EP0787236A1 - Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies - Google Patents

Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies

Info

Publication number
EP0787236A1
EP0787236A1 EP96926461A EP96926461A EP0787236A1 EP 0787236 A1 EP0787236 A1 EP 0787236A1 EP 96926461 A EP96926461 A EP 96926461A EP 96926461 A EP96926461 A EP 96926461A EP 0787236 A1 EP0787236 A1 EP 0787236A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fire
fabric
barrier according
fire cover
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP96926461A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sean Alan Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TBA TEXTILES Ltd
Original Assignee
TBA Industrial Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9515019.9A external-priority patent/GB9515019D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB9523451.4A external-priority patent/GB9523451D0/en
Application filed by TBA Industrial Products Ltd filed Critical TBA Industrial Products Ltd
Publication of EP0787236A1 publication Critical patent/EP0787236A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/006—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C2/00—Fire prevention or containment
    • A62C2/06—Physical fire-barriers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
    • F21S8/02—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with at least temporarily preventing flames from passing through service opening ⁇ in walls and/or ceilings.
  • One proposal for accomplishing this is known from GB-A-2235710.
  • This discloses a fire cover of woven fire resistant fabric supported by a structural frame to form a tent-like structure. The edges of the fabric lie against the surface of a substrate so as to surround the margins of an aperture in the latter. Whilst this type of structure is technically effective, it does require the production of not only a tent-like fabric structure, but also of a suitable supporting frame, preferably of metal. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simplified construction.
  • a fire cover or fire barrier constituted by a tray-like assembly, optionally comprising a base and sidewalls, and made from glass fibre fabric treated to enhance its integrity under fire conditions.
  • the glass fabric is preferably a texturised glass fibre fabric and the treatment to enhance integrity under fire conditions is, for example, of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2079801.
  • the assembly is used in an inverted attitude, with its edges in contact with one surface of a substrate surrounding the margins of an aperture which is to be protected.
  • the fire cover or fire barrier may be attached to the surface of the substrate by any convenient means, including for example, by means of screws and/or clips, although in some circumstances the use of gravity alone may be possible.
  • the substrate is a suspended ceiling with apertures containing, for example, light fittings. Even more surprisingly, in the latter case, the assembly can be allowed to collapse onto the back of a light fitting without compromising its performance as a fire cover.
  • the substrate-contacting portions of the sidewalls may be provided with lateral extensions or flaps which in use extend over and lie on adjacent portions of the substrate.
  • a woven glass-fibre fabric is preferred, preferably one based on textured yarns. It may be formed into the tray-like assembly of this invention in any convenient manner, for example, by cutting and sewing. If desired, the assembly may be provided with at least one air vent. This may be preferred where the aperture contains a light fitting which may otherwise overheat.
  • Fabric densities in the range 200 to 3000 g/m 2 may be employed, more preferably in the range 500 to 1200 g/m 2 .
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fire cover or fire barrier according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fire cover or fire barrier of Figure 1 located above a suspended ceiling.
  • a box-like glass fibre fabric assembly 1 comprises four side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, extending from the margins of a rectangular base portion 6.
  • the tray is in fact a one-piece construction, made from a fabric sheet, rectangular corner portions of which have been cut away to permit folding into the configuration shown.
  • the abutting edges of the side walls are joined by stitching (not shown) , although it would be equally acceptable to use staples and/or clips.
  • Alternative ways of fabricating the corners and/or the complete assembly are also possible.
  • FIG 2 the glas ⁇ fibre fabric as ⁇ embly of Figure 1 i ⁇ shown in po ⁇ ition on the upper surface of a conventional suspended ceiling.
  • the latter comprises a plurality of ceiling tiles 11 supported by cross rails 15, 16 and the usual hangers (not shown) .
  • One such tile has been replaced by a light fitting (not ⁇ hown) and to protect the aperture defined by that fitting again ⁇ t immediate passage of flames in the event of a fire the fire barrier of Figure 1 has been inverted, placed over the fitting and its margin ⁇ secured to the adjacent tiles/rails.
  • the base 6 and ⁇ idewalls 2, 3, 4 and 5 being non-rigid are supported by the light fitting, onto which the fabric in effect collapses.
  • the fabric was a 900g/m 2 woven gla ⁇ fibre textile, without any reinforcement.
  • the cloth wa ⁇ woven from texturi ⁇ ed gla ⁇ fibre yarn and it was treated with a non-intumescent char-forming compo ⁇ ition of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2079801.
  • the test in this case was carried out using a proprietary suspended ceiling system which had already a one hour fire rating under BS476, part 23:5, 1987 (protecting steel beams) .
  • the individual sidewalls 2, 3, 4 and 5 may be provided with marginal flaps, as for example indicated at 10 by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. Such flaps may serve to enhance fire performance by providing additional protection for the margins of the light fitting (or other) aperture.

