NZ549056A - A fire retardant floor structure using metal joists with a 'Z' crossection that has fire retardent panels above and below - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire-retardant elevated floor structure is disclosed. The floor comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart support joists (4), at least one fire retardant floor panel (8) supported by and above the support joists (4) and at least one ceiling panel (11) engaged to and below the support joists (4). The support joists are composed of a plurality of partially overlapping and parallel Z-shaped joists. Each support joist is supported (2, 3) in an elevated condition above a foundation (1).

Description

549056 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 549056 Date: 9 August 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A FIRE RETARDANT FLOOR STRUCTURE We, WAIAU BAY LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of c/- Rodewald Hart Brown Ltd, Cnr Queen & Jocelyn St, Te Puke, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which wc pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 549056 The present invention relates to a fire retardant elevated floor structure.

Elevated floor structures for buildings are, in many cases, designed to meet certain fire safety standards. In particular certain fire safety standards have specified that an elevated floor structure needs to be resistant or retardant to the progress of fire from below to the upper portion of the floor structure for a certain minimum duration. For example standard AS15304-1997 is a standard in respect of such a fire rating.

The elevated floor structures where fire safety considerations are paramount include those floor structures used in public storage facilities or warehousing.

Public storage facilities are relatively prevalent in many cities. Members of the public arc able to lease a storage cubical into which they can securely store their personal possessions. Storage facilities may include the provision of cubicles on multi levels. As such, elevated floor structures are used.

Accordingly there is a need for an elevated floor structure which addresses the abovementioned disadvantages. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an elevated floor structure which addresses the abovementioned disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a fire-retardant elevated floor structure comprising: a plurality of parallel and spaced apart support joists, each support joist supported in an elevated condition above a foundation by support means; at least one fire retardant floor panel at least partially supported by and above the support joists; at least one ceiling panel engaged to and below the support, joists to obscure the support joists and floor panel from below; wherein at least one support joist comprises of a plurality of partially overlapping and parallel Z-shapcd joists Preferably the Z-shaped joists arc contiguous the at least one floor panels.

Preferably the at least one floor panel is a particle board panel.

Preferably the at least one floor panel is plywood.

Preferably the Z-shaped joist s are Z-shaped in cross-section. . 549056 Preferably two or more of the fire retardant floor panels are provided wherein each is positioned on top of said Z-shaped joists such that each of two parallel and opposed edges thereof are located contiguous a respective said Z-shaped joists.

Preferably each fire retardant panel has each of two parallel and opposed edges parallel to and located on top of a respective said Z-shaped joists.

Preferably the ceiling panel is a gypsum based panel.

Preferably the support means include at least one bearer on top of which the Z-shaped joists are positioned.

Preferably the support means also includes at least one post at or towards the upper distal end of which the bearer is affixed.

Preferably the Z-shaped joists are of steel.

Preferably the support means is of a kind providing point support to the Z-shaped joists at intervals and wherein each support joist consists of at least two overlapping Z-shaped joists, with an overlap provided at at least one of the points of support.

In a further aspect the present invention consist in a building which includes a fire retardant elevated floor structure.

In a further aspect the present invention consist in an elevated floor structure as described below.

In a further aspect the present invention consist in an elevated floor structure as described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 illustrates a partial cutaway and perspective view of an elevated floor structure of the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates a view from direction A of Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrates a bottom perspective and partial cutaway view of part of the elevated floor structure as shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view in direction B of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of a Z-shaped joist of the present invention, Figure 6 is an end view of two Z-shaped joists of the present invention engaged relative each other, and 549056 Figure 7 is a side view of a plurality of Z-shaped joists engaged in series relative each other and supported by a support structure.

