GB2234537A - Fire-rated partitioning - Google Patents

Abstract

Fire-rated partitioning comprises a plurality of panels 11 slid side by side into telescopic engagement at junctions 19. The panels 11 are slidably mounted in upper and lower tracks (13, 12-fig. 1). The junction 19 comprises a channel formation 20 at one upright edge of the panel and a projecting formation 21 at the other upright edge of the panel, limbs 26 of the projecting formation being a close sliding fit within return flanges 24 of the channel 20. The panels 11 have metal outer skins 17 and internal insulation 18 of, for example, mineral fibre. The junction space 31 may be filled with loose insulating material and/or may be left for cables and services. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: PARTITIONING This invention relates to partitioning.

It was specifically designed for use in fire-rated partitioning for marine applications but could also be used in land based applications where substantial fire resistance is required.

In a conventional fire-rated partition, a plurality of panels are mounted side by side, each panel comprising an external metal skin and an enclosed internal insulation layer of suitable thickness for the required fire resistance. Conventionally, such panels are assembled side by side in suitable top and bottom location tracks and are either clipped or screwed together. The position of the clips or screws is clearly visible and it is often necessary to add a concealing trim strip in an attempt to improve the appearance.

In addition to being unsightly, the conventional method of assembling panels using clips or screws involves considerable semi-skilled labour.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new or improved form of partitioning which overcomes or reduces these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided partitioning (such as fire-rated partitioning) comprising a plurality of panels, each panel comprising an outer metal skin and internal insulation, each panel having respective telescopic formations lying within the outer skin at the upright edges of the panel, whereby adjacent panels can be slid into telescopic engagement and the formations are then wholly concealed within the partitioning.

Insulating material may be packed into one or more of the telescopic formations.

Alternatively or in addition, a space may be defined within said telescopic formation to receive cables, conduits or other services.

One formation may comprise a channel, each of the two limbs of the channel comprising an edge part of the respective outer skin, an in-turned edge generally perpendicular to the outer skin and an inner return flange generally parallel to the outer skin.

Each limb of the channel may also comprise a terminal flange perpendicular to the outer skin, the terminal flanges at least substantially closing off the internal insulation within the channel.

A plurality of ties, typically two or three, may be secured bridging the two terminal flanges, to resist separation of the outer skins.

The other formation may comprise a projecting formation engageable in the channel, the projection being defined by a pair of generally parallel limbs so spaced as to be a close fit between the inner return flanges of the channel Each parallel limb may be provided on a respective closure element, the closure elements at least substantially closing off the internal insulation within the projecting formation.

The partitioning may also include upper and lower channels into which the panels can be slid.

Partitioning embodying the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through installed partitioning.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view of panels forming part of the partitioning of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a partition generally indicated at 10 comprises a plurality of panels generally indicated at 11, the panels being arranged upright as shown and being located between a lower track 12 and an upper track 13. The upper track 13 is provided with a head space 14 to enable panels initially to be lifted upwardly into the head space and then dropped down so as to locate within the lower track 12.

When the partitioning has been fully installed, fasteners 15 such as self-tapping screws, are used to secure the panels 11 in the lower track 12. The panel may be allowed to rest freely in the upper track 13.

Turning to Figure 2 of the drawings, each panel 11 comprises an outer skin 17 made of thin sheet metal, and an inner insulation 18 in the form of, for example, mineral fibre. The fibre is cut into strips from a panel and the strips are secured edge-on by adhesive to the outer skin for maximum strength.

Joints 19 are provided between adjacent panels 11.

Each joint 19 comprises a pair of telescopic formations.

At the left hand end of Figure 1, a first telescopic formation is shown as a channel formation generally indicated at 20. At the right end of Figure 2, the telesco pic formation 21 is in the form of a projection which engages within the channel 20. The junction 19 resulting from interengaging the formations 20 and 21 can be seen in the centre of Figure 2.

Dealing firstly with the channel formation 20, each limb of the channel comprises an edge part of the respective outer skin indicated at 22, an in-turned edge 23 generally perpendicular to the outer skin and an inner return flange 24 generally parallel to the outer skin.

The channel formation may also include a pair of terminal flanges 25 which extend inwardly from the return flanges 24 so as at least substantially to close off the internal insulation 18 within the channel 20. These terminal flanges 25 may, however, be omitted in suitable cases where the internal insulation is relatively rigid selfsupporting type.

