 15 units, we discount the per-unit cost 8 to 15 percent. For multi-property portfolio work (3+ buildings same owner), we offer further volume pricing.

Lead Time and Project Timeline

Real-world timeline for a typical 10-unit fire-rated window install in Calgary:

Day 1 You send us drawings, photos, or a scope description. We respond with a quote and timeline within 24 business hours.
Day 2 to 3 Quote approved. We schedule a site visit if needed (most projects). Site visit confirms sizes, frame conditions, access, scheduling.
Day 4 to 5 Final order placed for glass and frames. Standard wired glass ships from our Calgary stock or nearby distribution.
Day 6 to 14 Materials arrive. Glass cut to size, frames prepped, hardware staged.
Day 15 to 18 Installation. Crew of 2 to 3 technicians, working around tenant access. Daily progress photos sent to project manager.
Day 19 Final inspection walkthrough. ULC documentation handed over. Any deficiencies addressed.
Day 20 to 30 Inspector review (if applicable). We attend the inspection if requested.

Rush projects (under 14 days from quote to install) are possible for standard spec wired glass. Add 20 to 30 percent for rush pricing. Ceramic and laminated products have manufacturer lead times we cannot rush below 3 weeks.

Hear From Our Happy Customers !

Building Code Compliance in Calgary

The codes that apply to your fire-rated window project:

National Building Code of Canada (NBCC)

Sets the framework Alberta adopts.

Alberta Building Code

Adopts NBCC with provincial amendments. Current edition is 2019 ABC with 2023 errata. Some Calgary projects also operate under the 2014 ABC depending on permit issue date.

City of Calgary Building Permit Services

Handles permit reviews, plan checks, and field inspections. Inspectors verify ULC labels on every rated assembly.

ULC S104 Standard

The test method for fire-rated door and window assemblies. Every assembly we install carries this certification or equivalent.

ASTM E119

North American baseline standard, accepted by reference under NBCC.

Calgary Fire Department

Reviews drawings for occupant-load and exit requirements that drive rating durations. Their input becomes part of the permit conditions.

For property managers and small GCs, the simple rule: don’t try to interpret the code yourself. The architect or code consultant working on your project determines the rating. We supply and install exactly what the drawings call for. If there’s no architect involved (small renovation, emergency repair), we read the existing ULC labels on the assemblies being replaced and match them. We don’t downgrade ratings to save money.

Common Building Types We Work With

Where our fire-rated window installs typically end up:

Strata-managed condo and apartment buildings

Common-area stairwells, corridor walls, mechanical room enclosures, suite separation walls.

Mid-rise office buildings

Stairwell sidelights, mechanical room enclosures, fire-separation walls between tenant suites. Often tied to tenant fit-out work.

Small commercial plazas and strip malls

Demising walls between commercial units, sometimes between the commercial space and an attached residential unit.

Restaurant and food service fit-outs

Kitchen-to-dining-room separations, especially when commercial cooking equipment triggers higher fire separation requirements.

Schools and educational facilities

Classroom door vision panels, corridor wall sidelights, gym separation walls. Usually summer or weekend work.

Medical clinics and small healthcare

Corridor vision panels, mechanical separations, exit enclosures.

Auto dealerships and service centers

Showroom separations from service bays, fire-rated walls between sales floor and storage areas.

Religious and community buildings

Sanctuary-to-classroom separations, kitchen separations in church buildings used for community events.

Our average project is in a building with 2 to 6 floors, 50 to 500 occupants, and a permit triggered by either an inspection callout or a tenant changeover. We’re not the right fit for high-rise new construction but we’re well-suited for the gap that smaller projects fall into.

Calgary Service Area

We install fire-rated windows across:

Calgary city

All quadrants. Downtown, suburbs, industrial parks, mixed-use corridors.

Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Strathmore

Standard service area.

High River, Crossfield, Carstairs, Olds

Available with travel charge.

Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat

Custom quote, typically full-day on-site for full project scope.

Property managers handling multiple buildings often set up a master agreement with us. We provide priority response, consistent pricing, and consolidated billing across all your properties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glass Cutting

Can fire-rated windows open?

The traditional fire-rated window we install (wired or ceramic glass in steel frame) does not open. It's a fixed assembly. Operable fire-rated windows exist but they're uncommon, expensive (3 to 4 times more than fixed), and rarely specified in Calgary commercial code-compliance work. Almost every project we deliver uses fixed assemblies.

How long does the whole project take from quote to inspector sign-off?

Do you handle the building permit?

Will the work disrupt my tenants?

What happens if the inspector rejects the install?

Do you provide warranties?

Do you work with general contractors or only direct?

What if I'm not sure what fire rating I need?

Do you do residential fire-rated windows?

What's the difference between your service and the bigger commercial glaziers?

Get a Project Quote

Send us project drawings, an inspector report, photos of the existing assemblies, or just a description of what you need. We’ll respond within one business day.

Contact

Phone

(403) 558-0427

Email

connect@jpglasscalgary.com

Office

Calgary, AB

Hours

Monday to Friday 8 AM to 6 PM

What helps us quote faster

Number of fire-rated window units in scope
Building type (office, residential, retail, etc.)
Fire rating durations if known (or photos of existing ULC labels)
Target install date or any inspector deadline
Site address (for travel calculation)
Inspector report if available

Just need glass replacement in an existing frame? See wired glass repair and replacement at /wired-glass-calgary/ for per-pane work.