GB2571695A

GB2571695A - Fire Barriers

Info

Publication number: GB2571695A
Application number: GB1710826.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Ward Derek
Original assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-05
Filing date: 2017-07-05
Publication date: 2019-09-11
Also published as: GB201802303D0; GB201710826D0

Abstract

The barrier comprises one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one or both sides with a coating of intumescent material, and means for suspending each coated sheet as a continuous fire break alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building. The barrier prevents the passage of fire for a period in excess of 30 minutes. Each sheet may be 1mm thick and comprise a reinforced glass cloth. Each sheet may have openings corresponding with windows, doors, and other openings of the building. Each opening may include fire proofed cavity barriers around its sides. A second barrier comprising a plurality of intumescent-coated fireproof sponge blocks may be positioned alongside the surface of the fire barrier remote from the external walls of the building. Also claimed is a fire proofed cavity barrier comprising an assembly of individual blocks of a sponge material coated on each surface with a coating of liquid intumescent material to define a wall alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building. The blocks may comprise a high density non-fibrous or fibre-free sponge and be secured to neighbouring blocks using a jointing compound.

Description

FIRE BARRIERS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for providing enhanced protection against the spread of fire in a building, particularly a multi-storied building such as a high rise building.

Background to the Invention

As has been witnessed recently, an external fire will, unless checked, spread rapidly over the external surface of a building and will in time enter and ultimately spread through the entire interior of the building. The presence of external cladding can exacerbate the problem, particular when constructed from materials which do not meet satisfactory fire proofing standards, by causing the fire to spread rapidly away from its source to other areas of the building.

The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive apparatus and method for preventing the rapid spread of a fire in a building, especially a multi-storied building, to provide time for fire fighters with specialised equipment to deal effectively with the fire.

Fire barriers in accordance with the invention typically provide 45 to minutes protection against the spread of fire thereby providing additional time to evacuate residents from the building and/or to extinguish the fire.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention in one aspect, a fire barrier for a building comprises one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one or both sides with a coating of a material which intumesces in the event of fire to produce a barrier through which the fire is unable to progress for a period in excess of 30 minutes, and means for suspending the or each said coated sheet as a continuous fire break alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building.

The thickness of the/ or each sheet of cloth material is typically 1mm and may comprise a reinforced glass cloth. The coating may comprise a coating supplied by the Applicant under the trade name Envirograf (RTM).

In another aspect, the invention provides a fire barrier for building in the form of a sheet or assembly of sheets of cloth material which is coated on one or each side with material which intumesces in the event of fire to provide barrier to the spread of fire, and means for suspending said sheet or sheets alongside the inner face of each external wall of the building, each said sheet being formed with openings to correspond with windows, doors and other openings of a given building and each said opening being bordered on all sides with fire proofed cavity barriers to prevent the passage of f ire .

In the event of a fire occurring, the material intumesces to produce barrier which prevents the passage of the fire for a period in excess of 30 minutes, preferably for a period in excess of one hour .

A wall comprising a plurality of intumescent-coated fireproof sponge blocks may be positioned alongside the surface of the fire barrier remote from said external walls of the building.

These blocks may comprise the blocks offered for sale by the

Applicant under the designations FCS1/30 and FCS2/40.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a fire proofed cavity barrier which comprises an assembly of individual blocks of a sponge material coated on each surface with a coating of liquid intumescent material to define a wall alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building. The sponge material may be non-fibrous. Individual blocks may comprise a high density fibre-free sponge and may be secured to neighbouring blocks using a jointing compound.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a fire barrier for a building, especially a multi-storied building, said barrier comprising in combination a first barrier positioned alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building, said first barrier comprising a sheet or an assembly of sheets of a cloth material the or each of which is coated on one or each side with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire to provide an initial barrier to the spread of fire, and a second barrier positioned alongside said first barrier which comprises an internal wall structure formed from a plurality of individual blocks of a sponge or like material coated on the majority of all surfaces with a coating of liquid intumescent material. Preferably, the intumescent coating is that supplied by the Applicant under the trade name ENVIROGRAF (RTM).

The	first barrier maybe	spaced from	the internal	surface of
each	external wall or	adhered to such	surface .
The	second barrier	is	preferably	spaced from	the first

barrier .

Fire barriers comprising intumescent coated material are preferably located about each door, window or other opening formed in each said external wall.

Detailed description of the Invention

One example of a fire barrier in accordance with the invention will now be described.

A fire barrier in accordance with the invention typically comprises a continuous sheet of cloth material of approximately 1mm thickness coated on one side with a coating of liquid intumescent material. Typically the sheet is produced from reinforced glass fibres and the coating is one supplied by the Applicant under its tradename ENVIROGRAF.

The coating may alternatively be applied to both sides of the cloth sheet.

This barrier is positioned alongside but spaced from the internal surface of each external wall of the building to be protected with its coated surface opposite the building wall. To accommodate openings in the wall to receive window and door frames and the like, corresponding openings are formed in the barrier, fire proofed cavity barriers extending between the boundaries of these openings and the opposed surfaces of the cloth barrier. Typically, these cavity barriers comprise RSM barriers as supplied by the Applicant.

Thus, in the event of an external fire from, for example, unsuitable cladding material, the fire barrier prevents the passage of fire into the building interior for a period of at least 30 minutes and probably a period in excess of 60 minutes .

Positioned alongside the fire barrier may be located a second barrier comprising a wall built of individual blocks of a high density fibre-free sponge material each coated on all or a majority of sides with a coating of intumescent material such as the one supplied by the Applicant under its registered trademark ENVIROGRAF.

This second barrier will provide an additional period of time before an external fire can penetrate to the building interior. Typically this additional period will be of the order of between 30 and 60 minutes.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing merely exemplifies features of the invention and that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fire barrier for a building comprises one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one or both sides with a coating of a material which intumesces in the event of fire to produce a barrier through which the fire is unable to progress for a period in excess of 30 minutes, and means for suspending the or each said coated sheet as a continuous fire break alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building.

2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the/ or each sheet of cloth material is typically 1mm and comprises a reinforced glass cloth.

3. A barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coating comprises a coating supplied by the Applicant under the trade name Envirograf (RTM).

4. A fire barrier for a building in the form of a sheet or assembly of sheets of a cloth material which is coated on one or each side with a material which intumesces in the event of fire to provide a barrier to the spread of fire, and means for suspending said sheet or sheets alongside the inner face of each external wall of the building, each said sheet being formed with openings to correspond with windows, doors and other openings of a given building and each said opening including fire proofed

cavity of fire barriers around its sides to prevent the passage

5. A fire barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a wall comprising a plurality of

intumescent-coated fireproof sponge blocks is positioned alongside the surface of the fire barrier remote from said external walls of the building.

6. A fire proofed cavity barrier which comprises an assembly of individual blocks of a sponge material coated on each surface with a coating of liquid intumescent material to define a wall alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building. The sponge material may be non-fibrous. Individual blocks may comprise a high density fibre-free sponge and may be secured to neighbouring blocks using a jointing compound.

7. A fire barrier for a building, especially a multi-floored building, said barrier comprising in combination a first barrier positioned alongside the internal surface of each external wall of the building, said first barrier comprising an assembly of sheets of a cloth material which is coated on one or each side with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire to provide an initial barrier to the spread of fire, and a second barrier positioned alongside said first barrier which comprises an internal wall structure formed from a plurality of individual blocks of a sponge or like material coated on all surfaces with a coating of liquid intumescent material.

8. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first barrier is either spaced from the internal surface of each external wall or adhered to such surface.

9. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second barrier is spaced from the first