CH619284A5 - Fire-resistant window - Google Patents

Abstract

The window consists of a sheet of silicate glass (1) placed in a frame (2). The frame (2) bears, on its face facing the opening, an angle section (3) which supports the sheet of glass (1) by means of sealing strips (4, 5). The sheet of glass (1) exposed to the effect of heat during a fire is subjected to a heat effect which is more or less uniform over its edges. In order to provide the window with a normal and pleasant appearance, without in any way weakening its fire resistance, a listel (8) which is destroyed by the action of fire is placed around the sheet of glass, in the region of its framing. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a fire-resistant window, consisting of at least one sheet of silicate glass mounted in a metal frame, said frame being such that on at least one face, the sheet exposed to the action of heat during 'a fire, may be subjected to an almost uniform calorific action, even on its edges, that is to say in its marginal zone going to the edges.

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Such windows are described in published applications DE 2 328 737 and 2 344 459 and a further development was the subject of patent application DE 2 527 134.

As the edge of the sheet is also subjected to the action of heat, the temperature gradient between the center of said sheet and its edges is reduced and consequently, the extension stresses appearing in the region of the edges and susceptible cause rupture, are suppressed or at least mitigated; which therefore improves fire resistance.

All known embodiments have in common the fact that the edge of the glass sheet is at least partially free, which can prove to be troublesome, in particular for aesthetic reasons, because this alters the appearance of the frame. .

The object of the invention is to modify the construction of a window of the type indicated above, so as to give it the appearance of a normal window without its fire resistance being significantly reduced.

The invention proposes to achieve this objective by covering the framing of the glazing with a strip eliminating under the action of fire.

It can be used on all types of known glazing mentioned above.

Thus, in the case where the silicate glass sheet is held by an angle iron only on its face not exposed to the action of fire or on its edge, the listel is placed against the edges of the face subjected to fire or in direct contact with glass, either with the interposition of a fixing means.

In another type of embodiment, provision is made to maintain the silicate glass sheet, glazing beads which bear on the face exposed to the action of fire, at a certain distance from the edges of said sheet. Said glazing beads are held in place by brackets arranged from place to place, and the strips are then fixed on the brackets and / or on the glazing beads themselves.

In a preferred variant, there are provided for fixing the silicate glass sheet on the side exposed to fire, perforated metal glazing beads on which the strips are fixed.

Fire tests according to DIN 4102 have shown that the duration of fire resistance of glazing according to the invention is not appreciably less than that of fire-resistant glazing of known type, provided that the strip is eliminated fairly quickly, for example in the case of a glazing dimension 140 × 120 cm, six minutes at the latest after the start of the test. On this condition, its presence in the initial phase does not have the time to create, between the center and the edges of the sheet, a temperature gradient sufficient to generate tensions capable of causing premature rupture of the sheet. When the edge of the glass sheet is then uncovered, the temperature is equalized and the initial tensions disappear.

According to a first implementation, the strips can be eliminated entirely by the simple fact that they are made of a flammable material. So as to rapidly release all of the edges of the glazing, it is then appropriate to preferably use materials which are relatively easy to ignite, burning quickly without emitting a lot of flames and leaving as little residue as possible. Materials that melt and form drops are not very suitable for this use; satisfactory results are obtained when, for example, celluloids are used.

A strip which ignites spontaneously and which even gives off heat on burning, provides an advantageous effect because the edge of the glass sheet is subjected to additional heating; it is thus brought to a temperature higher than that of the center of the glazing, it even creates compression stresses there which effectively improve fire resistance. In the case of insulating windows with multiple glazing, it is also possible to fill the spacers placed between the sheets of silicate glass with a substance with exothermic combustion, which ignites in the event of fire and causes a analogous effect.

Another solution making it possible to achieve the objective of the invention consists in covering the sheet of silicate glass, in the region of its framing with a strip, in particular metallic, made integral with the glass sheet or framing with the using a means losing its effectiveness under the action of heat.

