Support Element for Supporting a Window Frame

Abstract

A strip-shaped support element for supporting a window frame comprises an intumescent material such as expandable graphite or sodium and/or potassium silicate. In particular, the support element comprises intumescent material on at least one surface, optionally on all surfaces, in a thickness of at least 0.25 mm.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a strip-shaped support element for supporting a window frame, especially an outer face wall installation casing.[0002]The invention also relates to a section of a building or a building comprising at least one support element and also the use of the support element for making a building fire-retardant, e.g., as a fire barrier, i.e., for preventing the spread of flames and / or smoke gas upward along the façade of the building, or in / on a composite thermal insulation system, and / or for decreasing the rise in temperature on the side of the support element facing away from the fire.[0003]Support elements for supporting a window frame, especially outer face wall installation casings, have been used for some years in conjunction with composite thermal insulation systems to extend a wall opening for a window artificially outward. According to EP 2 639 394 A2, a support part of rigid, load-bearing foam is screwed laterally to the wall and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0040]The support element is preferably configured so that the pressing direction P is perpendicular to the second side surface of the support element. The support element can in particular comprise rigid polyurethane foam, preferably with 5-10% of expandable graphite, obtainable by pressing a starting material in which expandable graphite flakes in a polyurethane and / or polyisocyanate matrix are pressed in a pressing direction P to obtain a bulk density of 500-600 kg / m3, wherein the pressing direction P is perpendicular to the second side surface of the support element. During a fire, this offers two essential advantages:

[0041]First, an especially thick insulating layer of expanded graphite is formed on the surface of the support element which is parallel to the second surface of the support element, namely, on the surface which is especially important for fire control, as described herein, especially for the prevention of the upward spread of flames. As a result, a burn-through is prevented or at least significantly delayed.

[0042]Second, expansion occurs toward the main wall and toward the outer wall; this expansion is sufficient to seal off any joints which may be present. Nevertheless, the expansion and thus also the pressure on the main wall or outer wall are weaker than they would be if the orientation of the support element were reversed. As a result, a lighter load is exerted on the structural integrity of the adjacent construction elements. During a fire, there is less movement in the body of the building. The formation of cracks in the outer wall, which could allow the fire to spread or parts of the building to fall down, is minimized.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with the use of a composite thermal insulation system (or external wall insulation system, EWIS), in which an outer wall installation casing is usually used, is the combustibility of frequently used insulation materials, which comprise, for example, rigid polystyrene foam such as rigid expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and rigid extruded polystyrene foam (XPS).

In particular, when a house is on fire, the flames can spread upward via the façade or possible gaps between the inner wall and the outer wall to the next-higher story, which can lead to the development of a chimney effect.

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