NL1016182C1 - Grille for ventilation opening in e.g. door or wall, contains heat expandible material to automatically seal grille in event of fire - Google Patents

Abstract

A layer (51) of heat expandible material is provided on the inside of each vertical strip (10, 20) in the front and rear grille sections (9A, 9B). The grille (9) comprises front and rear sections, each one containing a number of parallel vertical and parallel cross-direction strips (10, 12, 13, 20, 22, 23) made from a material with good thermal conductivity, e.g. steel. The vertical strips (10) in one grille section (9A) overlap with the spaces (21) in between the vertical strips (20) in the other grille section (9B). The cross-strips (12, 13, 22, 23) at least partially overlap, forming an S-shaped and labrynthine connecting channel (30) between the two sides of the grille. Independent claims are also included for (a) the grille sections, (b) the grille slats, and (c) the use of a heat expandible material on the room-facing side of a metal wall in a grille, as a self-sealing material in the event of a fire.

Description

AOO-50190 / OGR

Title: Grille element, intended for installation in a ventilation opening

The present invention relates to a grid member as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Such a grid member is known in practice. The ends of the said main strips are attached to carrying supports oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main strips, which form part of a frame serving for mounting the grille element. If such a grille member is mounted in a ventilation opening in, for example, a door or a wall, the connecting channels extending from the first plane to the second plane will allow an air flow suitable for ventilation purposes through the grille member. On the other hand, all the front openings, that is to say the gaps between the front main strips, are covered by the rear main strips, while all the rear openings are covered by the main strips, so that such a grating member prevents objects from being inserted through the ventilation opening from one side of the grating member to the other side thereof. Likewise, such a grid member prevents direct light transmission.

If a fire situation occurs in the space on one side of such a grating member, the hot gases caused thereby can reach the space on the other side of the grating member through the grating member. Even if there is no fire in that other room, that room is still threatened by the hot gases from the first-mentioned room. The known grating members of the type described above do not offer any protection against this. The known grating members 30 therefore do not meet safety requirements relating to the fire resistance of a dividing wall or door. On the contrary, many of the grating members of the above-mentioned type known in practice present an additional danger in fire situations, because they are provided on the inside with a plastic foam because of its sound-damping properties. In the event of a fire, such a plastic foam can give off toxic gases as a result of the heat which occurs in the event of a fire.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved grid member.

More in particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a grille element which is permeable to ventilation air under normal circumstances, but which closes automatically in a gastight manner when a fire occurs.

To this end, in a grating member according to the present invention, a layer of a thermo-expansion material is applied to the inner wall of each strip.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "thermoexpansion material" is intended to mean a material that has the property of expanding extensively when exposed to temperatures occurring in a fire situation. Thermo-expanding materials are known per se, as will be known to a person skilled in the art. By way of example, reference can be made to thermo-expanding materials based on sodium silicate or based on Wolman salts. A preferred thermoexpanding material for proven suitability is known in the art as expanding graphite. In addition to the above materials, one skilled in the art will also know of other thermoexpanding materials useful in the present invention. The dimensions of the layer of the thermoexpanding material will always be chosen in relation to the expansion capacity of the material in question on the one hand, and the mutual distances between the parts of the grating member on the other.

Optionally, a second layer can be applied to the layer of the thermo-expanding material with specific sound-damping characteristics, such as, for example, a plastic foam to which fire retardants have been added in order to meet the fire safety requirements. Such non-flammable plastic foam materials are known per se to a person skilled in the art, and need no further explanation.

> 016182 3

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following description of a preferred embodiment of a ventilation grille according to the invention with reference to the drawing, in which like reference numerals indicate like or similar parts, and in which: figure 1A schematically shows a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a grille member according to the present invention; Figure 1B schematically shows a cross-section of a variant of the grating element of figure 1A; figure 2 schematically shows a front view of a grille member according to the present invention; and Figure 3 schematically illustrates an important aspect of the operation of a grille member according to the present invention.

Figure IA schematically shows a cross-section of a grille member 9 according to the present invention, mounted in a ventilation opening 8 in a door 7. Figure 1B shows a variant 9T of the grille member shown in Figure IA, now mounted in a ventilation opening 8 in a wall 6 Figure 2 shows a front view of the grille member 9.

