GB2411199A - Fire door - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire door comprises first <B>1</B> and second metallic facing panels secured together by inwardly extending peripheral strips <B>2</B> projecting from the border of at least one of the panels <B>1</B> and which on assembly define the edges of the door. The door interior includes spaced hollow section metallic ribs <B>3</B> secured to at least one of the panels <B>1</B> and ceramic quilting <B>5</B> provided between adjacent ribs and between outermost ribs and the edges of the panel and quilting <B>6</B> provided within the interior of each rib. The quilting <B>5</B> between the ribs is less thick than the door and the quilting <B>6</B> within the ribs is less thick than the interior of the ribs <B>3</B>. The ceramic quilting <B>5</B>, <B>6</B> may be coated with or comprise an intumescent material. An intumescent material may also be provided on the inner surfaces of the peripheral strips <B>2</B> and on the outer surfaces of the metallic ribs <B>3</B>. The quilting <B>5</B>, <B>6</B> may be attached to the inner face of one of the facing panels <B>1</B> by a high temperature adhesive including an intumescent material. The facing panels <B>1</B>, ribs <B>3</B> and peripheral strips <B>2</B> may all be produced from steel. The peripheral strips <B>2</B> and the ribs <B>3</B> may be welded to the facing panels <B>1</B>.

Description

2411 199

A FIRE DOOR

This invention relates to fire doors, particularly metallic fire doors.

More especially, the invention relates to steel fire doors.

Presently, steel fire doors rely upon the fire-retardant properties of steel to prevent the passage of flames and smoke from one side of the door to the other. On many occasions, the intense heat generated by a fire is sufficient to cause buckling or distortion of the door panel or panels thereby negating the intended function of the door. Also, the heat generated on the door side remote from the fire can in itself be sufficient to create fire hazards.

The present invention sets out to provide a metallic fire door which does not suffer from, or alleviates, many of the problems and disadvantages to be found with and in existing fire doors.

In one aspect, the invention provides a fire door which comprises first and second metallic facing panels secured together by inwardly extending upper, side and lower metal strips which project from the border of one or each panel and which on assembly define the upper, side and lower edges of the door, the door interior including spaced hollow section metallic ribs secured to and extending lengthwise of the facing panel and ceramic quilting positioned between neighbouring hollow section ribs and the outermost ribs and the side edges of the respective panel, and within the interior of each hollow section rib, the thickness of the quilting applied to the panel being less than that of the door and the thickness of the quilting applied to the rib interiors being less than the depth of the channels defined within the ribs.

The quilting may be coated with or contain an intumescent material .. ::e ace::: .e ce: I A: The inwardly extending metal strips preferably all project from the side edges of one metallic facing panel, the strips being welded to the panel edges and to one another to define a continuous inwardly extending rim to which, on assembly, the other metallic facing panel is secured by welding.

The hollow section metallic ribs may be formed by welding a three- sided angled metal fabrication to the inner surface of one facing panel.

Preferably, the ribs extend lengthwise over the entire height of the panel and lie generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

The inner surfaces of the inwardly extending metal strips may be located or lined with intumescent material. One or more of the outer surfaces of the metallic ribs may also be coated or lined with intumescent material.

The quilting may be attached to the inner face of the respective facing panel by a high temperature adhesive which may include intumescent material.

The facing panels, inwardly extending metal strips and ribs may be produced from steel.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the internal surface of a first facing panel of a fire door in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the internal surface of a second facing panels of the fire door shown in Figure 1; and ::e t:e::: Be amp: ë.. ,e Cal: Figure 3 is a section taken along line III-III of Figure 1.

The facing panel shown in Figure 1 comprises a steel sheet 1 to the borders of which are welded inwardly projecting steel strips 2 of a width equal to the intended thickness of the steel door. On assembly, the strips 2 define the side, upper and lower edges of the door. The strips define a continuous inwardly projecting rim, the adjoining edges of the strips being welded together.

Secured to the inner face of the sheet 1 are a plurality of lengthwise extending hollow ribs 3. These ribs extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet and comprise three-sided angled fabricated steel sections which are welded at their free edges to the sheet 1.

The ribs 3 are dimensioned to define air pockets 4 (see Figure 3) which extend along the full height of the door on assembly.

Adhered to the inner face of the sheet 1 by an intumescent containing high temperature adhesive are lengths of intumescent fire quilt 5. The quilt is dimensioned to cover the entire face of the sheet 1 between the ribs. Lengths 6 of quilt are also adhered to the sheet surface confined by the ribs 3.

The inner faces of the steel strips 2 are coated or lined with an intumescent containing material. The or each exposed face of each rib may be similarly coated or lines.

As will be seen from Figure 3, the thickness of the quilt lengths 6 is less than the depth of the channels defined by the ribs to provide the air pockets 4. These reduce heat transfer across the door width.

4te"&e As will be seen from Figure 2, the other side of the door is defined by a steel sheet 7 to the perimeter of which is welded to the sheet 1 via the inwardly projecting strips 2.

In the event of fire, the air pockets 4 defined between the facing panels 1, 6 assist to dissipate heat and inhibit heat conduction between the panels. If the fire continues, in time, the quilt will intumesce to define an impenetrable barrier to flames and smoke.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of fire doors in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. A fire door which comprises first and second metallic facing panels secured together by inwardly extending upper, side and lower metal strips which project from the border of one or each panel and which on assembly define the upper, side and lower edges of the door, the door interior including spaced hollow section metallic ribs secured to and extending lengthwise of the facing panel and ceramic quilting positioned between neighbouring hollow section ribs and the outermost ribs and the side edges of the respective panel, and within the interior of each hollow section rib, the thickness of the quilting applied to the panel being less than that of the door and the thickness of the quilting applied to the rib interiors being less than the depth of the channels defined within the ribs.

2. A fire door as claimed in claim 1 wherein the quilting is coated with or contains an intumescent material

3. A fire door as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inwardly extending metal strips all project from the side edges of one metallic facing panel, the strips being welded to the panel edges and to one another to define a continuous inwardly extending rim to which, on assembly, the other metallic facing panel is secured by welding.

4. A fire door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow section metallic ribs are formed by welding a three-sided angled metal fabrication to the inner surface of one facing panel.

5. A fire door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs extend lengthwise over the entire height of the panel and lie generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

6. A fire door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner surfaces of the inwardly extending metal strips are located or lined with intumescent material.

7. A fire door as claimed in claim 6 wherein one or more of the outer surfaces of the metallic ribs are also be coated or lined with intumescent material.

8. A fire door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the quilting is attached to the inner face of the respective facing panel by a high temperature adhesive.

9. A fire door as claimed in claim 8 wherein the adhesive includes intumescent material.

10. A fire door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the facing panels, inwardly extending metal strips and ribs are produced from steel.

11. A fire door substantially as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.