GB2564487A

GB2564487A - Fire barriers

Info

Publication number: GB2564487A
Application number: GB1711378.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Ward Derek
Original assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-14
Filing date: 2017-07-14
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Also published as: GB201711378D0

Abstract

A fire barrier for a building comprises one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one side with a coating of a material which intumesces in the event of fire. When the intumescent material is activated, the cloth provides a barrier through which fire is unable to pass for a period in excess of 90 minutes. A means, such as an adhesive, for securing the impregnated sheet or sheets to the outer surface of each external wall of the building is also disclosed. The sheet is preferably formed from a reinforced glass fibre cloth and may be coated on a second side with a waterproofed material. An array of sponge blocks coated in an intumescent material may be used in combination with the cloth. A method of protecting a multi-storey building is also disclosed.

Description

FIRE BARRIERS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus and a method for providing enhanced protection against the spread of fire and smoke in a building, particularly a multi-floored 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-floored 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 100 minutes protection against the spread of fire and smoke thereby providing additional time, if necessary, 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 side with a coating of a material which intumesces in the event of fire to produce a barrier through which fire is unable to pass for a period in excess of 90 minutes, and means for securing said impregnated sheet or sheets (or individual pieces produced from said sheet or sheets) to the outer surface of each external wall of the building and around each window, door or other opening formed in said external surface to define a continuous firebreak for the building.

Preferably, the sheet or sheets of cloth material are coated only on that side which, in use, lies in contact with the exterior 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 cloth material may comprise a water proofed cloth impregnated on one side with an intumescent coating as supplied by the Applicant under its ENVIROGRAF (RTM) brand and fire tested under EN1364-1 2015 for a period of 100 minutes. The coating may comprise a coating also supplied by the Applicant under its ENVIROGRAF brand.

Typically the cloth is a PU glass cloth impregnated with a coating of intumescent material on one side and coated on its other side with a water proofing material.

The sheet or sheets of intumescent impregnated cloth are preferably secured to the outer face of each external wall of the building and around each opening formed in said external wall with an intumescent containing adhesive such as that supplied by the Applicant.

For buildings which are externally clad with tiles or sheets of decorative material, the sheet or sheets of intumescent material are positioned between the backing sheets of aluminium or other material to which the cladding is secured and the outer surface of each external wall of the building.

All glass panels and windows of a building are preferably coated with a coating such as that supplied by the Applicant as xyz coating.

In another aspect, the invention provides a fire barrier for a building in the form of a sheet or assembly of sheets of a cloth material which is coated on at least one side with a coating which intumesces in the event of fire to provide a barrier to the spread of fire and smoke, and means for attaching said sheet or sheets to the outer face of each external wall of the building and to the perimeters of each opening formed in each said external wall.

An array of blocks or sheets of sponge material coated on all sides with a coating of an intumescent material may be positioned alongside the inner surfaces of each outer wall of the building to provide an additional fire and smoke barrier for the building.

The sponge material may be non-fibrous and may comprise a high density fibre-free sponge and may be secured to neighbouring blocks or sheets using a jointing compound. The thickness of such sheets or blocks is typically 40 or 50mm and the height/width dimensions are typically 1 meter by 2 meters.

These blocks or sheets may comprise the blocks or sheets supplied by the Applicant under its designations FCS1/30 and FCS2/40.

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 outer surface of each external wall of the building, said first barrier comprising one or an assembly of sheets of a cloth material coated on at least one side with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire to provide a first barrier to the spread of fire and smoke within the building, and a second barrier poisoned alongside the inner surface of each external wall of the building, said second barrier comprising a plurality of individual blocks of a sponge or like material coated on all surfaces with a liquid intumescent material.

Preferably, the intumescent coating is that supplied by the Applicant under the trade name ENVIROGRAF (RTM).

The second barrier is preferably spaced from the first barrier with fire proofed cavity barriers extending between the inner surface of the external wall and the second barrier.

The cavity barriers are preferably coated with or comprise strips of an intumescent material.

In a still further embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of protecting a multi-story building in the event of a fire comprise the steps of securing to each external wall of the building one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one side with a coating which intumesces in the event of a fire to produce a barrier through which fire is unable to pass for a period in excess of 90 minutes, said sheets being secured to the outer face of each external wall and around each window and door opening formed in said external wall to define a continuous firebreak.

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. A suitable intumescent impregnated cloth is supplied by the Applicant under the designation FB30.

The cloth sheet barrier is attached to the entire outer surface of each external wall of the building with its coated surface in contact with the external surface of the 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 extend 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 comprising one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one side with a coating of a material which intumesces in the event of fire to produce a barrier through which fire is unable to pass for a period in excess of 90 minutes, and means for securing said impregnated sheet or sheets (or individual pieces produced from said sheet or sheets) to the outer surface of each external wall of the building and around each window, door or other opening formed in said external surface to define a continuous firebreak for the building.

2. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheet or sheets of cloth material are coated only on that side which, in use, lies in contact with the exterior wall of the building.

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

4. A fire barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cloth material comprises a water proofed cloth impregnated on one side with an intumescent coating. Typically the cloth is a PU glass cloth impregnated with a coating of intumescent material on one side and coated on its other side with a water proofing material.

5. A fire barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet or sheets of intumescent impregnated cloth are secured to the outer face of each external wall of the building and around each opening formed in said external wall with an intumescent containing adhesive.

6. A fire barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, for buildings which are externally clad with tiles or sheets of decorative material, the sheet or sheets of intumescent material are positioned between the backing sheets to which the cladding is secured and the outer surface of each external wall of the building.

7. A fire barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein all glass panels and windows of a building are preferably coated with a coating which includes an intumescent material.

8. A fire barrier for a building in the form of a sheet or assembly of sheets of a cloth material which is coated on at least one side with a coating which intumesces in the event of fire to provide a barrier to the spread of fire and smoke, and means for attaching said sheet or sheets to the outer face of each external wall of the building and to the perimeters of each opening formed in each said external wall.

9. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein an array of blocks or sheets of sponge material coated on all sides with a coating of an intumescent material is positioned alongside the inner surfaces of each outer wall of the building to provide an additional fire and smoke barrier for the building.

10. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 9 wherein the sponge material comprises a high density fibre-free sponge.

11. A fire barrier as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the thickness of blocks or sheets or blocks is between 40 and 50mm and the height/width of each sheet or block 1 meter by 2 meters.

12. A fire barrier for a building, especially a multi-storied building, said barrier comprising in combination a first barrier positioned alongside the outer surface of each external wall of the building, said first barrier comprising one or an assembly of sheets of a cloth material coated on at least one side with a material which intumesces in the presence of fire to provide a first barrier to the spread of fire and smoke within the building, and a second barrier poisoned alongside the inner surface of each external wall of the building, said second barrier comprising a plurality of individual blocks of a sponge or like material coated on all surfaces with a liquid intumescent material.

13. A method of protecting a multi-story building in the event of a fire comprise the steps of securing to each external wall of the building one or more sheets of cloth material impregnated on one side with a coating which intumesces in the event of a fire to produce a barrier through which fire is unable to pass for a period in excess of 90 minutes, said sheets being secured to the outer face of each external wall and around each window and door opening formed in said external wall to define a continuous firebreak.