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown an elevated floor structure that is elevated above a foundation 1. The foundation 1 may be a floor or surface below. The elevated floor structure includes support means that may include a post or posts 2 that may support bearers such as the bearer 3. Alternatively the configuration may only include posts 2 without bearers supported thereby. The support means supports a plurality of support joists 4. Such support joists are preferably fastened to the support means such as to the bearer 3 by fasteners 6 such as screws or nails. The support joists are preferably each defined by Z-shaped joists. Each of the Z-shaped joists supports a floor panel or floor panels 8. Each of the floor panels 8 is preferably engaged directly to each of the Z-shaped joists. Engagement may includc the use of fasteners 10 that may be driven from below or through the top of each of the floor panels 8. Provided below the Z-shaped joists and preferably engaged to the Z-shaped joists is at least one ceiling panel 11. The ceiling panel 11 is positioned against the Z-shaped joists to obscure the Z-shaped joists and the floor panels from below. Fasteners such as screws or tacks or nails 20 may fasten the ceiling panels 11 to the Z-shaped joists. The ceiling panels 11 are preferably positioned intermediate of the bearers 3 as for example shown with reference to Figure 3. Alternatively the ceiling panels may be engaged to the lower surfaces 21 of the bearers.

The support joists 4 defined by the Z-shaped joists are preferably defined in a parallel configuration and extending in a transverse direction may be bridging members 26. The bridging members may be fastened to adjacent Z-shaped joists by fasteners 28. The bridging members 26 can provide some stability to the Z-shaped joists.

The use of Z-shaped joists allows for a support joist 4 to be defined consisting of a plurality of Z-shaped joists that extend substantially parallel and in a partial overlapping condition relative to each other. For example the Z-shapcd joist 4a is preferably and partially overlapped with the Z-shaped joist 4b and the Z-shapcd joist 4c. Such overlapped condition is for example shown with reference to Figure 6. The overlap region 40 of each of the adjacent Z-shaped joists preferably occurs at locations above where the Z-shaped joists are supported such as by for example the bearers 3. With such partial overlapping occurring at regions 40 such overlap provides improved bending characteristics of the support joist 4. Such improved bending characteristics of the overall 549056 support joist 4. Such improved bending characteristics allow for an increased spacing of adjacent beams 3 or other support provided to the support joist to be defined. Increased separation allows for a reduced support means to be provided for the support of the support joists. For example increased spacing between bearers 3 will allow for a reduced number of bearers to be used. Such improved bending characteristic is provided when compared to the variation where for example the support joists are provided abutting each other and mating at the bearers 3. 549056

Claims (15)

1. A fire-retardant elevated floor structure comprising: a plurality of parallel and spaced apart support joists, each support joist supported in an elevated condition above a foundation by support means; at least one fire retardant floor panel at least partially supported by and above the support joists; at least one ceiling panel engaged to and below the support joists to obscure the support joists and floor panel from below; wherein at least one support joist comprises of a plurality of partially overlapping and parallel Z-shaped joists

2. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Z-shaped joists are contiguous the at least one floor panels.

3. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one floor panel is a particle board panel.

4. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one of the floor panels is plywood.

5. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Z-shaped joists are Z-shaped in cross-section.

6. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein two or more of the fire retardant floor panel are provided wherein each is positioned on top of said support joists such that each of two parallel and opposed edges thereof are located contiguous a respective said support joist.

7. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein each fire retardant panel has each of two parallel and opposed edges parallel to and located on top of a respective said support joist.

8. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cciling panel is a gypsum based panel.

9. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means include at least one bearer on top of which the support joists are positioned.

10. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the support means also includes at least one post at or towards the upper distal end of which the bearer is affixed.

11. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the Z-shaped joists are of steel. Qg>- 549056 -7-

12. The fire-retardant elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 11 wherein the support means is of a kind providing point support to the support joists at intervals and wherein each support joist consists of at least two partially overlapping Z-shaped joists, an overlap provided at at least one of the points of support.

13. A building which includes a fire retardant elevated floor structure as herein before claimed.

14. An elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 and as herein before described.

15. An elevated floor structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 and as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Zb-tL day op AJ P^RK per agents~Por the applicant