In this variant, one can simply use an adhesive, for example a hot-melt adhesive, which yields under the action of heat, so that each listel detaches under its own weight as soon as it ceases to play its role.

Particularly advantageously, the adhesive is a solder with a low melting point, in particular a soft solder whose melting point is between 100 and 180 ° C.

It is also possible to use a fixing by gripping-page with pinching and clipping, or even with wedging. The fixing means can then comprise a seal which softens sufficiently at temperatures above 100 ° C for the strips to come off.

In all these cases, it is possible to cause the elimination of the strips, or at least to accelerate and make it safer by inserting between them and the glazing the appropriate ejection members.

This is how the strips can be fixed to the frame with the interposition of a material which increases in volume under the action of heat to cause ejection. As such, materials that decompose when foaming can be used at a temperature on the order of just under 120 ° C; alkaline silicates containing 10 to 40% water are particularly suitable for this use. They are also used to constitute, on the one hand, opacifying intermediate layers by foaming in fire-resistant glazing (patent DE 1 900 054) and, on the other hand, with the addition of 10 to 40% by weight of inorganic fibers, layers of coating in the rebates of the assembly profiles and slides of fire partitions in order to plug the slots in the event of fire, by the expansion of the mass (utility model DE 1 852 959 ).

These products which foam under the action of heat are made up of compact strips which can, for example, be glued to the back of the strips. To prevent foaming from adhering to the metal parts and joining them together, the foaming strip can then be isolated on its opposite face by a layer of non-adherent material, for example, aluminum foil.

According to a variant which is easy to implement during manufacture and assembly and which is particularly suited to the requirements of practice, the frame is masked by a strip fixed by pinching, with the interposition of a member placed under stress such as a spring. made of steel kept bandaged and locking elements made of a material which softens under the effect of heat. These locking elements are advantageously made of a synthetic material, preferably thermoplastic which yields at temperatures above about 100 ° C., so that the spring can deploy and separate the gripping members. The ejection force is adapted according to the shape and dimensions of the locking elements as well as the material which constitutes them so that the locking effect predominates under ordinary temperature conditions and the pressure forces of the springs, on the contrary, as soon as the temperature rises sufficiently.

Under the action of the heat of a fire, the pinch attachment is released by the softening of the locking elements and the cover strip is ejected by the force of the springs.

The pinching members can advantageously be

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made of clip-on elements, that is to say with elastic interlocking like many decorative wands at present. They can for example be formed of legs belonging to the listels and provided with reliefs which come to fit on retaining parts integral with the frame.

In a first embodiment, the tabs of the listel are made of a softenable material, as well as preferably the entire listel: it can in particular be a profile made of thermoplastic material.

In a second embodiment, it is the retaining pieces integral with the frame which are made of a softenable material.

Finally, the softenable locking elements are intermediate parts which cooperate on the one hand with metal parts fixed to the frame or on the perforated glazing bead and on the other hand with the legs of a metal strip.

The advantageous arrangements and characteristics of the invention are set out in claim 1 and in the description below, given with reference to the drawings and relating to various examples of implementation.

These drawings show in section in the region of the frame with a possible perspective:

Fig. 1: an example in which the glass sheet is fixed only on its edge and on one side, the side intended to resist the action of fire being free and simply covered by a listel according to the invention;

Fig. 2: an example in which the glass sheet, on the fire-resistant side is held by a glazing bead far from its edges and masked by a strip in the form of an angle iron;

Fig. 3: an example in which the glass sheet is fixed on its two faces by an openwork glazing bead, itself covered by a combustible strip;

Fig. 4: a double-glazed variant, the openwork glazing beads of which are masked by metal strips which peel off under the action of heat;

Fig. 5: a window with foam strip, as it appears under normal circumstances;

Fig. 6: the window of fig. 5 distorted by the action of fire;

Fig. 7: a variant of the construction method of FIG. 5;

Fig. 8: a section through a clipped strip window with ejection spring;

Fig. 9: a partial perspective view of the frame of FIG. 8 before setting up the listel;

Fig. 10: a variant of the above solution.

