Fire-resistant open joint structure and its method

Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Including design feature accommodating dimensional variation...

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Details

52235, 52305, 52396, 52403, E04B 168, E04B 170

Patent

active

048256170

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in the open joint method for a precast concrete curtain wall and, more particularly, to the fire-resistant open joint structure and its method for joining. In particular, a vertical joint is adapted to make the precast concrete curtain wall thinner, that is, such a joint, particularly a vertical joint, is formed between panels, a panel and a sash or a panel and a structural frame.


DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a so-called open joint method has been adopted as a watertight method for precast concrete curtain walls. This open joint method is capable of smoothly discharging rainwater driven in through a joint by having an opening with a gap of an appropriate width in the joint so as to have an isobaric space therein. This isobaric space has no pressure differential from the outside. Heretofore, as shown in FIG. 11, a method has been adopted which uses a double seal method that is constructed so as to prevent water from penetrating into the joint by filling up the front portion of a joint S with a gun grade sealant (1) on to a backing material (2) and mounting a preformed elastic sealant (3) at the back of the joint to form a watertight layer. However, if the life of the sealant is relatively shorter than that of the precast concrete curtain wall or the like and defects occur in the seal (for instance, interlaminar deviations or other problems), water driven in through the joint may created a pressure differential within the joint and thereby cause water leakage.
As shown in FIG. 12, the open joint method exhibits a watertight effect by an isobaric space BS. The isobaric space, however, is open to the exterior so that it may become a passage through which fire flames could enter. In this case, only a wind barrier (5) mounted at the back of the joint is not satisfactory for fire-resistant performance so that the exterior walls need to be thick enough for fire resistance. In particular, the vertical joint is not provided with a flashing (6) as is used in a horizontal joint, as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, the improvements for the vertical joint in fire-resistant performance are restricted. Of course, as shown in FIG. 11, such fire-resistant performance can be provided on the vertical joint if a fire-resistant material (4) would be filled in the joint. It is to be understood, however, that this loses the meaning of the open joint method which utilizes the isobaric space.


OBJECT OF INVENTION

The present invention has an object of providing a fire-resistant open joint structure and its construction method designed to provide fire-resistant performance while maintaining a watertight effect achieved by the open joint method without becoming an obstacle to the construction of the open joint method, in view of the current situation in which the open joint method is being adopted in the construction of precast concrete curtain walls and the like. Such an open joint structure will create the starting point for making a thinner wall plate.
As a result of extensive studies on open joint systems with the goal of obtaining both fire-resistant properties and watertight properties, the present invention was completed on the basis that a fire could be blocked completely without hindering the functions originated from the isobaric space in the open joint method by dividing an isobaric space formed outside a wind barrier in a vertical joint by mounting a heat barrier plate with through-holes in the joint into front and rear spaces. The first isobaric space is designed so as to be capable of blocking a fire between the exterior side of the exterior wall and the heat barrier plate, on the one hand, and the second isobaric space is designed so as to be capable of blocking radiant heat from the heat barrier plate between the heat barrier plate and the wind barrier by way of convection caused in the air layer. Thus, rainwater penetrating through the joint from outside the exterior wall is blocked by the first and second isobaric spaces and the

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