The grille member 9, 9 'comprises a frame 40 which serves for mounting the grille member 9, 9' on the door 7 and on the wall 6, respectively. The frame 40 in this embodiment is rectangular with mutually parallel first and second supporting supports 41 , 42, the ends of which are connected to each other by connecting brackets 43, 44. The ends of first main strips 10, which are mutually parallel, and which are located at mutual intervals 11 in a first plane 1 are secured to the carrying supports 41, 42. The first main strips 10 are made of a material which conducts heat well, preferably a metal such as steel.

The grating member 9, 9 'further comprises a second set of main strips 20, which are mutually parallel and are spaced 21 in a second plane 2. The second main strips 20 are also made of a material. that heat conducts well, also preferably a metal such as steel. The second plane 2 is parallel to the first plane 1, and is spaced L therefrom.

The first main strips 10 and the second main strips 20 are mounted relative to each other such that the first main strips 10 overlap with the gaps 21 between the second main strips 20, and the second main strips 20 overlap with the gaps 11 between the first main strips 10 Thus, all openings 11 of the ventilation opening 8 released by the first main strips 10 are covered by the second main strips 20, and all openings 21 of the ventilation opening 8 released by the second main strips 20 are covered by the first main strips 10. When using a It is therefore not possible to insert an object from one side of the grid member 9, 9 'to the other side thereof in such a grating member 9, 9'. Furthermore, such a grid member prevents direct light transmission.

At the grating member 9 of Figure 1A, the second 20 main strips 20 are mounted on support supports of a second frame 40 ". The grating member 9 according to this embodiment thus comprises two mating components 9A and 9B, the first component 9A being formed by the first frame 40 with the first strips 10, 25 attached thereto, while the second component 9B being formed by the second frame 40 and the second main strips 20 attached thereto.

The two mentioned components 9A and 9B are individually mounted in the ventilation opening 8 on either side of the door 7, as clearly shown in figure 1A. The second embodiment 9 'shown in figure 1B is intended for situations where the grille element can only be mounted from one side in the ventilation opening 8. In that case, the second main strips 20 are also attached to the first frame 40, so that the first frame 40 with the first main strips 10 and second main strips 20 attached thereto forms a complete unit.

As is clear from Figures 1A and 1B, the first main strips 10 are wider than the gaps 21 between the second main strips 20, and the second main strips 20 are wider than the gaps 11 between the first main strips r1. 10. Preferably, and as shown, the first and second main strips 10, 20 have the same width and the interspaces 11, 21 have the same width.

In the following, the portion of the grille member 9, 9 'located between the two said planes 1 and 2 will be referred to as the "inside" or "inside" of the grille member.

First transverse strips 12, 13 are formed on the first main strips 10, which face the interior of the grille member 9, 9 ', that is to say, face the second main strips 20. A combination of a first strip 10 and the first attached transverse strips 12, 13 will be indicated by the term "slat" 16. In this embodiment, the first transverse strips 12, 13 are substantially parallel to each other, and are directed substantially perpendicularly to the corresponding first main strips 10. Although this in itself is not essential preferably, the longitudinal edges of the transverse strips 12, 13 connect to the longitudinal edges of the main strips 10, so that a main strip 10 and the two associated transverse strips 12, 13 have a U-shaped contour. Although the transverse strips 12, 13 and the main strips 10 can be formed independently of each other and can be attached to each other to form a U-shaped profile, a main strip 10 and the two associated transverse strips 12, 13 are preferably integral formed, for example, as an extrusion profile, or as a whole bent from metal sheet.

Similarly, the second main strips 20 are also provided with second transverse strips 22, 23, which are directed towards the interior of the grille member 9, 9 ', that is to say towards the first main strips 10, wherein again preferably the combination of a second main strip 20 and the associated second transverse strips 22, 23 are formed as a substantially U-shaped profile, for example an extrusion profile, or as a whole bent from metal sheet. A combination of a second strip 20 and the second transverse strips 22, 23 attached thereto will be indicated by the reference numeral 26.

