A temporary fire door structure

Abstract

A temporary fire door structure 10 is disclosed with a door 12 and panels 16, 18, 20 on both sides and above the door 12. The door 12 is openable and the structure includes a flange 250, 251, 270, 280

Description

The invention relates to a temporary fire door structure. There can be many situations in building construction where a temporary barrier is desirable for safety or security. For example, a temporary barrier can be put in front of a lift shaft opening, an opening to a riser cupboard or to ventilation or electrical shafts. Equally, a lockable temporary barrier can be put on the opening to a room or other confined space to provide a secure storage area. The parts for construction of such a temporary barrier may have to be carried into position by a person, which may involve climbing a large number of flights of stairs, for example in the case of a lift shaft. A known temporary barrier therefore comprises lightweight parts including door panels which are perforated such that a large proportion of the door panel is removed to reduce weight. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a temporary fire door structure comprising a door and a plurality of panels on both sides and above the door, the door being openable to allow a person to pass through, the structure including a flange on both sides and above which is configured to lie against a wall to be attached thereto to form a fire seal. By means of the invention, a temporary fire door structure is provided which is modular comprising a door and a plurality of panels such that the individual parts are man carriable but can be assembled to create an effective fire door. There may be one panel above the door or in another embodiment there may be two panels above the door which may be side by side. There may be one panel on each side of the door or in another embodiment there may be two panels on at least one side of the door. Each panel may take any suitable form and may comprise a sheet with a wall and a flange. Each panel may be generally rectangular. Each panel may be made of any suitable material and preferably is made of steel. Each panel may be made of sheet material of no greater than 2.5mm thickness, preferably of no smaller thickness than 1.5mm, and in a preferred embodiment of about 2mm thick. The door of the structure may be mounted in a frame as a unit, the door preferably being mounted to the frame by a plurality of hinges. Each panel may be connected to the adjacent panel or panels or the frame in any suitable way and in a preferred embodiment each panel clips to the adjacent panel or panels or the frame. At least one panel or the frame may include a channel to receive a wall and flange of the next panel or frame to thereby connect the panels together. In a preferred embodiment, each side of the frame defines a channel to receive a wall and flange of a panel to connect the panels to the frame. The structure is preferably such as to pass fire door standard BS 476 pt 22 for a 30 minute fire door, and BS EN 1634-1:2020 Fire door and BS EN 13374 Class B Edge protection. The temporary fire door structure thus provides a fire rated, temporary edge protection system. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular set for constructing a plurality of temporary fire door structures of different sizes, the set comprising a door and a group of panels comprising a plurality of panels, such that a user can select the door and a plurality of panels from the group to construct a temporary fire door structure of the width and height required, the temporary fire door structure being according to the first aspect of the invention and any or none of the associated subfeatures. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing and erecting a temporary fire door structure onto a wall comprising laying a door and a plurality of panels on the floor or other flat generally horizontal surface and connecting them together to form the temporary fire door structure according to the first aspect of the invention, applying intumescent sealant to the flange of the door structure or to the wall, lifting or pivoting the structure to the upright position, placing the structure against the wall so that the intumescent sealant is between the flange and the wall, and screwing the flange to the wall to secure the structure to the wall. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a temporary barrier, the temporary barrier comprising attachment means for enabling the temporary barrier to be temporarily attached to part of a building so that the barrier lies in front of a doorway or similar opening in the building, the barrier including at least one door, and means defining an aperture which is closed by the at least one door, the or each door being openable to allow a person to pass through the aperture, the barrier comprising a plurality of panels around the door, including at least one panel above the door, the outer edge of the barrier comprising a flange extending out from the barrier to lie adjacent to the front face of the wall or the floor, the flange comprising the attachment means. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a temporary fire door structure comprising a door and a plurality of panels in a modular, frameless construction. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the temporary fire door structure of the first embodiment; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the door of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the door of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the door of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a partial, fragmentary, side elevation in cross-section of the door of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the door of the structure of Figure 1 with stiffeners; Figure 9 is a perspective view of door hinge side stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a door lock side stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a horizontal door stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a door lock of the embodiment; Figure 13 is a front elevation of the window of the door of the embodiment; Figure 14 is a side elevation of the window of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a side elevation in cross section of the window of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a front perspective view of a front part of the window of Fig 13; Figure 17 is a rear perspective view of a front part of the