Havana’s Fire Safety Regulations and NC-2 Compliance Requirements for High-Rises
Havana’s fire safety regulations, governed by the NC-2 (High-Rise Buildings) and NC-3 (General Construction) standards, impose strict fire-resistance requirements for structures over 15 meters, especially in commercial and residential towers. These codes demand that glazed assemblies in stairwells, corridors, and facades maintain fire integrity for durations ranging from 60 to 120 minutes. Antifires addresses these localized needs with certified systems that have demonstrated compliance under BS EN 1634-1 test conditions. For instance, the 28mm EI60 panel delivers verified integrity for 66 minutes and insulation for 64 minutes, making it suitable for internal partitions in high-rises. Additionally, the 50mm EI120 ultra-high-performance glass provides both integrity and insulation for up to 120 minutes, meeting the most demanding NC-2 requirements for fire-rated enclosures. These assemblies are installed using G.M.S. hollow steel frames and ceramic wool seals, ensuring structural stability under furnace pressures of 0 ±2 Pa. By specifying Antifires products, Havana’s building professionals can confidently align with local codes while maintaining transparent, open-plan designs.
| Product Thickness | Integrity (minutes) | Insulation (minutes) | Typical Application |
| 28mm EI60 | 66 | 64 | Internal partitions, door vision panels |
| 50mm EI120 | 120 | 120 | Stairwell enclosures, curtain walls |
Fire Rated Glass Grade Selection for Havana’s Tropical Climate and Salt-Air Exposure
Selecting the appropriate fire rated glass grade for Havana’s tropical climate and salt-air exposure requires careful consideration of both thermal performance and corrosion resistance. In coastal areas like the Malecón, high humidity and saline conditions can accelerate degradation of standard materials. Antifires addresses this with multi-layer composite structures that incorporate intumescent gel layers, such as the 21mm FPOS system, which achieves 120 minutes of integrity and 30 minutes of insulation. This design minimizes thermal bridging and condensation risks, critical for maintaining insulation performance in humid environments. Furthermore, the 15mm FPOS glass, with integrity up to 132 minutes and insulation for 33–34 minutes, is ideal for interior applications where moderate exposure is expected. All frames are constructed from G.M.S. hollow steel sections with ceramic tape seals (density 210 kg/m³), providing robust resistance to moisture ingress. For projects in Havana’s historic districts, such as Centro Habana, these systems can be customized to fit existing openings without compromising the architectural heritage, ensuring both safety and preservation compliance.
- Corrosion Resistance: Steel frames with anti-rust coatings and ceramic fiber seals.
- Thermal Stability: Multi-layer glass with intumescent gel prevents delamination under high humidity.
- Custom Sizing: Available up to 2.5 meters high for retrofitting colonial structures.
Building Application Scenarios and Engineering Demands in Havana’s Tourism Sector
Havana’s booming tourism sector, particularly in hotel and resort projects along the Malecón and in Nuevo Vedado, demands fire-rated partitions that support open layouts while complying with local occupancy limits for up to 200 occupants per floor. Antifires provides engineered solutions for stairwells, corridors, and lobby areas using fire rated glass systems that maintain both integrity and insulation. For example, the 26mm door glass assembly, with integrity of 89–90 minutes and insulation of 68 minutes, is ideal for vision panels in fire doors, allowing natural light flow without compromising compartmentation. In larger open spaces, the 50mm EI120 system can be used in curtain walls to create transparent barriers that meet NC-2 egress requirements. These installations utilize M6/M8 anchor bolts at 300–600mm spacing and expansion gaps of 3–5mm filled with ceramic fiber, ensuring structural stability under fire exposure. By integrating these systems, Havana’s hospitality projects can achieve both aesthetic transparency and regulatory compliance, supporting safe evacuation routes for high-occupancy floors.
Brand Advantages and Reasons for Havana Customers Choosing Our Certified Products
For Havana’s mixed-use commercial complexes and government buildings, Antifires offers distinct advantages through certified, customizable fire-rated glazing solutions. The brand’s products are tested under ASTM E119 and BS 476 Part 22 standards, providing verified performance for integrity and insulation up to 120 minutes. This ensures compliance with NC-2 requirements for egress routes and compartmentation in high-rises. Antifires provides custom sizes up to 2.5 meters high, allowing seamless integration into curtain walls and large partition systems without compromising fire resistance. The 10mm FPOS glass, with integrity of 135 minutes, is particularly suited for applications requiring extended fire protection in critical areas. Additionally, the use of intumescent fire seals (20mm × 4mm) and ceramic wool ensures reliable sealing under thermal expansion. Havana customers benefit from direct technical support, including detailed installation guidelines and compliance documentation, making Antifires a trusted partner for complex urban projects. Explore the full range of 120-minute fire rated glass systems for high-performance applications.