GB2245621A

GB2245621A - Fire-resistant partitioning

Info

Publication number: GB2245621A
Application number: GB9114688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence John Potter; Stephen Micheal Young
Original assignee: L & D Partitioning Systems Lim
Current assignee: L & D Partitioning Systems Lim
Priority date: 1990-07-06
Filing date: 1991-07-08
Publication date: 1992-01-08
Also published as: GB9114688D0

Abstract

Partitioning 10 which includes first 11 and second skins 12 and insulating material disposed between the first and second skins. It is also provided with a plurality of low-conductivity connection means, by which one skin is secured to the other to form a panel structure. The panels 10 are connected to adjacent panels 10 by an unobtrusive joint which results in only a joint line being visible at the face of the partitioning 10. Thermally insulating rigid strip 43 has angle section 41 fastened to each side thereof by screws 42, and inturned flanges 15 of respective first and second skins 11, 12, are fixed to the angle section 41 by screws 16. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: PARTITIONING This invention relates to partitioning.

Many existing forms of partitioning, although intended to contain an outbreak of fire, do not meet the best standards for fire resistance. In order to pass a fire test it is necessary for the partitioning to fulfil certain criteria as to the integrity of the structure, its stability and its thermal insulation in a situation where one side of the partitioning is subjected to very high temperatures. Many current forms of partitioning, whilst capable of remaining stable and retaining structural integrity do not have adequate insulation values throughout the partitioning. This can be due to the existence of local hot spots caused by thermal bridging from one face of the partitioning to the other, usually due to the presence of conductive frame members.

It is an object of the present invention to provide partitioning of a new or improved form.

Viewed from one aspect, the invention provides partitioning comprising first and second skins, insulating material disposed between the first and second skins, and a plurality of low-conductivity connection means by which one skin is secured to the other to form a panel structure.

For aesthetic reasons, it is desirable that adjacent panels of a partitioning system should be connected as unobtrusively as possible and preferably with only a joint line showing at the face of the partitioning.

Accordingly, it is preferred that the first skin and the second skin are provided with inturned edge portions, each including an edge channel, which affords a housing for panel connection means.

The inturned edge portions may additionally include internal flanges. The low-conductivity connection means may be secured to said internal flanges.

The panel connection means may comprise a plurality of openings in the end of the panel. The panel connection means may further comprise a separate connection member having a plurality of spring tongues adapted to project through said plurality of openings.

The first and second skins may be of metal or other material or may be glazed. If glazing is provided, it is preferred that any glazing bead should have a central thermal break between the first and second skins to avoid thermal bridging.

The partitioning may be provided with jacking and levelling means.

The jacking and levelling means may comprise a pair of base members adapted to receive the lower edge of panels of the partitioning, the base members defining seatings for a plurality of screw jacks disposed between the base members and adapted to act on the panels to adjust their vertical height.

The seatings may comprise a plurality of spaced apertures disposed along the base members and each adapted to seat a nut, the nut being threadedly engageable with a bolt, operatively connected with the panel.

A yoke may be provided on the base members over the jack means to provide a bearing surface between the jack members and the panel.

The base members may comprise a pair of outwardly facing channels, each adapted to carry services.

Cover plates may be provided to cover the channels.

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 horizontal sectional view through a panel of partitioning embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a scrap horizontal sectional view of a glazed panel for the partitioning, Figure 3 is a detail vertical section of a jacking and levelling means of the partitioning, Figure 4 is a scrap perspective view, broken away of connection means of the partitioning, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a complete panel having connection means, Figure 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view further illustrating the connection means, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a jacking and levelling means of the partitioning as sectionally illustrated in Figure 3, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a clip for use with the base members of the jacking and levelling means.

Referring to the drawings a partition includes a plurality of panels generally indicated at 10, each having a first skin 11 and a second skin 12. The skins are identical in the example shown but could be different, for example in material, thickness, surface finish or profile.

The first and second skins do not have any direct contact with each other so there is no direct thermal bridge between them.