In fig. 3 and 4 the windows shown are symmetrical windows capable of withstanding flames or heat on both sides. On the contrary, in the other figures, they are asymmetrical windows, so that the glazing resists fire on only one of its faces but breaks relatively quickly when it is subjected to fire on the opposite face. Such a construction method is advantageous for incorporation in the facades of tall buildings, in which it is, in principle, necessary to prevent the penetration of flames from the outside, while ensuring that the opening will be released if the fire comes from inside.

The window shown in fig. 1 includes a sheet of tempered silicate glass 1, placed in a frame 2 made of rectangular metal tubes. The frame 2 is fixed in the wall in the usual way, and carries on its face facing the bay an angle 3 of steel or metal with a high melting point.

Between the glass sheet 1 and the rebate bottom formed by the angle iron 3 are placed strips of trim 4 and 5 made of insulating material such as asbestos; these strips as well as the window 1 itself are fixed for example using a heat-resistant adhesive. On the fire-resistant face, the glass sheet 1 is not maintained, but only covered on its edge by a strip 8 which it is convenient to fix there directly by means of a layer of glue 9. The width of the strip 8 is the same as that of the wing opposite the angle 3. This list is made of an easily combustible material such as celluloid which burns fairly quickly and without charcoal. Its surface appearance can be made similar to that of the angle iron 3 so as to form a uniform assembly.

The window shown in fig. 2 comprises a sheet of toughened silicate glass 1 placed in the rebate of a frame 12 made up of metal profiles, each of which consists of a square tube carrying a wing 13 on which the glass sheet 1 is supported by 'A strip 14 of insulating material. Between the edge of the glass sheet 1 and the frame 12 is also placed a strip of insulating material 15.

On the face opposite to that which rests on the wing 13, the glass sheet 1 is held by a glazing bead consisting of a narrow metal rod 16 placed at a distance from the edges, so that its marginal region is not covered and is not protected from heat. The strip 16 is held in place by brackets 18, screwed onto the frame 12, and carrying clamping screws 19 which support it on the glass 1. These brackets are sufficiently spaced not to form an important screen against heat. A metal strip 22, in the form of an angle iron, covers the strip 16 and the brackets 18 on which it is fixed by means of a layer of glue 23. This glue has the property of softening at a temperature of 100 ° C. and thus lose its adhesion properties, so that the strip 22 falls and releases the edge of the glazing as soon as it is exposed to the action of fire. The strip 22 can in particular consist of an aluminum profile with the same appearance as the rest of the metal frame.

In fig. 3, the frame is again formed from square hollow sections 2, made of steel, integral with the masonry. On each profile are fixed on either side of the glass sheet 1, glazing beads 26 whose core provided with openings 25 is disposed parallel to said sheet and a few millimeters from its faces and whose curved wing 27 bears on the faces of the glass sheet at a distance from its edges of the order of 10 to 20 mm. During a fire, thanks to this arrangement, the marginal zone of the glass sheet receives enough heat through the openings so that there are no tensions which may cause it to rupture. An asbestos insulating strip 5 is interposed between the edge of the sheet 1 and the frame 2. The glazing beads 26 are made up of two thicknesses, with different expansion coefficients. The material of the inner layer 26a has a lower coefficient of expansion than that of the material of the outer layer 26b, so that the glazing beads 26, if they heat up, behave like a bimetallic strip and pinch the edge of the glass sheet. ; as a result, the latter, when it begins to soften, remains firmly held and cannot collapse. A strip 28, in the form of a square, of easily flammable material, is glued to the outside of the glazing beads 26 to mask the openings; these are released at the start of the fire by combustion of said listel.

Fig. 4 shows double glazing, the two sheets of glass are separated by spacers 32 which run on the four sides.

