SMOKE VENT, ROOF COVERING INCORPORATING SUCH A VENT, AND ITS INSTALLATION METHOD

Abstract

A fume outlet (1) comprising a thermoplastic material capable of shrinking at a temperature of approximately 80°C, characterized in that it is directly composed of at least one sheet (10) with a roofing function, made of PET-G. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 5

Description

Title of the invention: SMOKE VENT, ROOF COVERING INCORPORATING SUCH AN VENT, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME

[0001] The invention relates to a smoke outlet.

[0002] A smoke vent is a safety device arranged on the roof of a building to ensure the evacuation of smoke, gases and heat in the event of a fire in the building.

[0003] A standard smoke vent is a skylight, comprising, on the one hand, a frame which is fixed to the roof covering, being specifically adapted to the type of covering and which delimits a passage opening for the smoke, and on the other hand, a panel for closing the opening, which is fixed to the frame. The closing panel is capable of being opened in the event of detection of significant heat or smoke, by being controlled manually or automatically. However, vents of this type require mechanized opening systems which are sometimes relatively complex, and above all need to be reliable.

[0004] It has also been described in the prior art, in particular in patent application FR2200419, an outlet whose closure panel, integral with the frame, is completely fixed and is made of a sheet of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is fusible at high temperatures. In contact with extreme heat, the PVC panel shrinks, causing its peripheral detachment from the frame of the frame and falls, leaving the opening free for the escape of fumes. However, such an outlet has several drawbacks. It remains a complex device to manufacture. In particular, the frame is made of different materials, and has various parts for its attachment to the roof covering and for ensuring the attachment of the closure panel. In particular, it has a frame which is specifically designed to facilitate the peripheral detachment of the panel when the latter retracts.In addition, the PVC panel requires a particular shape in order to provide sufficient mechanical resistance to hail and bad weather; it has a dome shape with several parts with spherical and substantially triangular geometry. Finally, the PVC material is relatively toxic under the effect of heat.

[0005] Furthermore, the aforementioned vents prove to be relatively expensive devices. However, for commercial or industrial establishments whose premises have a surface area of ​​more than 300 m2, it is mandatory to install smoke vents whose surface area represents at least 1 / 100th of the floor area of ​​the premises. Thus, for very large industrial buildings, the cost price of a roof is very quickly increased due to the significant number of outlets to be installed.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a wide variety of vent models to adapt to the type of roof covering and the different opening sizes, which implies the establishment of appropriate logistics for distributors, and requires storage locations with volumes adapted to the different models and the number of vents to be stored. In addition, the handling of these devices is tedious. Finally, the installation must be carried out by technicians who are separate from the roofers; the teams of the two trades - roofers and vent installation technicians - must therefore coordinate to carry out, on the one hand, the roof covering, and on the other hand, the installation of the vents.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to propose a smoke outlet which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular which is of simplified and less expensive manufacture, capable of being easily handled, and is easy and quick to install without requiring specific technical skills.

[0008] According to the invention, the smoke outlet comprises a thermoplastic material capable of shrinking at a temperature of the order of 80°C, and is characterized in that it is directly constituted by at least one sheet having a roof covering function and made of PET-G (copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate and cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM)). The term "made of PET-G" means that the entire sheet or part of the sheet is made of PET-G. The PET-G sheet having a roof covering function constitutes a smoke exhaust sheet in contact with an atmosphere reaching a temperature of the order of 80°C.

[0009] Thus, the smoke outlet is no longer a skylight but directly constitutes the roof covering. The smoke extraction device of the invention is therefore simple in design and comprises only one material; it does not require several types of materials such as for the frame and the closure plate, nor does it use an opening mechanism. This results in simplicity of manufacture and lower manufacturing costs. The applicant has surprisingly demonstrated that the PET-G material could be used in such a combined function, of roof covering and outlet, while being made integral with the rest of the roof covering usually made of metal sheet.It turns out unexpectedly that the outlet, although fixed in different places with screws like any metal cladding, will detach from the rest of the roof covering in the event of high temperatures being reached (around 80°C), and will thus provide escape openings. In addition, the outlet in the form of only sheet metal is easy to handle, can be installed at the same time as the rest of the roof covering and by the same trade, which saves time and installation costs. Furthermore, PET-G allows the sheets to be manufactured simply. by thermoforming whose geometric profile will correspond exactly to that of the rest of the roof covering. In addition, PET-G will allow the roofer to easily cut the sheets to the desired size directly on site, with simple tools such as a saw, and also to self-drill the sheet easily for its attachment to the building frame, in the same way as for the rest of the usual roof covering. PET-G provides the expected transparency when it comes to offering as an additional function, that of a skylight. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly, the sheets can be made from recycled PET-G, PET-G when melting does not produce odor or toxic gas, unlike PVC, and the residual material is recyclable.