Each skin 11, 12 has an inturned edge portion 13 defining an edge channel 14 and an internal flange 15. The flanges 15 of the first and second skins 11 and 12 receive fasteners 16 by which there is attached a sub-assembly 40, affording lowconductivity connection means between the first and second skins 11 and 12. The remainder of the panel may be filled with appropriate material, for example rockwool or glassfibre insulation 18.

The sub-assembly 40 comprises a pair of angle section elongate elements 41 extending throughout the height of the panel 10, each angle section member 41 being secured by a plurality of fasteners to the other angle section member 41, through an intermediate strip 43 of a thermally insulating material.

This material is preferably a rigid ceramic based material known as Thermax (Trade Mark) which is relatively lightweight, easy to handle and has good structural integrity.

It will be seen that there is little or no conduction through the panel from the skin 11 to the skin 12 and vice versa because only the fasteners 42 in the angle section members 41 form a thermal bridge.

The sub-assembly 40 is constructed and then one of the skins 11, 12 is laid horizontally. The sub-assembly 40 is presented to the internal flange 15 of the skin 11 and is secured by the fastener 16. The second skin 12 is then added on top, it being appreciated that the sub-assembly 40 determines the panel separation and provides structural strength at the edges of the panel 10.

It also serves the purpose of isolating the edge channels 14 of the partitioning which house the connections to be described in more detail in relation to Figures 4 to 6, but which are not shown in detail in Figure 1.

The central portion of the panel 11, 12 may optionally be glazed as shown in Figure 2 using temperature resistant glazing sheets 19 secured by fire resistant tape 20 to steel angle sections 21. The glazing 19 is retained by snap-on clips 22. The outer face is edged using a self-adhesive rubber bead 23. It will be appreciated that a thermal break exists at a central position. Edge channels 14 are again provided together with the low-conductivity connection subassembly 40 secured as previously described.

The inturned flanges 15 which receive the fasteners 16 may be provided with circular holes but it is preferred that they are provided with upwardly elongate slots to allow for relative movement of the skins 11 and 12 in the event of a fire. A temperature difference between the skin 11 and the skin 12 could cause considerable expansion in a partition several metres high. This would cause bowing of the partition and it is therefore preferable to allow for relative movement between the skins so as to retain the integrity of the partitioning.

Figure 3 shows the foot of the partitioning which is provided with jacking and lifting means generally indicated at 50. A pair of elongate base members 51 are provided, each defining an outwardly facing channel 52 which is capable of receiving services such as cabling. The base members 51 have a plurality of apertures 53 arranged in pairs along the length of the base members. A pair of apertures may define a seating for a screw jack assembly 54 which comprises a bolt 55 and a nut 56 resting on a washer 57 abutting the edges of the apertures 53. The head 58 of the bolt 55 is disposed beneath a loose saddle 59 at a suitable jacking point along the base members 51.

The lower edge of a panel 10 rests on the saddle 59 and can be lifted and lowered relative to the base members 51 by rotating the nut 56 and hence extending or contracting the screw jack.

The screw jack is housed entirely within the base members except for the nut 56 and washer 57 which are accessible at the apertures 53. A wrench can be used to grip and rotate the nut 56.

Cover plates 60 can be clipped into position on the base members to conceal the jacking and lifting means and also to provide a closed trunking for cabling or other services passed through the channels 52. Clip-on cable attachments 61 such as that shown in Figure 8 can be attached to free apertures 53 at spaced positions along the base members so that cabling can be laid on each side of the jacking and lifting means within the cover plates 60. It will be appreciated that the separation of power and communications/data lines is extremely desirable and with the arrangement shown these can be separated on either side of the partitioning. Furthermore, the clip-on cover plates 60 provide a neat appearance irrespective of the possible variations in floor level and also provide a recessed skirting which is considered aesthetically and practically desirable.

It is possible for the partitioning to be provided with standard wiring and other services during factory construction so that power sockets, data sockets, lighting and so on can be operated from the surface of the partitioning. The main cabling is run through the base jacking and lifting means 50 described in relation to Figure 3. Where cabling is led up into the panels, this can be done by leading it between the base members 51 since there is a free space between them at the upper face. This communicates with a rising space 61 at the ends of the panels through which access can be gained to the interior of the panel if required.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a whole panel of the partitioning and illustrates the position of connection means in the edge channels 14 of the panels. The connection means are shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 6.