Two or three ties 16 are attached to bridge between the terminal flanges to resist separation of the two outer skins. These ties are small and localised and have little effect on the thermal conduction between the skins.

The telescopic formation 21 in the form of a projecting element basically comprises a pair of generally parallel limbs which are so spaced from each other as to be a close fit between the inner return flanges 24 of the channel 20.

In order to provide a certain degree of flexibility to the limbs of 26, each may be provided on a respective closure element, generally indicated at 27, which closes off the internal insulation within the projecting formation. The closure element 27 may be in the form of a shallow outwardly facing channel having a first limb 28 perpendicular to the outer skin, a narrow flange 29 parallel to the outer skin and an outwardly turned element 30 again perpendicular to the outer skin and leading into the limb 26 of the projection.

Since the metal skin is of relatively thin section, the arrangement just described tends to give the limbs 26 some resilience so that they can be arranged to grip the return flanges 24 of the channel 20.

In order to construct a partition, upper and lower tracks 12 and 13 are firstly positioned in the space to be partitioned and secured in place. A first panel 11 is then loaded into these upper and lower tracks as previously described. It is slid to an end position and is secured in place by the fasteners 15.

A second panel is then mounted between the upper and lower tracks 12 and 13 and is slid into telescopic engagement with the first panel.

At the junction 19, insulating material may be packed at 31 into the intervening space. This can conveniently be done either by packing loose insulating material into the projecting formation 21 or by inserting a block of insulating material. Alternatively or in addition, a space may be left for cables and service conduits to run vertically between the panels.

Subsequent panels 11 are inserted into the upper and lower tracks and slid into position and the whole partition is then finally secured in place by the fasteners 15.

It will be appreciated that, at the ends of the partition, the inter-engaging telescopic formations can be cropped off to enable the panel to abut against a pillar or wall, for example. It will also be appreciated that corners and 'T' junctions can be provided using the telescopic principle outlined above so that the partitioning can be used to define room spaces of various shapes.

The partitioning, once installed, has an excellent appearance since the edge parts 22 of the respective outer skins conceal the telescopic connections 19. Only the lines of abutment between the panels show in the finished installation. The partitioning is therefore suitable for use in, for example, luxury liners and other environments where appearance is important.

The partitioning also requires little skill to install it and, because of the absence of separate clips and cover strips, costs and possible on-site wastage are reduced. The only fasteners required are those which finally fix the panels into the lower tracks.

Because of the telescopic nature of the connections 19, they are also relatively fire resistant. It will be appreciated that, in the event of a fire, there is some scope for the metal to expand without destroying the integrity of the seal formed by the junction 19. Flame penetration is also retarded since any flames penetrating into the joint between the skins 17 of adjacent panels has then to pass by a very circuitous route to reach the same position on the opposite side of the panel. Therefore both from the point of view of structural integrity and of flame and gas penetration, the seal 19 performs well under fire conditions.

Claims (11)

1. Partitioning comprising a plurality of panels, each panel comprising an outer metal skin and internal insulation, each panel having respective telescopic formations lying within the outer skin at the upright edges of the panel, whereby adjacent panels can be slid into telescopic engagement and the formations are then wholly concealed within the partitioning.

2. Partitioning according to Claim 1 wherein insulation material is packed within one or more of the telescopic formations.

3. Partitioning according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a space is defined within said telescopic formation for services.

4. Partitioning according to any preceding claim wherein one of the formations comprises a channel, each of the two limbs of the channel comprising an edge part of the respective outer skin, an in-turned edge generally perpendicular to the outer skin and an inner return flange generally parallel to the outer skin.

5. Partitioning according to Claim 4 wherein each limb of the channel further comprises a terminal flange perpendicular to the outer skin, the terminal flanges at least substantially closing off the internal insulation within the channel.

6. Partitioning according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of ties are secured to bridge the terminal flanges to resist separation of the outer skins.

7. Partitioning according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the other formation comprises a projecting formation engageable in the channel, the projecting formation being defined by a pair of generally parallel limbs so spaced as to be a close fit between the inner return flanges of the channel.

8. Partitioning according to Claim 7 wherein each parallel limb is provided on a respective closure element, the closure elements at least substantially closing off the internal insulation within the projecting formation.

9. Partitioning according to Claim 8 wherein each closure element comprises a narrow outwardly facing channel.

10. Partitioning according to any preceding claim and including upper and lower channels within which the panels are slideably mounted.

11. Partitioning substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.