[0010] According to one characteristic, the sheet has at least on its periphery, a profile capable of matching the profile of the roof covering into which the sheet is intended to be integrated.

[0011] Advantageously, the entire sheet has a corrugated or ribbed profile (of the trapezoidal type).

[0012] According to one characteristic, the sheet metal directly constituting the outlet has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably of the order of 2 mm.

[0013] Preferably, the sheet metal is transparent or translucent.

[0014] Preferably, the PET-G material of the sheet is treated to be ultraviolet resistant.

[0015] The invention also relates to a roof covering comprising at least one aforementioned outlet of the invention and other covering sheets made of a material different from that of the outlet sheet, such as metal sheets or plastic sheets of the polyester type reinforced with glass fibers.

[0016] Advantageously, said at least one sheet of the outlet is coplanar with the other covering sheets. The roof remains aesthetic without any device protruding from it.

[0017] The invention also relates to the use of at least one thermoplastic sheet for covering a roof, characterized in that said at least one thermoplastic sheet is made of PET-G (in particular softening at a temperature of the order of 80°C) and is used as a smoke outlet. The covering sheet thus also has the function of evacuating the smoke when it is in contact with heat of the order of 80°C; the sheet softens, curls up and, being fixed only punctually, it continues its deformation, generating various openings until it collapses under the weight and falls to provide a gaping opening for evacuating the smoke.

[0018] Finally, the invention relates to a method of installing an outlet according to the invention in a roof, the method being characterized in that said at least one outlet sheet is positioned on the roof frame (purlins) and other adjacent roofing sheets separate from the outlet sheet are positioned to cover the periphery of the outlet sheet, then fixing means of the usual type, in particular comprising self-drilling screws, are implemented to pass through the other roofing sheets and the outlet sheet (positioned at its periphery under said other adjacent sheets). The method of installing an outlet of the invention is therefore simple and quick to implement by being mounted and fixed like any roof cladding, without requiring complex interface parts.

[0019] Characteristics and other advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: - [Fig.l] or [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a smoke outlet according to the invention, consisting of at least one PET-G roof covering sheet with a geometry with a corrugated profile. - [Fig.2] or [Fig.2] is a variant of [Fig.l], according to a ribbed profile of sheet metal. - [Fig.3] or [Fig.3] represents a perspective and top view of a roof covering incorporating several outlets of [Fig.l]. - [Fig.4] or [Fig.4] corresponds to a view from below of the roof of [Fig.3], from inside a building. - [Fig.5] or [Fig.5] is a perspective view from above and in detail of a part of the cover according to the invention. - [Fig.6] or [Fig.6] shows a partial schematic sectional view of the fixing of the outlet of the invention, the sheet of which has a corrugated profile, with another covering sheet of the usual type also having a corrugated profile. - [Fig.7] or [Fig.7] corresponds to [Fig.6] with a ribbed sheet metal profile for the outlet and the adjacent standard roofing sheet.

[0020] The outlet 1 of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is intended to be inserted into a covering 2 of a roof 3 as shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[0021] According to the invention, the outlet 1 directly constitutes part of the cover 2. The outlet 1 forms a continuous surface with the rest of the cover. The outlet 1 does not form any part projecting from the rest of the cover 2. The outlet 1 is a smoke evacuation sheet 10 which is made of thermoplastic material capable of softening and shrinking at a temperature of the order of 80°C, in particular at 82°C or 83°C.

[0022] The cover 2 comprises preferably metal sheets 20 for standard cover and at least one smoke evacuation sheet 10 with an additional function, that of the outlet. The usual covering sheets 20 are referred to in the remainder of the description as “metal sheets” although they may be made of another material, for example glass fiber reinforced polyester. The usual covering sheets 20 and the smoke evacuation sheets 10 are coplanar.

[0023] The metal sheets 20 are preferably of the corrugated profile type as shown in Figures 3 to 6, or of the ribbed profile of the trapezoidal type ([Fig.7]). The outlet 1 is arranged between these metal sheets 20 at the location intended to constitute a smoke exhaust opening in the event of fire or heat reaching a temperature of the order of 80°C.