On the outer face, the glass sheets 1 are held by glazing beads 30, Z-shaped, screwed onto the frame 2 and provided over their entire length with lights 31 through which the flames and the heat radiation are capable of reaching the edge. The spacers 32 have a U-shaped profile and are also provided with lights 33, which face the lights 31. Between the edge of the glazed part and the frame 2 is placed a strip of asbestos 5 which prevents the marginal zone from cooling , by conduction with the frame.

Between the soul of each of the glazing beads 30 and the sheet of s

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1 corresponding glass is interposed a strip of glass 36 which aims to improve the maintenance of the iron sheets 1 in the event of a fire when they begin to soften. Indeed, these bands also soften, and then stick to the glass sheet while being retained by the curved wing of the glazing bead 30. On the outer face of the bead core 30 is placed a metal strip 38 which masks the openings 31. A rib 40 is provided on the glazing bead 30 and the metal strips 38 are fixed by brazing on their 2 edges 42 along said rib 40 and along the wing by which the glazing bead is screwed onto the frame 2. The brazing used is a soft brazing whose melting point is between 100 and 180 ° C.

To prevent it from infiltrating behind the strip 38, which would not allow it to be released as quickly, it is advantageous to provide the internal face of the strip with a coating not wetted by the solder or else place a separation sheet on it.

In addition, to be sure that the strip 38 detaches quickly, it is good to interpose between it and the core of the glazing bead 30 elastic elements such as compression springs capable of ejecting it as soon as the solder lines 42 melt.

The window shown in fig. 5 comprises two panes of toughened silicate glass 50 and 51, separated by an interlayer 53, and mounted in a frame 54 in rectangular tubes fixed in the frame of a wall. The panes are held by glazing beads 55 in flat bars on the inside of the window and by perforated glazing beads 56 with opening 57 on the outside.

The perforated glazing bead 56 is covered by a strip 60; the latter has the shape of a very flattened U whose wings 61, 62 cover the glazing bead 56 at the top and at the bottom, by pinching it.

On the internal face of the strip 60 are arranged, at the top and at the bottom, strips 63 of a hydrated alkali silicate or of another metallic hydrate acting in a similar manner. Between the edges of the double glazing 50, 51 and the frame 54 is placed an insulating strip 66, made for example of asbestos. Similarly, an insulating strip 67 runs between the glass sheet 51 and the glazing bead 55. The latter can also advantageously be made of a foaming material under the action of heat and which gives way when the window is deforms under the action of heat and exerts efforts.

Fig. 6 schematically shows the behavior of the window in the event of a fire. When heated, the foaming material which constitutes the strip 63 swells and repels the strip 60 so that it separates from the perforated glazing bead 56 and falls, thus unmasking the openings 57.

Fig. 7 shows a variant in which the perforated glazing bead is an angle 70, screwed onto the rectangular tube 71 of the frame by a wing which projects beyond it and which ends in a ribbed rim 72. Another angle 73 of which a wing also has a ribbed rim 72 is screwed under the rectangular tube 71 and the two ribbed edges 72 cooperate with complementary ribs 74 belonging to a strip 75 which is thus immobilized by clipping. The foaming strip 63 is interposed between the rectangular tube 71 and the strip 75; the latter, which extends upwards, carries at its upper end a double flange 78 creating inward a U-shaped groove in which a resilient gasket 79 is inserted. Between the perforated glazing bead 70 and the sheet glass 50 is interposed an insulating asbestos strip 80. The tube 71 for its part is mounted on a frame 82 placed permanently in the splaying of the wall. The inner face of the frame is similar to its outer face, with the only difference that the glazing bead which immobilizes the glazed part is a glazing bead 73, not perforated and that an insulating strip 67, the function of which has already been described in About fig. 5, is interposed between its vertical wing and the glass sheet 51.

