Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Framing to receive door – doorjamb – or window sash
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-26
2001-12-11
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Framing to receive door, doorjamb, or window sash
C052S204500, C052S232000, C052S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327826
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a structural frame member used in particular but not exclusively in the construction of window frames, door frames and door leaves.
In the United Kingdom, a British Standard exists, BS 476 Part 20 and Part 22, which stipulates the necessary requirements for achieving a fire rating and a 30 minute fire rating is a common fire rating required for windows or door assemblies to be used in public buildings.
Structural frame members are known which are extruded from heat meltable materials, such as plastics, in particular polyvinylchloride or metals such as aluminium.
Since these materials melt with heat, they normally exhibit poor fire rating characteristics when exposed to fire conditions, say in a building. For example a window assembly including a frame constructed from members of polyvinylchloride normally may only have a fire rating of less than 10 minutes.
It is a general aim of the present invention to provide a structural frame member formed from a heat meltable material and which enables a window or door assembly to be constructed therefrom and achieve a much longer fire rating than heretofore.
Another general aim of the present invention is to provide a method of enhancing the performance of an otherwise heat meltable material in the form of a structural member so as to achieve a recognizable fire rating of at least 30 minutes under the conditions of relevant international fire test standards.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a structural frame member including an elongate body extruded from a heat meltable material, the body including longitudinally extending cavities and intumescent material located in selected cavities.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame assembly comprising a non combustible rigid filler sheet supported within a surrounding support frame, the support frame comprising lengths of the structural frame member as defined above jointed together.
Preferably the intumescent material is located in primary cavities positioned directly inbetween the edge of the filler sheet and the surrounding supporting structure to which the support frame is secured, the amount of intumescent material within the primary cavities being such that on intumescence, the foamed intumescent material acts to provide a compressive force on the filler sheet for providing structural support for the filler sheet after softening/melting of the heat meltable material.
In addition to or as an alternative to locating intumescent material within said primary cavities, intumescent material is located within secondary cavities located to one side of the primary cavities, the amount of intumescent material in each of said secondary cavities being such that after intumescing the intumesced material substantially fills each cavity and thereby provides a heat insulative barrier.
Preferably the intumescent material located in each cavity is in strip form and is preferably encapsulated in an extruded sheath, as an assembly aid, formed from a compatible plastics material, preferably polyvinylchloride. Alternatively, an intumescent paste or mastic may be injected into each cavity.
Preferably the intumescent material is a hydrated sodium silicate. Preferably the lengths of the structural frame member are jointed together by welding the lengths together. The heat meltable material such as polyvinylchloride is preferably thermally welded, but chemical welding is also envisaged.
In the case of a window assembly, the filler sheet may be any suitable pane of glass but is preferably wire reinforced or chemically or physically modified in order to provide sufficient fire resistance commensurate with the frame. The filler sheet may comprise single or multiple panes of glass.
In the case of a door assembly, the filler sheet may comprise one or more panes of glass and/or may comprise any suitable non-combustible sheet material suitable for door constructions, eg. gypsum, calcium silicate or vermiculite based board.
The heat meltable material is chosen so as to be sufficiently rigid to provide structural support under normal operating conditions, e.g. at temperatures less than 50° C.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a structural frame member including extruding a frame body from a heat meltable material so as to include longitudinally extending cavities, and subsequently inserting intumescent material into selected cavities. Preferably the intumescent material is in strip form and is longitudinally inserted into said selected cavities.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4189520 (1980-02-01), Gauchel
patent: 4603524 (1986-08-01), Mann
patent: 5355654 (1994-10-01), Stanley
patent: 5651223 (1997-07-01), Novak et al.
patent: 5687532 (1997-11-01), Torrey
patent: 5740635 (1998-04-01), Gil
patent: 5884683 (1999-03-01), Sears
patent: 5983570 (1999-11-01), Brown
Callo Laura A.
Lorient Polyproducts Limited
Wille Paul F.
LandOfFree
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