The first transverse strips 12, 13 have free end edges 14, 15, respectively, while the second transverse strips 22, 23 have 1016182 '6, respectively, free end edges 24, 25. The width of each transverse strip 12, 13, 22, 23 is greater than half the perpendicular distance between the first and second faces 1, 2, so that the first and second transverse strips 12, 13, 22, 23 partially overlap in transverse direction that is, in the direction perpendicular to the first and second faces 1, 2. In Figure 1A, the overlap is indicated by X. The overlap X is preferably at least 5 mm.

On the other hand, the width of each transverse strip 12, 13, 22, 10 23 is smaller than said perpendicular distance L between the first and second plane 1, 2, so that in the direction perpendicular to those planes 1, 2 there is a distance D between the free ends 14, 15 of the first transverse strips 12, 13 on the one hand and the second main strips 20 on the other. Similarly, there is a distance 15 D between the free ends 24, 25 of the second cross strips 22, 23 and the first main strips 10. That distance D is not critical, and may be in the range of about 10 to about 25 mm ; this distance is preferably about 15 to 20 mm.

It is noted that the precise width of the transverse strips 12, 13, 22, 23 will be adapted to the application situation, such as for instance the width of the door for which the ventilation grille is intended, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art.

Because the main strips are wider than the interspaces, the transverse strips facing each other do not touch each other. Thus, the transverse strips, in combination with the main strips, define S-shaped or labyrinth-shaped connecting channels 30 between the first gaps 11 on the one hand and the second 30 gaps 21 on the other. Figure 1A shows a curved line 30 illustrating such an S-shaped connecting channel. Going from the first interspace to the second interspace 21, such a connecting channel first follows the surface of a first transverse strip 12, then bends back around the free end 14 of said transverse strip 12, between that free end 14 and the opposite main strip 20 to the free end 25 of a second cross strip, and then bends around that free end 25, between that free end 25 and the first main strip 10, back along the surface of the second cross strip 23 toward the second gap 21 These connecting channels 30 allow a flow of ventilation air through the grille member 9, 9 '.

As clearly shown in Figure 1A, a layer of a thermo-expansion material 51 is applied to the inner wall of each main strip 10, 20, that is, the surface of each main strip 10, 20 facing the interior of the grid member. The preferred embodiment shown is provided on that layer 51 with a second layer of a non-flammable plastic foam 52. Although the second layer 52 can be applied independently of the first layer 51, preferably the first layer of the thermoexpansion material 51 and the second layer of the non-flammable plastic foam 52 formed as a layered combination product or composite 50, which may be provided separately, the first layer 51 acting as a hard but flexible support layer for the second layer 52. The composite 50 may be in be entirely applied to the inner surface of the main strips. The application of the composite 50, or at least the application of the thermo-expansion material 51, can simply take place by means of gluing. Also, the surface of the thermoexpansion material 51 to be attached to the inner surface of the main strips may be provided with a self-adhesive layer. Likewise, the application of the plastic foam 52 to the thermoexpansion material 51 can take place by means of gluing, or in that the surface of the plastic foam 52 to be fixed on the thermo-expansion material 51 is provided with a self-adhesive layer.

The dimensions of the layer of the thermoexpanding material and the dimensions of the second layer of the non-flammable plastic foam 52 will be chosen in relation to, on the one hand, the mutual distances D between the main strips and the opposite transverse strips, and on the other hand the expansion capacity of the respective thermal expansion material. In a preferred embodiment, the layer thickness of the thermoexpansion material 51 is in the range from about 1/5 to about 1/2 times the transversely measured distance D between a main strip and the free end of a 1 C 1 * * 1 ö 2 * 8 opposite cross strip; more preferably, that thickness is about 1/3 times said distance D.

In practice, preference will be given to using layers as a standard product with a predetermined standard thickness. A suitable value for such a standard thickness is in the range from about 1 mm to about 6 mm.

In a particular preferred embodiment, the layer thickness of the thermal expansion material 51 becomes about 2 mm.

For the second layer 52, the thickness can be suitably selected in the range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm, taking into account the desired sound insulation properties. More preferably, the thickness of the second layer 52 is selected in the range from about 5 mm to about 10 mm; in a particular preferred embodiment, the layer thickness of the second layer 52 becomes about 5 mm.

Although an expert for the thermoexpansion material can choose from various thermo-expansion materials known per se in the art, because of proven suitability a particular preference is given to a material known in the art as expanding graphite. A composite 50, formed by a layer of thermo-expansion material 51 on the basis of expanding graphite, with a second layer of "a non-flammable plastic foam 52 formed thereon", is commercially available under the trade name 25 PYROFOAM from Safety

Engineering & Consulting International in Krimpen a / d IJssel, the Netherlands.