Abstract

A fire cover for a roof or wall opening, comprising a tray-like assembly of glass fibre fabric treated to enhance its integrity under fire conditions.

Description

Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies
This invention is concerned with at least temporarily preventing flames from passing through service openingε in walls and/or ceilings. One proposal for accomplishing this is known from GB-A-2235710. This discloses a fire cover of woven fire resistant fabric supported by a structural frame to form a tent-like structure. The edges of the fabric lie against the surface of a substrate so as to surround the margins of an aperture in the latter. Whilst this type of structure is technically effective, it does require the production of not only a tent-like fabric structure, but also of a suitable supporting frame, preferably of metal. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simplified construction.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fire cover which does not require the use of any supporting structure.
Accordingly to the present invention there is provided a fire cover or fire barrier constituted by a tray-like assembly, optionally comprising a base and sidewalls, and made from glass fibre fabric treated to enhance its integrity under fire conditions. The glass fabric is preferably a texturised glass fibre fabric and the treatment to enhance integrity under fire conditions is, for example, of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2079801. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that such a simple treated glass fibre cloth can have sufficient integrity under fire conditions to admit of its use without any supporting structural frame. In use, the assembly is used in an inverted attitude, with its edges in contact with one surface of a substrate surrounding the margins of an aperture which is to be protected.
The fire cover or fire barrier may be attached to the surface of the substrate by any convenient means, including for example, by means of screws and/or clips, although in some circumstances the use of gravity alone may be possible. It will be appreciated that in normal use, the substrate is a suspended ceiling with apertures containing, for example, light fittings. Even more surprisingly, in the latter case, the assembly can be allowed to collapse onto the back of a light fitting without compromising its performance as a fire cover.
To enhance the fire performance, the substrate-contacting portions of the sidewalls may be provided with lateral extensions or flaps which in use extend over and lie on adjacent portions of the substrate.
A woven glass-fibre fabric is preferred, preferably one based on textured yarns. It may be formed into the tray-like assembly of this invention in any convenient manner, for example, by cutting and sewing. If desired, the assembly may be provided with at least one air vent. This may be preferred where the aperture contains a light fitting which may otherwise overheat.
Fabric densities in the range 200 to 3000 g/m2 may be employed, more preferably in the range 500 to 1200 g/m2.
In order that the invention be better understood, a preferred embodiment of it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fire cover or fire barrier according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fire cover or fire barrier of Figure 1 located above a suspended ceiling.
Referring firstly to Figure 1, a box-like glass fibre fabric assembly 1 comprises four side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, extending from the margins of a rectangular base portion 6. The tray is in fact a one-piece construction, made from a fabric sheet, rectangular corner portions of which have been cut away to permit folding into the configuration shown. The abutting edges of the side walls are joined by stitching (not shown) , although it would be equally acceptable to use staples and/or clips. Alternative ways of fabricating the corners and/or the complete assembly are also possible.
Referring now to Figure 2, the glasε fibre fabric asεembly of Figure 1 iε shown in poεition on the upper surface of a conventional suspended ceiling. The latter comprises a plurality of ceiling tiles 11 supported by cross rails 15, 16 and the usual hangers (not shown) . One such tile has been replaced by a light fitting (not εhown) and to protect the aperture defined by that fitting againεt immediate passage of flames in the event of a fire the fire barrier of Figure 1 has been inverted, placed over the fitting and its marginε secured to the adjacent tiles/rails. The base 6 and εidewalls 2, 3, 4 and 5 (not all visible in Figure 2) being non-rigid are supported by the light fitting, onto which the fabric in effect collapses.
Because of the flexible textile nature of the asεembly 1, it waε eaεily installed by temporarily displacing a ceiling tile to form an access gap. The folded or rolled up fire barrier was introduced from below, opened out, placed over the light fitting and secured in place, with minimal difficulty and more easily than prior art products which required dismantling and then reassembly in situ above the ceiling.
The fabric was a 900g/m2 woven glaεε fibre textile, without any reinforcement. The cloth waε woven from texturiεed glaεε fibre yarn and it was treated with a non-intumescent char-forming compoεition of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2079801. On fire testing, the fire performance was very satisfactory, despite the lack of any conventional structural integrity of the kind imparted by a supporting frame of some sort. The test in this case was carried out using a proprietary suspended ceiling system which had already a one hour fire rating under BS476, part 23:5, 1987 (protecting steel beams) .
Although not described in detail here, the individual sidewalls 2, 3, 4 and 5 may be provided with marginal flaps, as for example indicated at 10 by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. Such flaps may serve to enhance fire performance by providing additional protection for the margins of the light fitting (or other) aperture.

