A fire curtain with an integrated seal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire curtain 20 with an integrated seal 21 comprising a sheet of fire-retardant material wherein at least one edge of the fire curtain has a seal comprising at least

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fire curtain, in particular a fire curtain with a seal to prevent passage of smoke and hot gasses. Background It is common for fire curtains to be provided across large openings such as doors, lift doors, corridors and in particular in areas of a building where it is important to maintain a safe exit route should a fire break out. A fire curtain is intended to prevent or significantly limit spread of smoke ad hit gasses and minimise the spread of fire from one area to another. A fire curtain typically runs a long a rail and the curtain and / or rail includes a seal to help reduce passage of smoke and hot gases past the curtain, in particular when a curtain receives an impact such as from objections or force from an explosion. The fire curtains are only deployed on the occasion of a fire and therefore it can be difficult to include a reliable seal that is effective when the curtain is deployed from a stowed location. The present invention integrates a reliable seal with the curtain that engages with a guide rail to form an effective seal. Prior Art GB2610823 (MACKIE) discloses a smoke barrier apparatus. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire curtain with an integrated seal comprising a sheet of fire retardant material wherein at least one edge of the fire curtain has a seal comprising at least two bifurcated portions for engaging with one or more surface to form a seal. In this way the at least two bifurcated portions provide a substantially X-shaped configuration that acts with the fire curtain to prevent passage of smoke and / or hot gasses into a guide rail through which edges of the fire curtain are arranged when deployed. Advantageously the orientation of the arms ensures that even upon receipt of an impact against the fire curtain the arms of the seal engage with one or more surface to create an effective seal. The term fire curtain is intended to cover any curtain used for the prevent of spread of fire and / or smoke and hot gasses by creating a barrier. The term fire curtain is used throughout the application, but it is appreciated that this term is synonymous with the term smoke curtain for the purpose of this application. The seal has at least two bifurcated portions and thereby has at least four individual arms that are each intended to engage with a surface to create a seal. The arms of each bifurcated portion preferably extend at an acute angle relative to the plane of the fire curtain, so that the seal can be readily rolled in a flat configuration in which the arms are substantially parallel to the fire curtain, when in a stowed configuration such as when rolled on a reel. Preferably the arms are biased so that a distal end of each arm is spaced apart from the fire curtain when deployed. In this way the arms of the seal can lie parallel to the fire curtain when stowed, such as when rolled on a reel, and when deployed the distal ends of the arms displace away from the fire curtain where the arms are attached at a proximal end to create the X-shaped formation. In a preferred embodiment the seal is provided along each of a pair of parallel edges of the fire curtain that are received in a guide rail in use. A seal extends along the length of each edge so that a continuous seal with the guide rail is created along each side of a passageway. The distal ends of the arms of the bifurcated portions of the seal provide an effective seal with the guide rail to prevent spread of smoke and hot gasses beyond the fire curtain. Preferably the seal is formed from a fire retardant, flexible material so that the seal can flex upon movement and in particular impact to create a seal. Preferably the seal is formed from the same material as the fire curtain. Ideally the arms of that form the bifurcated portions of the seal are stitched to the fire curtain using fire retardant thread to provide an effective connection. The position and type of stitching used may help to displace the arms from the fire curtain when deployed. For example a line of straight stitching may be used to attach arms of the seal. Typically the arms of the seal are stitched to the face of the curtain by at least one line of stitching along a line at which the arm(s) can fold / pivot with respect to fire curtain. In this way each arm is able to pivot at a proximal end so that a distal end displaces from the fire curtain to be lifted from the fire curtain and thereby in the optimal position to form a seal. Stitching along this line may also help to form the arms into the substantially X-shaped configuration as the fire curtain and arms are pinched together along the stitch line(s) which may encourage the arms of the seal to lift away from the fire curtain slightly. It is appreciated that the seal may be formed in various different configurations. For example two pieces of material may be attached, one on either face of the fire curtain with a stitch line down a mid-region of each piece of material to provide two arms that define a bifurcated portion on each face of the curtain to form a substantially X-shaped seal. Alternatively four separate pieces of material (arms) may be arranged on the fire curtain and stitched to the fire curtain to form two bifurcated portions, each having two arms. In some embodiments the arms on each opposed face of the fire curtain are aligned so that the same line of stitching can be used to connect the arms to the fire curtain, thereby making manufacture quicker and keeping weight and costs to a minimum. It is appreciated that the seal, and in particular the arms of the seal, may be pre-shaped, for example to have a fold line along which the stitching is provided so that the arms are biased to slightly raised from the fire curtain when deployed. In some embodiments the arms may be of different lengths in order to effectively engage with a surface to prevent passage of smoke and hot gasses. In other embodiments the arms may be of the same length or of different lengths depending on how the fire curtain is stored and deployed. It is appreciated that the lengths of the arms may depend on the guide rails in which the fire curtain is deployed along. Preferably the fire curtain has plurality of stoppers along an edge of the fire curtain. The stoppers act to prevent the fire curtain from being pulled from a channel along which the fire curtain is positioned in use when closing a passageway such as a corridor. In preferred embodiments the parallel edges of the fire curtain include a stopper such a as a nut and bolt or studs passing through the fire curtain, that act to stop the fire curtain from being completely pulled from the channels when an object impacts the fire curtain during a fire or due to an explosion. It is appreciated that a series of stoppers may be spread along an edge of the