The operation of the grating member 9, 9 'is as follows. Under normal conditions, the connecting channels 30 are open, and allow air to flow through the grille member, for example, from the space indicated by A to A to the left of the grille member to the space to the right of the grille member in Figure 1A. In the preferred embodiment in which the main strips are provided with the second layers of plastic foam 52, the grille element 9, 9 'has a strong sound-damping effect, that is to say that sound transmission from space A to space B and vice versa is strongly countered. It should be noted that the '*' * jf>. f, <* 9 U-shaped combinations 16 of first strips 10 and transverse strips 12, 13 (slats) attached thereto do not make physical contact with the combinations 26 of second main strips 20 with transverse strips 22, 23 attached, so that direct sound transmission is avoided . Furthermore, the first layer 51 applied to the inner surface of each main strip 10, 20 prevents vibrations from occurring in the grid member 9, 9 ', at least vibrations are prevented.

If a fire situation occurs in one of the said spaces on either side of the grate member 9, 9 ', the connecting channels 30 are closed very quickly, so that a continuous gas flow is no longer possible. The grille member 9, 9 'preferably has, as shown, a symmetrical construction, so that the operation is also symmetrical. Suppose that a fire situation occurs in space A to the left of the grille element. If the ventilation flow is directed from room A to room B, the hot ventilation air can contribute to heating the grille member, but the ventilation flow can also be directed the other way. An important advantage of the grille element according to the present invention is that the outer surfaces facing the space A of the first main strips 10 are subjected to the radiation (infrared) generated by the high burning temperatures, so that the first main strips 10 are rapidly in temperature. will rise. More particularly, the temperature of the first main strips 10 can reach about 300 ° C within a few minutes. As a result, the thermoexpansion material 51 present on the inner surfaces of the first main strips 10, which is activated in the temperature range 30 from about 150 ° C to about 300 ° C, will expand strongly, leaving any second layer 52 in front of it pushing it in until it comes into full contact with the free ends 24, 25 of the transverse strips 22, 23 of the opposite main strips 20. This situation is illustrated in Figure 3. As can be clearly seen, 35 is now an effective blockage of the connection channels 30 have been reached. Still, however, the opposed U-shaped slats 16, 26 do not make physical contact with each other, whereby the material 51, 10 52 pressed against the free ends 24, 25 of the second transverse strips 22, 23 prevents any deformation of the grating element leads to physical contact. Due to the lack of that physical contact, a direct heat transfer is almost entirely absent, so that the grille element according to the present invention also complies with the fire safety requirements in this respect.

It is possible that, over time, due to the high temperatures, the first main strips 10 deform, such that the connecting channels 30 are again slightly opened. Then the second main strips 20 offer an extra safety in that now the hot gas flowing through the ventilation member will cause the thermo-expansion material 51 to expand on the inner surfaces of the second main strips 20.

15

The present invention thus succeeds in providing a grille member intended for placement in a ventilation opening, which is built up of a number of metal U-shaped profiles, which are arranged at a distance from each other and opposite each other with the legs interlocking, so that a S-shaped flow jet for airflow is defined. A thermo-expansion material is applied to the inner surface of the bottoms of these U-shaped profiles, with a sound-damping material on top. In a fire situation, the thermal radiation on the outer surface of the bottoms of those U-shaped profiles will cause the thermo-expansion material to swell, thereby closing said S-shaped flow paths.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed above, but that various modifications and modifications thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the invention. attached conclusions.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that for the first layer of thermoexpansion material 51, instead of the said preferred material, i.e. based on expanding graphite, other suitable thermo-expanding materials can also be used. Furthermore, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the main task of the second layer 52 is to provide a sound-damping effect under normal conditions, and that other suitable materials can be used. For safety reasons, the said plastic foam in which fire retardants are incorporated is preferred, but other suitable materials will also be clear to a person skilled in the art.

In the foregoing, the main strips 10 and 20, as well as the cross strips, have been described as being substantially flat. However, this is not essential; It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the advantages of the present invention are also achieved if the strips have a certain curvature.