[0024] When the outlet 1 fulfills its role in working use, that is to say in the event of fire or heat reaching a temperature of the order of 80°C on the side of the inner face of said at least one smoke evacuation sheet 10 of the roof 2 (the face on the inside of the building as visible in [Fig. 4]), said at least one smoke evacuation sheet 10 softens, deforms by shrinking, deteriorates and ends up falling. The outlet 1 of the invention can be easily replaced during the renovation of the roof covering, by integrating one or more new smoke evacuation sheets 10 and by changing the adjacent metal sheets 20.

[0025] The surface area of ​​the smoke evacuation sheet 10 and the number of smoke evacuation sheets 10 depend on the size of the building to be protected.

[0026] Advantageously, the entire outlet 1 (the entire smoke evacuation sheet 10) is made of PET-G. If PET-G is usually used for food packaging, the applicant has demonstrated that this material is suitable for a completely different use which is a combined use, on the one hand, as a roof covering outside the working use of a smoke outlet, and on the other hand, as a smoke outlet in working use when the sheet is in contact with an atmosphere reaching a temperature of the order of 80°C.

[0027] Preferably, the smoke exhaust sheet 10 is transparent or translucent, so as to constitute a light well for the building. Preferably, the PET-G is treated to be resistant to ultraviolet rays.

[0028] The smoke exhaust sheet 10 has a surface area slightly larger than that corresponding to the final smoke exhaust opening that the outlet 1 must have. In fact, the smoke exhaust sheet 10 has its peripheral surface 11 which is used for fixing the sheet and is intended to be covered by the adjacent metal sheets 20 of the cover 2 ([Fig.5]). The smoke exhaust sheet 10 is capable of being cut on site, in particular using a saw-type tool, to correspond to the surface area of ​​the outlet 1. The desired outlet surface area is thus adapted on site. This advantage of easy cutting also makes it possible to design the desired outlet geometry, to have various shapes such as a circular shape, rectangular, square, or any other polygonal shape.

[0029] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the outlet 1 is intended to be fixed directly on the frame 4 of the roof, with the same type of fixing means 5 as for fixing the metal sheets 20. The fixing means 5 are of the usual type. They include, for example, self-drilling screws 50, sealing washers 51, and bridges 52.

[0030] The outlet 1 is intended, at least at its periphery 11, to match the profile of the covering 2. The method of installing and fixing the outlet 1 is implemented concomitantly and in continuity with the installation of the entire covering 2 of the roof 3 (figures 3 and 5), and this by the same person. The method of installing and fixing the vent is carried out as follows: the smoke exhaust sheet 10 is positioned on the roof frame and the adjacent metal sheets 20 are positioned to cover the periphery 11 of the smoke exhaust sheet 10, then usual fixing means 5 comprising self-drilling screws are used to pass through the metal sheets 20 and the smoke exhaust sheet 10, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. By fixing the metal sheets 20 of the roof, the vent 1 is also directly fixed to the frame and the rest of the roof covering.Depending on the surface area of ​​the outlet, fixing means 5 can also be arranged not only on the periphery 11 but also on the central surface of the outlet ([Fig.3]) to cooperate with the framework arranged below and supporting the smoke evacuation sheet(s) 10. The outlet 1, acting directly as a part of the cover 2, is therefore simple and quick to install.

Claims

Claims

1. Use of at least one sheet (10) of thermoplastic material for covering (2) a roof (3), said at least one sheet (10) of thermoplastic material being made of PET-G, characterized in that the PET-G sheet is used as a smoke outlet (1), the PET-G material shrinking to form a smoke exhaust opening in the event of fire or heat reaching a temperature of the order of 80°C.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet metal (10) has at least on its periphery (11), a profile capable of matching the profile of the roof covering into which the sheet metal is intended to be integrated.

3. Use according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the entire sheet metal (10) has a corrugated or ribbed profile.

4. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet metal (10) has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably of the order of 2 mm.

5. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet metal (10) is transparent or translucent.

6. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the PET-G material of the sheet (10) is treated to be resistant to ultraviolet rays.

7. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roof covering comprises other covering sheets (20) made of a material different from that of the sheet (10) of the outlet, such as metal sheets or sheets made of plastic of the polyester type reinforced with glass fibers.

8. Use according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one sheet (10) of the outlet (1) is coplanar with the other cover sheets (20).

9. Use according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said at least one sheet (10) of the outlet is positioned on the frame (4) of the roof (3) and other adjacent covering sheets (20) distinct from the sheet (10) of the outlet are positioned to cover the periphery (11) of the sheet of the outlet, fixing means (5) of the usual type, in particular comprising self-drilling screws (50), being implemented to pass through said other covering sheets (20) and the sheet (10) of the outlet.

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