fire curtain to help maintain fire curtain placement during impact and during deployment and retraction. The presence of the stoppers may also help guide the fire curtain through the channels and to keep the fire curtain taut. In some embodiments the at least two bifurcated portions of the seal run along an outer perimeter edge of the fire curtain. For an embodiment of the invention that includes stoppers, the seal is thereby laterally spaced to an outer edge of the curtain that is outside of a line of stoppers that are laterally spaced away from the perimeter edge of the fire curtain. In another embodiment that includes a row of stoppers on the fire curtain, the seal may be arranged to be laterally spaced inside of the stoppers (as opposed to the beforementioned alterative), so that the seal engages with the channel before the stoppers. In either arrangement it is appreciated that arms of the seal are dimensioned to be able to be in contact with a surface, such as the inner surface(s) of a guide rail. In yet a further embodiment the seal has at least one bifurcated portion on an outer perimeter edge of the fire curtain and at least one bifurcated portion laterally spaced inwards relative to a stopper or row of stoppers so that there is at least one bifurcated portion each lateral side of the stopper or row of stoppers. The configuration of the seal having displaceable arms helps to ensure that the arms of the seal can be easily located through a channel in a guide rail to engage with one or more surface when force is applied against a face of the fire curtain. Furthermore the orientation of the arms of the seal being arranged to extend from a face of the fire curtain and being lifted at a distal end means that one arm of the seal will always catch on the opening to the channel through which the fire curtain is deployed and held in place. Therefore the seal can also act to prevent lateral displacement of the edge of the fire curtain from the channel. This may be in addition to having stoppers or as an alternative. Keeping the fire curtain within the guides improves the fire integrity of the assembly by stopping the spread of fire to ensure fire compartmentation. The fire curtain with integrated seal is usually part of a fire prevention system to close a passageway and limit air leakage and thereby spread of smoke and hot gases, in particular when force is applied to the fire curtain. The fire curtain is arranged in a frame, typically comprising a head box and guide rails so that the fire curtain can be deployed from the head box when required to close and seal a passageway if a fire breaks out. It is appreciated that in some embodiments the fire curtain may have bifurcated portions with more than two arms forming each. This may help to provide improved sealing capability of enable contact with a great range of surfaces. It is also appreciated that the arms may be provided in different shapes. For example an arm may be straight, curved, concertina or undulating. In yet further embodiments a distal tip of each arm may be adapted to form an improved seal with a surface. For example a distal tip may be coated in a later of material to enhance grip or distal tips may be frayed to provide a greater surface area. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a top view of a fire curtain with a seal arranged on an outer perimeter edge of the fire curtain; Figure 2 shows a top view of a fire curtain with a seal arranged inside a row of stoppers on the fire curtain; and Figure 3 a top view of a fire curtain with a seal having one bifurcated portion on an outer perimeter edge of the fire curtain and a second bifurcated portion laterally spaced inwards from a row of stoppers on the fire curtain. Detailed Description of Figures Figures 1 to 3 show a guide rail 10 that has a channel 40 through which a fire curtain 20 passes. An edge region of the fire curtain 20 has a seal 21 with two bifurcated regions 21 A, 21B. Figures 1, 2 and 3 each show the seal 21 in different positions on the fire curtain 20. In the pictured embodiments the fire curtain 20 also includes a stopper 30 to prevent the fire curtain 20 from being pulled from the channel 40. Although it is appreciated that the fire curtain 20 may be provided without stoppers 30 in some embodiments. The pictured seals 21 have two bifurcated portions, each having two arms 21A or 21B. Two arms 21A form the first bifurcated portion and these extend towards the passageway that is closed by the fire curtain 20 that create a seal against the guide rail 10 and / or channel 40 to act as a first seal to prevent passage of smoke and / or hot gasses. Two further arms 21B that form the second bifurcated portion extend in an opposed direction into the guide rail 10 engaging with inner faces of the guide rail to provide a second seal to prevent passage of smoke and / or hot gasses. In Figure 1 both bifurcated portions 21 A, 21B are arranged on a perimeter edge X-X of the fire curtain 20. The seal 21 is therefore laterally outside of the stopper 30. This configuration fully protects the fire curtain from coming out of the guide rail during impact and pressure created from the fire. The second bifurcated portion 21B of the seal (in addition to the first bifurcated portion 21 A) also acts as a further barrier to prevent the passage of smoke passing through the curtain. Typically smoke builds up before fire reaches the fire curtain, therefore the fire curtain and integrated seals both prevents the passage of smoke before the fire reaches the fire curtain and when fire reaches the curtain the integrated also compartmentalises the fire by preventing the fire passing along the passageway closed by the fire curtain. In Figure 2 both bifurcated portions 21 A, 21B are arranged laterally Y-Y inside of the stoppers 30 on the fire curtain 20. The seal 21 is therefore laterally inside of the stopper 30. In this configuration the arms of the bifurcated portions can be shorter which provides more strength because distance to a contact surface is less. This configuration is ideal for a fire curtain that is also effective at preventing passage of smoke and hot gasses due to the integrated seal, in particular when the fire curtain may be subject to repeated impacts and movement due to the fire. In Figure 3 one bifurcated portion 21A is arranged laterally Y-Y inside of the stopper 30 and the second bifurcated portion 21B is arranged on the perimeter edge Y-Y so that there is a bifurcated portion either side of the stopper 30. This configuration can also enable shorter arm lengths of greater strength. The Figures include some indicated dimension in millimetres, but it is appreciated that these dimensions are only an example and that the fire curtain with integrated seal maybe made to any dimensions. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A fire curtain with an integrated seal comprising a sheet of fire retardant material wherein at least one edge of the fire curtain has a seal comprising at least two bifurcated portions for engaging with one or more surface to form a seal.

2. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 1 wherein each bifurcated portion has at least two arms.

3. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 1 wherein a seal with at least two bifurcated portions is provided along each of a pair of parallel edges of the fire curtain that are received in a guide rail in use.

4. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any preceding claim wherein the seal with at least two bifurcated portions is formed from the same material as the fire curtain.

5. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 3 wherein the seal with at least two bifurcated portions is stitched to the fire curtain.

6. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any preceding claim including a plurality of stoppers along an edge region of the fire curtain.

7. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 5 wherein the seal with at least two bifurcated portions runs along a perimeter edge of the fire curtain and the plurality of stoppers are laterally spaced inwards from the perimeter edge.

8. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 5 wherein the seal with at least two bifurcated portions runs along the fire curtain and is laterally spaced inwards with respect to the stoppers.

9. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to claim 5 wherein the seal with at least two bifurcated portions has at least one bifurcatedportion on a perimeter edge of the fire curtain rand at least one bifurcated portion laterally spaced inwards with respect to the stoppers.

10. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any of claims 2 to 9 wherein at least one arm is straight.

11. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any of claims 2 to 10 wherein at least one arm is, or has a region, that is curved, concertina or undulating.

12. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any preceding claim wherein a distal tip of each arm is adapted to form an improved seal with a surface.

13. A fire curtain with an integrated seal according to any of claims 1 to 12 for use with a frame comprising a head box and two guide rails.

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