The window of fig. 8 also consists of two sheets 50, 51 of toughened silicate glass, separated by an interlayer 53 and mounted in a frame. The frame again consists of a rectangular tube 54 fixed in the frame of the wall; it forms a rebate with a flat iron 55 placed on the inside of the window and a glazing bead 56 placed on the outside. The latter is provided with openings 57, shown in detail in fig. 9, thanks to which the edge of the glass sheet 50 is heated sufficiently to prevent temperature gradients capable of causing its destruction from appearing in its marginal zone. A strip 66 insulating heat and consisting for example of asbestos, is placed between the edge of the glazing and the frame 54. Likewise, run an insulating strip 67 between the overlapping formed by the flat iron 55 and the glass sheet 51 , and an insulating strip 68 between the sheet 50 and the upper part of the perforated glazing bead 57. The insulating strip 67 can advantageously be made of a material which softens under the action of heat and which gives way when the window is deformed under the fire. Materials such as alkaline silicates foaming under the action of heat lend themselves to this use.

The insulating strips 67 are covered on the edge by a layer of mastic 69. The strip according to the invention consists of a profile 85 with a U-shaped section. The tabs 86 disposed between the two wings of this profile are provided with bosses 87 which enter a corresponding groove in the wings 91 of the retaining pieces 90.

The latter consist of short sections of profiles made of a thermoplastic material. Leaf springs 94 are fixed at the same time as they on the glazing bead 57, using screws 95. As a result, the clipping on the retaining pieces gives way under the action of the springs at a slightly higher temperature. at 100 ° C so that they then cease to fulfill their function.

The springs 94 can, as shown in FIG. 9 be fixed on one side while having a great length. If, in addition, their opposite end 96 is fixed to the strip 85, the latter, after having escaped from the retaining parts, remains retained by the spring 94, which prevents it from falling; but it is stopped at a sufficient distance from its initial position to fully unmask the openings 57.

Fig. 10 shows another mode of covering the glazing bead 56. The listel 97 is here again provided with two tabs 98 turned inwards for fixing by pinching. However, this fixing is done using metal retaining pieces 100 fixed by screws 111 on the perforated glazing beads 56. The tabs 98 do not penetrate directly into the corresponding depressions of the retaining pieces 100 but are interposed between them and the wings of these retaining parts a thermoplastic joint 104 with a U section having at the ends of its two wings extra thicknesses 105 which penetrate into the depressions of the retaining part 100 and, a return lip trapping the boss 106 of the legs 98; a clipping is thus obtained between the two metallic elements by means of a thermoplastic seal. When the latter softens, the listel 97 is ejected by the force exerted from the inside. This force can be exerted by a spring such as that described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9 but it is also possible, as shown in fig. 10, use a coil spring 101 placed around the rod of a metal screw 111 which also serves to fix the retaining piece 100 on the glazing bead, said spring 101 being kept compressed in normal times thanks to a safety member such as 'A nut 112, made of thermoplastic material, thus preventing the joint 104 between the strip 97 and the retaining part 100 from being stressed. When the nut 112 gives way under the action of heat, the pressure force of the spring 101 is exerted on the strip 97 and as, at the same time,

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the seal 104 softens, the strip is ejected, which releases the perforated glazing bead 57.

The same result can be achieved by using a metal nut, this time associated with a screw 111 made of thermoplastic material. Finally, the screw 111 and the nut 112 can both

be made of thermoplastic materials and you can even use other fasteners using the same principle.

It is, for example, possible to constitute the safety members using metal parts joined by a soft solder melting under the action of heat.

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Claims (31)