In the foregoing, the main strips 10 and 20 have been described as horizontally aligned in a common flat plane 1, 2. However, this is not essential; It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the advantages of the present invention are also achieved if the strips make a certain angle with respect to that common plane, while furthermore that plane may have a certain curvature. It is only important that the U-shaped profiles with their bottom parts face outwards and with their legs inwards.

* - "iel 52 *

Claims (33)

Grille element (9, 9 '), intended for placement in a ventilation opening (8) in for instance a door (7) or a wall (6), comprising: a number of mutually substantially parallel, with mutual spaces (11) adjacent disposed first main strips (10) of a heat-conducting material, preferably a metal such as steel; a number of mutually substantially parallel second main strips 10 (20) arranged next to one another at mutual intervals (21) of a heat-conducting material, preferably a metal such as steel; wherein said first main strips (10) overlap with said gaps (21) between said second main strips (20), and wherein said second main strips (20) overlap with said gaps (11) between said first main strips (10); the first main strips (10) being provided with first cross strips (12, 13) directed towards the second main strips (20), while the second main strips (20) are provided with second cross strips (22, facing the first main strips (10)), 23), which first and second transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) at least partially overlap (X) and thus define labyrinthine or S-shaped connecting channels (30) between said interspaces (11) of the first main strips (10) on the one hand and said interstices (21) of the second main strips (20) on the other; characterized in that a layer (51) of a thermo-expansion material is applied to the inner wall of each main strip (10; 20). 30 The grille member of claim 1, wherein the first main strips (10) are wider than the gaps (21) between the second main strips (20), and the second main strips (20) are wider than the gaps (11) between the first 35 main strips (10). 101Ö! , 2 3. Grid element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second main strips (10; 20) are of the same width, and wherein the gaps (11) between the first main strips and the gaps (21) between the second main strips are of the same width to be. Grille element according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) are directed substantially perpendicular to said main strips (10; 20). 10 Grating element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a main strip (10; 20) is provided with two transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) adjoining it. The grille member according to claim 5, wherein a main strip (10; 20) and the two associated transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) are formed as a substantially U-shaped profile (16; 26). Grating element according to claim 6, wherein a main strip 20 (10; 20) and the two associated transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) are bent as a whole from metal sheet or as a whole formed as an extrusion profile. Grille element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first transverse strips (12, 13) and the second transverse strips (22, 23) are in each other in transverse direction, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the first and second plane (1, 2 ), overlapping, the overlap (X) preferably being at least 5 mm. 30 Grille element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transversely measured distance (D) between the free ends (14, 15; 24, 25) of the first and second transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23)) on the one hand and The second and first main strips (20; 10), respectively, on the other hand, lie in the range of 10 to 25 mm, and are preferably 15 to 20 mm. * o:.; V Grid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoexpansion material is based on expanding graphite. Grille according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layer thickness of the thermoexpansion material is in the range from about 1 mm to about 6 mm, and is preferably in the order of about 2 mm. 10 12. Grid member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layer thickness of the thermoexpansion material is in the range from about 1/5 to about 1/2 of the transversely measured distance between a strip and the free end of an opposite located transverse strip, said thickness preferably being about 1/3 of said distance. Grating element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a second layer (52) of a non-flammable plastic foam is applied to said first layer (51) of the thermo-expansion material. The grille member of claim 13, wherein the second layer (52) is applied to said first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material by gluing, or by means of one on the second layer (52) or on said self-adhesive layer applied thermo-expansion layer (51). The grille member of claim 13 or 14, wherein the first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material and the second layer (52) of the non-flammable plastic foam are formed as a layered combination product or composite (50), the first layer (51) acts as a hard but flexible support layer for the second layer (52). Grille element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layer of thermoexpansion material (51) is applied to the main strips (10, 20) by means of gluing, or I 016182! by means of a self-adhesive layer applied to said thermoexpansion layer (51). Grille element according to any one of the preceding 5 claims, wherein the first main strips (10) are situated substantially in a first plane (1), the second main strips (20) mainly in a second plane (2), and wherein said second face (2) is spaced from said first face (1). 