Claims

1. A fire cover or fire barrier for at least temporarily preventing flames from passing through a service aperture in a wall or ceiling, comprising a tray-like assembly made from a glass fibre fabric treated to enhance its integrity under fire conditions.
2. A fire cover or fire barrier according to claim 1 having separate base and sidewall members joined to form a box or tray.
3. A fire cover or fire barrier according to claim 1 made from a εingle piece of fabric.
4. A fire cover or fire barrier according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the margins of the tray is provided with a lateral extension in the form of a flap.
5. A fire cover or fire barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the fabric is woven from texturiεed glass fibre yarn.
6. A fire cover or fire barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the fabric is treated with a non-intumescent char- forming composition.
7. A fire cover or fire barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the glass fabric haε a fabric denεity in the range 200 to 3000g/m2.
8. A fire cover or fire barrier according to any of preceding claimε 1 to 6 wherein the glaεε fabric has a fabric density in the range 500 to 1200 g/m2.
9. A fire cover or fire barrier substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawingε.
EP96926461A 1995-07-21 1996-07-18 Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies Ceased EP0787236A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9515019 1995-07-21
GBGB9515019.9A GB9515019D0 (en) 1995-07-21 1995-07-21 Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies
GB9523451 1995-11-16
GBGB9523451.4A GB9523451D0 (en) 1995-11-16 1995-11-16 Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies
PCT/GB1996/001720 WO1997005342A1 (en) 1995-07-21 1996-07-18 Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0787236A1 true EP0787236A1 (en) 1997-08-06

Family

ID=26307441

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96926461A Ceased EP0787236A1 (en) 1995-07-21 1996-07-18 Improvements in and relating to fire resistant assemblies

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0787236A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1997005342A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10223904A1 (en) * 2002-05-29 2003-12-11 Kaiser Gmbh & Co Kg Suspended ceiling for fire protection purposes
GB2424693B (en) * 2005-03-29 2009-08-05 Laurence Kovacs Fire hood

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4210070A (en) * 1978-03-06 1980-07-01 Dayus Barry R Ceiling fixture with thermal protection
EP0044614A3 (en) * 1980-06-27 1982-05-19 TBA Industrial Products Limited Improvements in and relating to glass fabrics
GB9220478D0 (en) * 1992-09-29 1992-11-11 Hamilton Arthur P Fire stop covering device for aperture in fire resistant structure
DE9318416U1 (en) * 1993-12-02 1994-03-17 Promat Gmbh Suspended ceiling for fire protection purposes

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9705342A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997005342A1 (en) 1997-02-13

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