AU2019232770A1 - Building Construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A fireproof structure for occupation by personnel has a slab base and a metal framework clad with a gapless metal shell, the frame being lined like a dwelling and thermal insulation laid between the shell and the lining, capable of withstanding a temperature of 1200°C. Windows in the shell are each protected by an insulated shutter. Insulated doors and shutters close on continuous smoke-proof seals. When the building has eaves, the slab has drainage to receive eaves runoff. Fig. 3

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

Building Construction

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention concerns buildings intended for occupation by people who live or work in areas prone to wildfire.

BACKGROUND [0002] Temperate and warmer latitudes contain areas outside metropolitan zones which are attractive for housing but risky in that their proximity to bush exposes them to forest fires.

[0003] In my co-pending application for Patent No. PCT/AU2010/001306,1 describe refuges large enough to accommodate a family which can withstand the heat of a forest fire. If such a refuge is installed on a slab close to the house, the people can retreat there from the house and emerge safely even though the house is burned. Bush fires vary in their progress and intensity but typically a fire front will advance at a rate which will expose a building for 3-4 minutes to temperatures of 1000-1200°C. This heat load is severe and as soon as window glass shatters, the combustible material inside the building ignites and its entire destruction becomes likely.

[0004] If a building is not in the path of the fire front, they are vulnerable to airborne embers which are capable of starting localised fires by igniting dry material in gutters and yards. If flames enter the roof space, the building occupants may be unaware that the building has already begun to bum.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] This invention provides a fireproof structure for occupation by personnel comprising a slab base with means to drain the portion of the slab which skirts the construction, a metal frame

2019232770 16 Sep 2019 supporting an interior lining, an exterior, gapless metal shell forming the roof and walls with thermal insulation supported between the exterior shell and interior lining capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 1200°C, one or more glazed windows in the shell, each protected by a shutter with a metal skin and thermal insulation which shutters are movable between an upper position clear of the glass and a closed position in which the glazing is covered, a door having a metal skin and thermal insulation, both doors and shutters closing on continuous smoke-proof seals.

[0006] The channel may be close to the shell in order to receive water which drains from the shell. Instead the channel may be spaced from the shell when the latter has an overhanging roof in order to receive water dripping from the roof.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0007] 1. Community safety.

[0008] 2. Handles solar gain better than a roofless metal refuge.

[0009] 3. Can be constructed of modules in order to change the capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0010] One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figures 1A-1D show various shapes of structures.

[0012] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of Figure IB.

[0013] Figure 3 is a section of a fragment of the construction.

2019232770 16 Sep 2019 [0014] Figure 4 is a perspective of a window fragment.

[0015] Figure 5 is a plan of the window of Figure 4 when the shelter is open.

[0016] Figure 6 is a plan of the window of Figure 4 when the shelter is closed.

[0017] Figure 7 is a side view of a variant of Figure 1 A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0018] Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1A shows a pitched roof dwelling; Figure IB shows a hipped roof dwelling; Figure 1C shows a day nursery; Figure ID shows an ambulance station.

[0019] In Figure 2 the pitched roof 2 has eaves 4, vertical fascia 6 which allows roof water to fall into channel 8 which is filled with pebbles and drains into a stormwater inlet at the edge of the slab 10. The slab has a step 12 (see Figure 3) which drains water from the stainless steel panels 14 forming the exterior shell of the dwelling.

[0020] An angle iron frame made of slotted steel channels 16 and rails 18 is bolted together like a storage rack. The interior lining 20 is plasterboard panels which are screwed to the channels in order to act as a support surface for the ceramic fibre blankets which thermally insulate the structure. Two 25mm thick blankets 22,24 are unwound from rolls and impaled on nails 26 driven through the plasterboard. A third blanket 28,12mm thick, brings the depth of the three layers up to the depth of the channels 16.

[0021] The exterior surfaces of the channels and rails are then covered with adhesive tape 30 of the type which forms a vapour-proof seal upon heat activation. The straight roof panels 32 and wall panels 34 are then fastened to the frame in order to clad the structure in a gapless shell of stainless steel sheet. Preformed L-shaped panels 36 then form the fascia and eaves. Tape is applied to the margins of the panels which mutually overlap in order to create a seal. The

2019232770 16 Sep 2019 channels are welded to a rectangular base 40 fixed to slab 10.

[0022] Each window has a glazed frame 42 mounted in the frame in a window aperture but recessed in order to receive and accommodate a rectangular shutter 44. Shutter 44 has a steel frame covered in stainless steel sheet like the shell of the building. The shutter is the same thickness as the composite wall of the building in order to contain the same thickness of ceramic fibre insulation as installed in the wall of the building.