10 Grille element according to claim 17, wherein said first plane (1) and / or said second plane (2) has a certain curvature or is flat. Grille element according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said first plane (1) and / or said second plane (2) is inclined with respect to the center line of the ventilation opening (8). Grid element according to any of the preceding claims 17-19, wherein the first main strips (10) and / or the second main strips (20) are inclined with respect to said first plane (1) and / or said second plane (respectively). 2). 25 Grille element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first main strips (10) and / or the second main strips (20) and / or the first cross strips (12, 13) and / or the second cross strips (22, 23) are flat , or have a certain curvature. 22. Grid member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first main strips (10) and the second main strips (20) are supported by a common frame (40). Grille element according to any of the preceding claims 1-21, wherein the first main strips (10) and the 1016182! second main strips (20) are supported by separate frames (40; 40 '). Grating component (9A; 9B) for use in a grating element according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a number of mutually substantially parallel main strips (10; 20) arranged next to one another at intervals. heat-conducting material, preferably a metal such as steel; wherein the main strips (10; 20) are provided with transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) which are preferably directed substantially perpendicular to said main strips (10; 20); characterized in that a layer (51) of a thermo-expansion material is applied to the inner wall of each main strip (10; 20). Grating component according to claim 24, wherein a main strip (10; 20) and the two associated transverse strips (12, 13; 20, 22, 23) are formed as a substantially U-shaped profile (16; 26), which preferably a whole is bent from metal sheet or formed as a whole as an extrusion profile. The grating component of claim 24 or 25, wherein the thermoexpansion material is based on expanding graphite. The grating component according to any of the preceding claims 24-26, wherein the layer thickness of the thermoexpansion material is in the range from about 1 mm to about 6 mm, and is preferably on the order of about 2 mm. The grating component according to any of the preceding claims 24-27, wherein a second layer (52) of a non-flammable plastic foam is applied to said first layer (51) of the thermo-expansion material. 1016 s82 Grating component according to any of the preceding claims 24-28, having one or more of the following features (a) - (c): a) the second layer (52) on said first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material applied by gluing, or by means of a self-adhesive layer applied to the second layer (52) or to said thermoexpansion layer (51); and / or b) the first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material and the second layer (52) of the non-flammable plastic foam are formed as a layered combination product or composite (50), the first layer (51 ) acts as a hard but flexible support layer for the second layer (52); 15 and / or c) the layer of thermoexpansion material (51) is applied to the main strips (10, 20) by means of gluing, or by means of a self-adhesive layer applied to said thermo-expansion layer (51). A lamella (16; 26) for use in a grating member according to any of the preceding claims 1-23, comprising: a main strip (10; 20) of a heat-conducting material, preferably a metal such as steel; Which main strip (10; 20) is provided with transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) which are preferably directed substantially perpendicularly to said main strip (10; 20); characterized in that a layer (51) 30 of a thermo-expansion material, which is preferably based on expanding graphite, is applied to the inner wall of the main strip (10; 20). Slat according to claim 30, wherein a main strip (10; 20. and the two associated transverse strips (12, 13; 22, 23) are formed as a substantially U-shaped profile (16; 26), which preferably is entirely bent from metal sheet or is integrally formed as an extrusion profile. Slat according to claim 30 or 31, wherein a second layer (52) of a non-flammable plastic foam is applied to said first layer (51) of the thermo-expansion material. 5 Slat according to any of claims 30-32, with one or more of the following features (a) - (e): a) the second layer (52) is applied to said first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material by gluing, or by means of a self-adhesive layer applied to the second layer (52) or to said thermoexpansion layer (51); and / or b) the first layer (51) of the thermoexpansion material and the second layer (52) of the non-combustible plastic foam are formed as a layered combination product or composite (50), the first layer (51) functioning as a hard but flexible support layer for the second layer (52); and / or c) the layer of thermal expansion material (51) is applied to the main strip (10, 20) by means of gluing, or by means of a self-adhesive layer applied to said thermal expansion layer (51); and / or d) the main strip (10; 20) and / or the cross strips (12, 13; 22, 23) are flat, or have a certain curvature; and / or e) the layer thickness of the thermoexpansion material is in the range from about 1 mm to about 6 mm, and is preferably on the order of about 2 mm. 30 34. The use of a thermal expansion material (51), preferably based on expanding graphite, as an auto-reactive sealant on an inner surface of a metal grille facing a room (A; B). 1016182