GB2368001A - Fireproof cabinets - Google Patents

Abstract

A metallic fireproof cabinet for video cassettes includes a plurality of internally mounted shelves supporting one or more channelled structures to receive and retain video cassettes. All spaces between adjoining surfaces of the cabinet doors and the frame(s) therefor and channels of the cassette supporting structure are coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the event of fire.

Description

FIREPROOF CABINETS This invention relates to fireproof cabinets and more particularly to metallic fireproof cabinets for storing video cassettes.

When combusted video cassettes give off substantial volumes of toxic fumes and explosive heat. It has been established, for example, that the volume of toxic fumes given off by twenty video cassettes when combusted is equivalent to the volume of the toxic fumes and explosive heat given off by five or more polyurethane foam filled armchairs of the type banned in many countries when subjected to fire. It is therefore important that video cassettes are stored in such a way that they do not combust in the event of a fire.

In one aspect the invention provides a metallic fireproof cabinet for storing video cassettes having floor, ceiling, rear and side panels joined to define an integral structure, a front panel comprising one or more hinged or slidably mounted lockable doors which provide access to the cabinet interior, and one or more shelves each including or carrying a slotted structure having a plurality of pairs of neighbouring upstanding partitions spaced apart to receive and retain a video cassette, one or more of the interior panel walls or parts thereof and/or the or each shelf or part thereof and/or the slotted structure or parts thereof being coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire or excessive heat.

For cabinets in which the or each door is supported by hinges, the hinges are preferably located within suitable dimensioned rebates coated or covered with material which intumesces in the event of fire or excessive heat. Intumescent and/or smoke seals may be provided between the adjoining surfaces of the or each door and the respective door frame. Examples of such intumescent seals and smoke seals are marketed by the applicant.

For cabinets in which the or each door is slidably mounted, channels which facilitate the sliding movement are preferably lined or coated with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire or excessive heat. Intumescent and/or smoke seals may be provided between the adjoining surfaces of the or each door and the respective door frame. Examples of such intumescent seals and smoke seals are marketed by the applicant.

The metallic fireproof cabinet may be housed within a suitably dimensioned outer cabinet produced from wood or other suitable material having, for example, an aesthetically appealing appearance. The positions of the doors of the outer cabinet will generally complement the positions of the doors of the fireproof cabinet, the respective dimensions being such that the doors of the outer cabinet can only be closed when the doors of the metallic cabinet are properly closed and/or locked. An alarm comprising, for example, an externally visible warning light may be provided to indicate whether or not the doors of the metallic cabinet are properly closed.

The fireproof cabinet may be produced from steel, especially powder coated steel or galvanised steel. Other suitable materials may, however, be employed.

The intumescent material may comprise ceramic paper or a sheet containing or impregnated with an intumescent substance. The intumescent substance may comprise an alkaline metal silicate or exfoliating graphite. A preferred alkaline metal silicate is sodium silicate. This may be applied to the surface of the respective material as a solution. Alternatively, the material may be in sheet or strip form. The precise concentration of intumescent substance employed will depend inter alia upon the degree of intumescence and longevity of fire protection required.

In another aspect, the invention provides a metallic fireproof cabinet for video cassettes which includes a plurality of internally mounted shelves supporting one or more channelled structures to receive and retain video cassettes, all spaces between adjoining surfaces of the cabinet doors and the frame (s) therefor and channels of the cassette supporting structure being coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the event of fire.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metallic fireproof cabinet in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates an outer cabinet for housing the cabinet illustrated in Figure 1.

The cabinet illustrated in Figure 1 is produced from powder-coated or galvanised steel and includes floor 1, ceiling 2, rear 3 and side panels 4 joined to define an integral structure. The connections between the respective panels are sealed against ingress of flames and smoke. The front of the cabinet is closed by doors 5 (shown in broken line) which provide access to the cabinet interior. These doors may be supported by hinges set in rebates formed in the supporting frame and coated or covered with an intumescent containing substance to prevent the ingress of flames to the cabinet interior in the event of a fire. Alternatively, the doors may be slidably mounted, the guideways or channels in which the door edges slide being coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the event of a fire. In each case, fire and smoke seals are provided between the adjoining surfaces of the doors and the frame to prevent the ingress of flame and smoke to the cabinet interior.

Shelves 6 are mounted internally within the cabinet. Only two shelves are shown in Figure 1. A greater number of shelves can, of course, be provided. These carry one or more slotted structures 7 each including a plurality of channels bordered by upstanding partitions 8, the distance between neighbouring partitions being slightly greater than the respective dimension of a video cassette to be stored within the cabinet. The shelves and/or the channels of the slotted structures may be coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the event of fire. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the internal panel walls may be coated or covered with such a material.

The intumescent material may comprise ceramic paper or a sheet containing or impregnated with an intumescent substance. The intumescent substance may comprise an alkaline metal silicate or exfoliating graphite. A preferred alkaline metal silicate is sodium silicate. This may be applied to the surface of the respective material as a solution. Alternatively, the material may be in sheet or strip form. The precise concentration of intumescent substance employed will depend inter alia upon the degree of intumescence and longevity of fire protection required.

The metallic fireproof cabinet may be housed within a more decorative and aesthetically appealing outer cabinet 9 as shown in Figure 2. The respective dimensions of the two cabinets are such that the doors of the outer cabinet 9 can only be closed in the event that the doors of the metallic cabinet are properly closed. A lock 10 is provided to ensure proper closing of the doors of the fireproof cabinet.

An externally visible warning light 11 may be provided to indicate whether or not the doors of the fireproof cabinet are properly closed.

In use, in the event of fire the interior of the fireproof cabinet is sealed through rapid expansion of the intumescent material. Combustion of the cassettes is therefore prevented.

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

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A metallic fireproof cabinet for storing video cassettes having floor, ceiling, rear and side panels joined to define an integral structure, a front panel comprising one or more hinged or slidably mounted lockable doors which provide access to the cabinet interior, and one or more shelves each including or carrying a slotted structure having a plurality of pairs of neighbouring upstanding partitions spaced apart to receive and retain a video cassette, one or more of the interior panel walls or parts thereof and/or the or each shelf or part thereof and/or the slotted structure or parts thereof being coated or covered with an intumescent material which intumesces in the presence of fire or excessive heat.
2. 2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein fire and/or smoke seals are provided between the adjoining surfaces of the or each door and the respective door frame.
3. 3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the or each door is slidably mounted, wherein channels which facilitate the sliding movement are lined or coated with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire or excessive heat.
4. 4. A cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which is housed within a suitably dimensioned outer cabinet having doors whose positions complement the positions of the doors of the outer cabinet will generally complement the positions of the doors of the fireproof cabinet, the respective dimensions being such that the doors of the outer cabinet can only be closed when the doors of the metallic cabinet are properly closed and/or locked.
5. 5. A cabinet as claimed in claim 4 wherein an externally visible warning light is provided to indicate whether or not the doors of the metallic cabinet are properly closed.
6. 6. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims produced from powder coated steel or galvanised steel.
7. 7. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the intumescent material comprises a ceramic sheet containing or impregnated with an intumescent substance.
8. 8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 7 wherein the intumescent substance comprises an alkaline metal silicate or exfoliating graphite.
9. 9. A metallic fireproof cabinet for video cassettes which includes a plurality of internally mounted shelves supporting one or more channelled structures to receive and retain video cassettes, all spaces between adjoining surfaces of the cabinet doors and the frame (s) therefor and channels of the cassette supporting structure being coated or covered with a material which intumesces in the event of fire.
10. 10. A metallic fireproof cabinet as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.