window of Fig Figure 18 is a perspective view of the doorframe of the embodiment; Figure 19 is a front elevation of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 20 is an end elevation of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 21 is a side elevation of the doorframe of the embodiment; Figure 22 is a rear elevation of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 23 is a perspective view of the frame top of the embodiment; Figure 24 is an end elevation in cross section of the frame top of the door frame of the embodiment Figure 25 is a perspective view of the frame lock side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 26 is an end elevation in cross section of the frame lock side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 27 is an elevation of the frame lock side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 28 is an elevation of the frame lock side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 29 is a perspective view of the frame hinge side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 30 is an end elevation in cross section of the frame hinge side of the door frame of the embodiment; Figure 31 is a perspective view of a top / bottom frame stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 32 is a side elevation in cross section of the top / bottom frame stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 33 is a top plan view of top / bottom frame stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 34 is an end elevation in cross section of the top / bottom frame stiffener of the embodiment; Figure 35 is a perspective view of a side infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 36 is a perspective view of another side infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 37 is a perspective view of a top infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 38 is a side elevation of the top infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 39 is an end elevation in cross section of the top infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 40 is an elevation of the top infill panel of the embodiment; Figure 41 is a perspective view of a bottom fixing of the embodiment; Figure 42 is an end elevation in cross section of a bottom fixing of the embodiment; Figure 43 is a perspective view of a bracket of the embodiment; Figure 44 is a rear elevation of a temporary fire door structure in a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 45 is a front elevation of a temporary fire door structure in a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 46 is a front perspective view of a temporary fire door structure in a fourth embodiment; Figure 47 is a front elevation of a temporary fire door structure in a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 48 is a perspective view of a top infill panel of the fourth embodiment; Figure 49 is a further perspective view of a top infill panel of the fourth embodiment; and, Figure 50 is an end elevation of a side infill panel of the fourth embodiment. A temporary fire door structure 10 of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a door 12 in a frame 14 and three panels 16, 18, 20. The door 12 comprises a door skin 22 in the form of a sheet and a door stiffening channel 24 around the inner edge of the door sheet 22, as shown in Figs 5 to 8. The channel 24 is formed by bending the edge of the sheet back through a right angle to form a wall 26, and then bending the last part through a further right angle back parallel to the skin to form a flange 28. One side of the door 12 is further stiffened by a door hinge side stiffener 40, shown in Fig 9, which is a U shaped channel with two arms 42, 44, one to lie outside the door skin 22 and one to lie outside the flange 28, the arms extending substantially perpendicularly from a connecting portion 41. The other side of the door 12 carries a lock 50 operated by a handle 52 so that a locking member 54 protrudes from the door. A further U-shaped channel 60, the door lock side stiffening channel 60, is attached around the other side of the door 12, and includes a cut out 62 for the lock 50. This is shown in Fig 10. The rear of the door 12 carries a set of four generally horizontal door stiffeners 70, 72, 74, 76, one 70 at the top of the door, one 76 at the bottom and the other two equispaced between them. Each horizontal door stiffener 70-76 has a top hat shaped cross section, with a U shaped channel comprising two arms 78 and a connecting part 80 and an out turned flange 82 at the end of each arm 78. The connecting part 80 includes a tongue 84 projecting beyond the arms 78 and flanges 82 in the axial direction of the horizontal stiffener 70-76. Each flange 82 includes apertures 86 to receive rivets to attach the horizontal stiffener 70-76 to the door skin 22. Each tongue 84 defines an aperture 88 to receive a rivet to attach the tongue 84 to the door hinge side stiffener 40 and the door lock side stiffener 60. Fig 12 shows the door lock cover 100. This is L shaped in profile and includes a long leg 102 and a short leg 104. The short leg 104 defines a slot 106 through which the locking member 54 can protrude to lock the door 12. The door lock cover 100 is attached to the door lock side stiffener 60 to cover the cut out 62 therein. The door 12 includes a small square window 120. The window 120 is shown in more detail in Figs 13 to 17. The window 120 comprises a square piece of glass 122 sandwiched between two frame parts 124, 126. The front frame part 124 is flat and square with a central square aperture 128. The rear frame part 126 is tray shaped with a central land 130 defining a central square aperture 132, a wall 134 extending up from the land 130, and a flange 136 extending out from the wall 134. The flange 136 and the outer region of the front frame part 124 include apertures 138, 140 for fixing. The aperture 128 in the front frame part is the same size as the aperture 132 in the rear frame part 126. The outer edge of the glass sheet 122 is clamped between the inner portion of the front frame part 124 and the land 130 of the rear frame part 126, mounted between two square rings of elastomeric intumescent material 144, 146 (see Fig 15). Figures 18 to 33 show the door frame 14. The door frame 14 comprises a frame top 162, a frame bottom 164, a frame lock side 166, and a frame hinge side 168. The frame top 162 is shown in Figs 23 and 24. The profile comprises a top part 176, which bends down through a right angle to a short wall 178, which bends