A connection means comprises a channel section member 32 which is housed within but not connected to the edge channel 14 of one of the panel skins 11 or 12. The channel section member 32 has a plurality of projecting tapered spring tongues 33, which can be seen in more detail in Figure 4. The spring tongues have tips 34 providing a lead-in so that they can project from elongate openings 35 in the edge channels 14 of the panel skins.

In use, a panel 10 is firstly secured to the floor by fasteners 63 attaching the base members 51 as shown in Figure 3 and the next adjacent panel is abutted against it. The channel section member 32 is pressed downwardly so that the lead-in portions 34 project through the aligned elongate openings 35 of the edge channels 14 of the abutting panels.

Further downward pressure on the channel section member 32 will engage the spring tongues 33 fully as shown in Figure 4.

At this position, a location flap 9 on the top of the channel section member will abut the upper surface of the panel in which is housed. Otherwise, the flap 9 is visible at the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and affords an indication that the panels have not been secured together.

One or both abutting edge channels 14 may have the connection means.

The appearance of the partitioning is aesthetically pleasing because there is no interruption between the adjacent panels 10. However, it may be necessary to provide support additional to the floor fixings and suitable ceiling connection where long runs of panels are provided or where the partitioning has angles or corners.

In this case it is desirable to provide a mullion anchored to the ground and to which the panels are secured.

It will be appreciated that the partitioning may have further refinements, for example may enclose heating or cooling means, sound insulation, explosion or impact resistant reinforcements, glazing, blinds, anchorages for items to be secured such as hooks or bookshelves, lighting or the like.

Claims

1. Partitioning comprising first and second skins, insulating material disposed between the first and second skins and low conductivity connection means secured to the first and second skins to form a thermal break.

2. Partitioning according to claim 1 wherein the low conductivity connection means comprises a sub-assembly of first and second elongate angle section members and an intermediate elongate thermal insulating strip secured therebetween, and wherein the first and second angle section members of the sub-assembly are secured to the first and second skins respectively.

3. Partitioning according to claim 2 wherein the intermediate elongate thermal insulating strip is of rigid material.

4. Partitioning according to claim 3 wherein the intermediate strip is of Thermax board.

5. Partitioning according to any preceding claim wherein each of the first and second skins has an inturned edge portion defining an edge channel.

6. Partitioning according to claim 5 wherein adjacent panels have panel connection means comprising a connection member slidably mounted in said edge channel and having a plurality of spring tongues thereon, the edge channels each having a plurality of openings and the arrangement being such that the spring tongues can project through the openings of the edge channel of one panel and into the openings of the edge channel of the next adjacent panel to clip the panels together.

7. Partitioning according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein each of the first and second skins has an inturned edge portion defining said edge channel and also defining an internal flange.

8. Partitioning according to claim 7 wherein the first and second elongate angle section members of the low conductivity connection means are secured to the respective internal flanges of the first and second skins.

9. Partitioning according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second skins comprise metal.

10. Partitioning according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second skins are glazed.

11. Partitioning according to any preceding claim provided with jacking and levelling means.

12. Partitioning according to claim 11 wherein the jacking and levelling means comprise a pair of base members adapted to receive the lower edge of panels of the partitioning, the base members defining seatings for a plurality of screw jacks disposed between the base members and adapted to act on the panels.

13. Partitioning according to claim 12 wherein the seatings comprise a plurality of spaced apertures, each adapted to seat a nut threadedly engaged with a bolt, the bolt being operatively connected with the panel.

14. Partitioning according to claim 13 wherein a yoke is provided on the base members over the screw jack and is arranged to abut the lower edge of a panel.

15. Partitioning according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the base members comprise a pair of outwardly facing channels, each channel being adapted to carry services.

16. Partitioning according to claim 15 wherein cover plates are provided to cover the respective outwardly facing channels.

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