[0023] Sheet metal overhang 46 protects the linkage and rail (not shown) which allows the sideways movement of the shutter to register with the window aperture and then to advance until its front face 48 lies flush with the wall of the building.

[0024] The windows have seals 50 as described in my co-pending Application No. PCT/AU2010/ 001306. Likewise doors 52 are made of timber but lie behind shutters of the same type of construction as the window shutters 44.

[0025] In a variant, the shutters pivot around a vertical axis and project into window or door recesses. In both versions each shutter has an associated mechanical drive which closes the shutter in the expectation of exposure to fire. A control circuit in the building controls the deployment of the shutters. If the owner is away from the house the circuit can be activated by a telephone signal.

[0026] The fascia and eaves are constructed differently in Figure 7. Roof panel 32 and the wall panel 14 are the same but the L-shaped panel 36 is replaced by a rolled panel 54 which overlaps the existing panels as shown.

[0027] The tape referred to above is of specific performance in fireproofing in that it permits expansion movement of the range encountered in seasonal weather change but when subject to the heat of a fire produces bubbles and increases in volume which seal the surfaces to which it is stuck, preventing smoke from entering the building. Tape is also applied between the slab and the frame members.

2019232770 16 Sep 2019 [0028] A tank of compressed air provides a few minutes air supply and assists in creating a mild positive pressure inside the building which helps to prevent the ingress of smoke. A chimney for a stove discharges to an external box on the roof.

[0029] A self contained toilet and external water supply enters the building together with mains power. Conventional cut outs for these are provided. As a building it must conform to cun-ent Building Commissioner Regulations.

[0030] Temperature monitoring of the interior and radio communication is preferred. An insulated outside aerial is shown in Figure 1 A. A peephole is useful to inspect the course of the fire if radio communication fails. A device for inspecting the outside is a tube which passes through the wall to an external box with a space into which an end cover can swing open. The cover is rod operated from the building interior and the inner end of the tube is closed by a heat proof glass cover. When a chimney is not present, this operates as a pressure equalising duct. Alternatively, the roof ridge has an insulated exterior box with a lid which can be raised from inside the building for passage of the upper end of a periscope. This affords 360° inspection of the surrounding area.

[0031] It is to be understood that the word “comprising” as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word “comprising” does not exclude the addition of other elements.

[0032] It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention, these modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention. Two superimposed ceramic fibre blankets, each 38mm thick manufactured by Morgan Ceramics, are equal in thermal insulation to the three layers mentioned above.

[0033] The doors, windows and their seals may vary from those described above. There are different ways to provide heat proof cover to these apertures.

2019232770 16 Sep 2019 [0034] The building can be coated to present a pleasing colour and a colour patch on the roof or door will indicate it is a fire refuge. The building will have a registered GPS coordinate.

Claims (14)

1. A fireproof structure for occupation by personnel comprising a slab base with means to drain the portion of the slab which skirts the construction, a metal frame supporting an interior lining, an exterior, gapless metal shell forming the roof and walls with thermal insulation supported between the exterior shell and interior lining capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 1200°C, one or more glazed windows in the shell, each protected by a shutter with a metal skin and thermal insulation which shutters are movable between an upper position clear of the glass and a closed position in which the glazing is covered, a door having a metal skin and thermal insulation, both doors and shutters closing on continuous smoke-proof seals.

2. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the metal frame is fixed to the slab and has roof supporting members.

3. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the roof is pitched and has gable ends.

4. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the eaves, fascia and lower inclined perimeter portion of the roof are made from side by side panels in which the eaves are horizontal, the perimeter is pitched and the fascia between is convexly curved.

5. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the central portion of the roof is made of pitched panels which overlap the eaves panels.

6. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the walls are made of side by side upright panels which overlap the eaves panels.

7. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the frame has an interior lining of plasterboard and fasteners extend through the plasterboard into the insulation between the plasterboard and the exterior metal skin.

2019232770 16 Sep 2019

8. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-7, wherein the means to drain the exposed slab skirting the perimeter of the shell is a channel, whereby the shell drains into the channel and the channel drains from the slab.

9. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 -7, wherein the means is an inclined margin sloping away from the shell perimeter.

10. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 9, wherein a drain channel surrounds the inclined margin.

11. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the thermal insulation is two or more superimposed ceramic fibre blankets lying between the metal shell and the interior lining of the frame.

12. A fireproof structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-11, wherein the door has a continuous flange extending from a door face and the frame has a continuous channel which accommodates a resilient smoke-proof seal of like perimeter to the flange, whereby closing the door causes sealing contact between the flange and seal.

13. A fireproof structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the structure has upright walls and a convex roof with at least one skylight in the roof and an associated shutter for overlying the skylight in a protective mode and overlying the roof in an occupation mode.

14. A fireproof structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.