out through a right angle to a mid part 180, then bends down through a right angle to a main wall 182, then bends back through a right angle to a main lower part 184, then bends down through a right angle to a lower wall 186, then bends back through a right angle to a short part 188. The ends 190 of the top part 176 are bent down as far as the end of the short wall 178, to close off the end of the chamber defined by the top part 176 and short wall 178. The ends 192 of the mid part 180 are bent down over half the length of the main wall 182. The ends 194 of the main wall 182 are bent inwards. The ends 196 of the main lower part 184 are bent up to meet the other ends 192, 194. The frame bottom 164 is the same as the frame top 162. A channel 198 is defined between the main lower part 184, the lower wall 186 and the short part 188. The frame lock side 166 is shown in Figures 25 to 27. The profile comprises a top part 200 with a short descending wall 202 on one side and a long descending wall 204 on the other side. The short descending wall 202 bends out through a right angle to a short portion 206 which is bent underneath and back on itself as a tab 208 extending nearly half the length of the short portion 206. The long descending wall 204 turns out through a right angle to a lower portion 208 which in turn turns up through a right angle to a wall 210. The short descending wall 202 includes a slot 212 to receive the locking member 54. The long descending wall 204 is longer axially than the short descending wall 202, the short portion 206 and tab 208 are the same length and shorter axially than the short descending wall 202. A channel 214 is defined between the long wall 204, the lower portion 208 and the wall 210. The frame hinge side 168 is shown in Figures 28, 29 and 30 and is the same as the frame lock side 166 but reverse handed, and does not include the slot 212. Equivalent features are marked with the same reference numerals with a prime marking, for example 208'. Figures 31 to 34 show a top / bottom frame stiffener 220. This is in the form of a long shallow tray, with a bottom 222, long sides 224 and short ends 226. The bottom 222 includes a series of four rectangular apertures 228. One top / bottom frame stiffener 220 is offered up to the frame top 162 from the rear side with the rectangular apertures 228 facing out so as to be received by the frame top 162. There is another other top / bottom frame stiffener 230 which is mounted on the frame bottom 164 in the same way. Fig 35 shows the side infill panel 16. The side infill panel 16 has the general shape of a tray, having a bottom 242 in the form of a sheet, shallow end walls 244 and taller side walls 246, 248. From one side wall 246, a flange 250 turns outwards, away from the opposite wall 248, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 252. At the top of the other side wall 248, a flange 256 turns inwards, towards the opposite side wall 246, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 258. There are attachment apertures 260 in the side wall 248, and attachment apertures 240 in the outwardly turned flange 250. The other side infill panel 18 is the same but reverse handed. Fig 36 shows side infill panel 18. The side infill panel 18 has the general shape of a tray, having a bottom 241 in the form of a sheet, shallow end walls 243 and taller side walls 245, 247. From one side wall 245, a flange 251 turns outwards, away from the opposite wall 247, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 253. At the top of the other side wall 247, a flange 255 turns inwards, towards the opposite side wall 245, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 257. There are attachment apertures 259 in the side wall 247, and attachment apertures 239 in the outwardly turned flange 251. Figs 37 to 40 show the top infill panel 20. The shape of the top infill panel 20 is similar to the side infill panel 16. Thus, the top infill panel 20 has the general shape of a deep tray, having a bottom 262 in the form of a sheet, end walls 264 and side walls 266, 268. From one side wall 266, a flange 270 turns outwards, away from the opposite wall 268, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 272. At the top of the other side wall 268, a flange 276 turns inwards, towards the opposite side wall 266, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 278. The difference from the side infill panel 16 is that the end walls 264 are the same height as the side walls 266, 268, and the top of each end wall 264 also has a flange 280 which turns outwards, away from the opposite end wall 264, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 282. The outwardly turned flanges 270, 280 form a continuous flange around three sides of the panel 20. The side wall 268 has a row of fixing apertures 284 along its length. The outwardly turned flanges 270, 280 define fixing apertures 286, 288. Figures 41 and 42 show a bottom fixing 290. The bottom fixing 290 is generally tray shaped with a bottom 292, end walls 294 and side walls 296, the end and side walls being the same height, and each side wall 296 terminating in an inturned flange 298. Fig 43 shows a reinforcing corner bracket 310. The bracket 310 is an angle bracket with ends, thus it has two walls 312, 314 in an L configuration, and a tab 316 at each end of each wall 312, 314 has been turned back through a right angle to form an end wall 318. Each wall 312, 314 has two apertures 320 for fixing. The parts are made of 2mm thick galvanized steel. The door 12 is attached to the door frame 14 by four hinges 330. The door 12 and doorframe 14 are supplied as a unit 15. To assemble the temporary fire door structure 10, the door and door frame unit 15 is laid on the floor or against a wall near to the doorway or opening to be protected. The infill panels 16, 18, 20 are then clipped to the door frame 14. Thus, the inwardly turned flange 256 of the side infill panel 16 is placed into the channel 214 defined by the flange at the side of the door frame 14. The channel 214 is coated with intumescent acrylic sealant first, for example Pyroplex (trade mark). The infill panel 16 is then secured in place by bolts (not shown) through the apertures 260 in the side wall 248 and through corresponding apertures in the door frame 14. The other side infill panel 18 is then attached to the door frame 14 in the same way. The top infill panel 20 is similarly attached by the inwardly turned flange 276 being placed into the door frame channel coated with intumescent sealant, and bolted in place through the fixing apertures 284 and corresponding apertures in the door frame 14. The bottom fixing 290 receives the bottom of the door frame 14. The assembled temporary fire door structure 10 can then be lifted into place in front of the opening to be protected. Intumescent sealant, such as Pyroplex (trade mark) is applied to the rear of the outwardly turned flanges 250, 251, 270, 280 or to the wall, and the flanges 250, 251, 270, 280 are screwed to the wall by bolts through the fixing apertures 239, 240, 286, 288 therein. The temporary fire door structure 10 of the first embodiment may measure about 1500 x 2300mm. A second embodiment of the invention will now be described. