Raising the bar with TG FR

G24 Glass Company of the Year, ToughGlaze, launched its next generation TG FR fire rated laminate glass at the start of 2025. Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, catches up with managing director, Bhavik Varsani, who explains more about how TG FR can transform fire rated glazing projects and how it is now officially certified for even more systems, including the ultra-thin, butt-joint steel Metflam profile.

TG FR by ToughGlaze is a highly advanced, heat-resistant tempered laminate glass, featuring a state-of-the-art gel interlayer.

It’s one of the UK’s only two-hour fire-rated glass products that also meets toughened safety glass standards – without sacrificing optical clarity. The product is also highly UV resistant, maintaining exceptional transparency over time and avoiding the ‘milky’ appearance that can affect other fire-rated glass.

According to Bhavik Varsani, ToughGlaze MD: “TG FR delivers crystal-clear aesthetics alongside robust fire protection – it’s simply a superior alternative to what’s currently on the market.”

Extensive testing with major system houses has already secured certification for TG FR across a broad range of popular glazing and profile systems. These include Forsters, Schüco, Reynaers, and most recently, Metflam’s ultra-thin butt-joint steel profile.

Available in formats ranging from ultra-clear, half-hour fire-rated glass to horizontal, load-bearing panels, TG FR is tested to E1120 standards, offering fire protection with loads up to 300kg/m².

Certification also covers installation in horizontal windows above plasterboard walls.

The Metflam advantage

ToughGlaze’s collaboration with Metflam is one of the product’s biggest early success stories. TG FR now holds EI60 certification for the butt-joint Metflam slimline system, giving customers access to an ultra-slim aesthetic previously unavailable with this level of fire protection.

“In addition, we are working towards using TG FR within Metflam doors which will mean we can have handles through the glass,” explains Bhavik. “Once certified, it will allow customers to incorporate more elegant handle designs instead of relying on floor-to-ceiling pull handles fixed to the frame. It will be a first for the market and a great example of the design flexibility TG FR offers.”

UK based supply

One of  TG FR’s most attractive qualities is speed of supply. Traditionally, fire-rated glass of this type has been sourced from Europe, with lead times stretching to eight weeks or more. ToughGlaze’s UK-based production changes the game.

Bhavik says: “We can supply TG FR in as little as 2-3 weeks. That’s a fraction of the traditional wait and a huge advantage for customers on tight deadlines. When we launched, we knew there was demand for a higher-performing fire-rated product – but equally important was the ability to deliver it quickly, without compromising on quality.”

Investment and innovation

Bringing TG FR to market required significant investment from ToughGlaze. This included R&D, new machinery, and extensive testing at Warrington, both before launch and on an ongoing basis to expand the number of certified systems.

The company’s Bedfordshire facility is home to a bespoke, fully automated fire glass production line – the only one of its kind in Europe – dedicated entirely to TG FR manufacture. This ensures a consistent, high-quality product while maintaining the agility to respond quickly to customer orders.

“We’ve brought our renowned ToughGlaze quality to the fire glass sector,” Bhavik says. “Whether it’s a smaller, high-value project or a major commercial contract, we can deliver TG FR to exacting standards and help our customers grow their business. Our ISO 9001:2015 accreditation for quality management underlines that commitment.”

Supporting compliance

With building safety under intense scrutiny since the Grenfell disaster, ensuring robust compliance is critical – particularly for fire-rated products. TG FR is backed by rigorous testing and certification, giving architects, contractors, and installers confidence in its performance across a wide range of applications.

These include fire-rated glass partitions, heat-resistant panels for walls and ceilings, and an increasing number of window systems.

Bhavik emphasises: “In today’s market, you can’t take shortcuts with fire-rated glass. TG FR gives our customers the assurance that they’re working with a fully compliant, thoroughly tested product – while also delivering superior aesthetics and handling.”

Looking ahead

The early response to TG FR suggests ToughGlaze’s latest innovation will have a lasting impact on the fire-rated glazing sector. Its combination of high performance, versatility, rapid UK supply, and broad certification gives customers a valuable new tool for both design-led and safety-critical projects.

“We’ve only just started,” Bhavik concludes. “We’ll continue testing TG FR with more systems and exploring new applications. Our goal is to give customers the best possible fire-rated glass – one that offers them creative freedom, commercial advantage, and total confidence in its performance.”