619,284 2 1. Fire-resistant window, consisting of at least one sheet of silicate glass mounted in a metal frame, said frame being such that, on at least one face, the sheet exposed to the action of heat during a fire can be subjected to an almost uniform calorific action even on its edges, that is to say in its marginal zone going to the edges, characterized in that the silicate glass sheet (1) is covered in the region of its framing (3 - 16 - 18 - 26 - 38) by a listel eliminating itself under the action of fire. 2. Window according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (8-28) is made of a flammable material. 3. Window according to claim 2, characterized in that the strip (8-28) is made of a plastic material, such as celluloid. 4. Window according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (22 - 38 - 60 - 75) is made of metal, in particular a light metal such as aluminum. 5. Window according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip is made integral with the glass sheet or the frame using a means losing its effectiveness under the action of heat. 6. Window according to claim 5, characterized in that the strip is fixed by an adhesive (23-92) losing its effectiveness on heat. 7. Window according to claim 5, characterized in that the strip is fixed by a solder with a low melting point. 8. Window according to claim 7, characterized in that the brazing is a brazing whose melting point is between 100 and 180 ° C. 9. Window according to one of claims 1 or 4, in which at least the glass sheet on the fire side is held by glazing beads opening its edges, characterized in that the strips are profiles (60) fixed by means gripping or by gripping means, with interposition of ejection means. 10. Window according to claim 9, characterized in that the pinching means consist of strips (60) having a U-section with short wings which come to fit into elements of the frame, in particular the glazing beads, and pinch them. 11. Window according to claim 9, characterized in that the gripping means are constituted by protrusions (72-74) carried on the one hand by the strips (75) and on the other hand by elements of the frame , especially the glazing beads (70), said projections coming to fit one into the other. 12. Window according to claim 9, characterized in that the gripping or gripping means consist of retaining parts (90-100) mounted integral with the elements of the frame and by legs (86-98) provided protruding elements, arranged along the listel, the tabs of the listel and the retaining parts being intended to cooperate. 13. Window according to claim 12, characterized in that the retaining parts (90-100) are short sections of profiles. 14. Window according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the retaining parts are metal parts. 15. Window according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the retaining parts (90-100) are made of a material which can be softened by heat. 16. Window according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the tabs belonging to the listel are made of a material which can be softened by heat. 17. Window according to claim 16, characterized in that the tabs (86-98) extend over the entire length of the strip. 18. Window according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that locking elements made of a material which softens with heat are interposed between the retaining parts and the tabs of the strip. 19. Window according to claim 18, characterized in that the locking elements are intermediate parts s (104) made up of U-section profile elements, the two wings of which have at their ends extra thicknesses and a return lip which cooperates with the corresponding surfaces of the tabs (98) of the listels (97). 20. Window according to one of claims 9 to 19, character- îo sée in that the ejection means are constituted by a material increasing in volume with heat. 21. Window according to claim 20, characterized in that the material which increases in volume upon heat is a hydrated alkaline silicate which transforms into a foaming mass upon is heat. 22. Window according to one of claims 20 or 21, characterized in that the material increasing in volume upon heat, and in particular hydrated alkali silicate, is in the form of a strip of compact material. 23. Window according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the material which increases in volume with heat is bonded to the back of the strip. 24. Window according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the ejection means made of an increased material 25 so much volume under heat, in particular the strip of hydrated alkaline silicate, are coated on one of their faces with a non-adherent layer. 25. Window according to claim 24, characterized in that the non-adherent layer is a metal sheet, in particular 30 aluminum foil. 26. Window according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the ejection means are constituted by a member under stress, such as a steel spring (94-101) kept bandaged. 27. Window according to claim 26, characterized in that the spring is a leaf spring (94). 28. Window according to claim 26, characterized in that the spring is a coil spring (101). 29. Window according to one of claims 26 to 28, character- 40 laughing in that the springs are kept bandaged to relieve the fixing by pinching or gripping, using a safety member made at least in part of a material softening with heat. 30. Window according to claim 29, characterized in that 45 the safety member comprises a screw (111) and a nut (112) immobilizing the spring (101). 31. Window according to claim 29, characterized in that at least one of the two screw-nut parts is made of a thermoplastic material. n / a 32. Window according to claim 29, characterized in that the security member comprises two elements held together by means of a soft solder. 33. Window according to claim 27, characterized in that the leaf spring is fixed at one of its ends to the box. 55 drement, and at the other end on the listel. 34. Window according to one of claims 15 to 31, characterized in that the heat-softenable elements are made of a thermoplastic synthetic material.