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. Reference numerals are plus 400 to the first embodiment for equivalent features, and the same where elements are the same. In the temporary fire door structure 410 of the second embodiment, the top infill panel 420 is taller than in the first embodiment. The structure may measure 1500 x 2700mm. The second embodiment is shown in Fig 44. The flange around the structure is thus made up of the flanges 250, 680, 670, 680 and 251 of the panels 16, 420 and 18 respectively. A third embodiment of the invention will now be described. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment and only the differences from the second embodiment will be described. Reference numerals are plus 800 to the first embodiment for equivalent features, and the same where elements are the same. In the temporary fire door structure 810 of the third embodiment, the side infill panels 816, 818 and top infill panel 820 are wider than in the second embodiment. The structure may measure 2000 x 2700mm. The third embodiment is shown in Fig 45. The flange around the structure is thus made up of the flanges 1050, 1080, 1070, 1080 and 1051 of the panels 816, 820 and 818 respectively. A fourth embodiment of the invention will now be described. The fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment and only the differences from the third embodiment will be described. Reference numerals are plus 1200 to the first embodiment for equivalent features, and the same where the features are the same. In the temporary fire door structure 1210 of the fourth embodiment, the temporary fire door structure 1210 is wider than in the third embodiment. The structure may measure 2500 x 2700mm. The fourth embodiment is shown in Figs 46 to 50. In the fourth embodiment, there are two panels 1220a and 1220b above the door 12. Also, on the left hand side there is an additional panel 1215 between the first side panel 816, which is the same as in the third embodiment, and the door frame 14. The right top infill panel 1220b is the same as the top infill panel 820 in the third embodiment and is shown in more detail in Fig 48. The right side panel 818 is the same as in the third embodiment. The top infill panel 1220b has the general shape of a deep tray, having a bottom 1462b in the form of a sheet, end walls 1464b, 1464b' and side walls 1466b, 1468b. From one side wall 1466b, a flange 1470b turns outwards, away from the opposite wall 1468b, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 1472b. At the top of the other side wall 1468b, a flange 1476b turns inwards, towards the opposite side wall 1466b, and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 1478b. The end walls 1464b, 1464b' are the same height as the side walls 1466b, 1468b, and the top of each end wall 1464b, 1464b' also has a flange 1480b, 1480b' which turns outwards, away from the opposite end wall 1464b, 1464b', and terminates in a downwardly turned rib 1482b, 1482b'. The outwardly turned flanges 1470b, 1480b, 1480b' form a continuous flange around three sides of the panel 1220b. The side wall 1468b has a row of fixing apertures 1484b along its length. The outwardly turned flanges 1470b, 1480b at the top and right of the top infill panel 1220b define fixing apertures 1486b, 1488b. The left top infill panel 1220a, shown in detail in Fig 49, is the same as 1220b except on the right hand side, where it has an inwardly turned flange 1540a, instead of an outwardly turned flange 1480b and rib 1482b. The flange 1470a and rib 1472a also terminate adjacent at the end of the flange 1540a, rather than continuing to the corner of the panel 1220a. Also, on the left hand side, the flange 1480a' includes fixing apertures 1488a'. In this way, the two top infill panels 1220a and 1220b can clip together side to side. Thus, the right hand end of the top left infill panel 1220a is received in the channel defined by the end wall 1464b, flange 1480b and rib 1482b of the top right infill panel 1220b. The flanges 1470b and 1480b will form a continuous top flange with the flange 1470a. Similarly, the outer side infill panel 816 is the same as in the earlier embodiments, in terms of design, and exactly the same as in the third embodiment, and the additional side panel 1215 is the same as panel 816 but without the flange on the one edge, as shown in Fig 50, so that the two side panels 816, 1215 on the left of the door 12 can be attached flush together. There is a flange around the structure 1210 made up of the flanges 1050, 1480a', 1470a, 1480b', 1470b, 1480b, 1051 on the panels 816, 1220a, 1220b and 818 respectively. The structure of the embodiment is thus a temporary barrier, which is a fire door, is man portable, and can pass fire door standard BS 476 pt 22 for a 30 minute fire door and BS EN 1634-1:2020 Fire door and BS EN 13374 Class B Edge protection. The barrier is temporary, reusable, and hence sustainable. As can be seen, the structure is modular and frameless in that it does not have a 5 frame around the outside of the structure, so additional panels can be added as desired, to create a final structure which is larger or smaller, wider or taller, as required. Nevertheless, due to the innovative design, there is always a continuous flange around the structure by means of which the structure can be secured to a wall. 10 With a range of infill panels of different sizes available and with different edge arrangements, the user can select from a set of a wide group of panels which panels to use to create a structure of the desired height and width. So the set of panels might comprise, as well as the door and door frame unit 15: side panels 16, 18, 15 816, 818, 1215 top panels 20, 420, 820, 1220a, 1220b, from which a selection can be made to assemble a temporary fire door structure of the desired height and width.

Claims

1. A temporary fire door structure comprising a door and a plurality of panels on both sides and above the door, the door being openable to allow a person to pass through, the structure including a flange on both sides and above, the flange being configured to lie against a wall to be attached thereto to form a fire seal.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is one panel above the door.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two panels above the door.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein there is one panel on each side of the door.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there are two panels on at least one side of the door.

6. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel comprises a sheet with a wall and a flange.

7. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel isrectangular.

8. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel is made of steel.

9. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel is made of material no greater than 2.5mm thickness.

10. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel is madeof material of no smaller thickness than 1.5mm.

11. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel is madeof material about 2mm thick.

12. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structure includes a frame, and the door is mounted in the frame as a unit.

13. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel clips to the adjacent panel or the frame.

14. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the panels or the frame includes a channel to receive the wall and flange of the next panel or the frame to thereby connect the panels and frame together.

15. A structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein each side of the frame defines a channel to receive a wall and flange of a panel to connect the panels to the frame.

16. A modular set for constructing a plurality of temporary fire door structures of different sizes, the set comprising a door and a group of panels comprising a plurality of panels, such that a user can select the door and a some or all of the panels from the group to construct a temporary fire door structure of the width and height required, the temporary fire door structure being as claimed in any preceding claim.

17. A modular set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the door is provided mounted in a frame as a unit.

18. A method of constructing and erecting a temporary fire door structure onto a wall comprising laying a door and a plurality of panels on the floor or other flat generally horizontal surface and connecting them together to form the temporary fire door structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, applying intumescent sealant to the flange of the door structure or to the wall, lifting or pivoting the structure to the upright position, placing the structure against the wall so that the intumescent sealant is between the flange and the wall, and screwing the flange to the wall to secure the structure to the wall.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the door is provided mounted in a frame as a unit.

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