Facade Fire Protection Mat Sealing Thermal Deformation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing facade assemblies face challenges in maintaining effective fire protection due to deformation of metal-clad facade elements during fires, which causes gaps in the joint between the facade element and the outer floor edge, allowing fire and smoke to spread, and require labor-intensive installation of additional fire protection elements.
Innovation Solution
A facade assembly with a fire protection element comprising an insulating layer and a fire protection mat that surrounds the insulating layer, providing enhanced sealing and protection against heat-induced reduction in volume, and featuring a frayed edge section for improved adhesion and adaptability to uneven surfaces, allowing for easier installation and reduced risk of detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mineral wool insulation element is compressed to seal the joint between the facade element and the outer edge of the floor, then fire protection is improved, but the insulation element loses connection and detaches when the gap widens due to thermal deformation
Solution Approach 1:
A fire protection mat made of flexible, heat-resistant material (such as silicone-coated glass fiber fabric) is used to wrap around the insulation element. This flexible membrane maintains continuous contact with the facade element and floor edge even when gaps widen due to thermal deformation, preventing fire and smoke penetration while accommodating dimensional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection mat is pre-installed around the insulation element before the facade assembly is completed. This preliminary action ensures that the mat is already in position to maintain sealing and connection stability when thermal deformation occurs during a fire event.
2Reliability
If additional mineral wool blocks or profiles are installed to compensate for gap widening in fire events, then fire protection is improved, but installation complexity and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection mat is integrated with the insulation element as a single assembly, combining the sealing function and the gap-compensation function into one unified component. This eliminates the need for separate additional mineral wool blocks or profiles, simplifying both the design and installation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection mat serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the sealing interface, compensates for gap widening due to thermal deformation, and provides structural connection stability. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall fire protection system.
3Reliability
If workers install fire protection elements at ladder height on the floor below the insulation element, then fire protection sealing is achieved, but the risk of injury and time expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection mat is pre-assembled around the insulation element at ground level before the entire facade assembly is installed. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for workers to perform installation tasks at elevated ladder heights, significantly improving safety and reducing installation time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures better sealing and retention of the fire protection mat during deformations, reducing the passage of smoke and hot gases, and simplifies the installation process by allowing ground-level work and pre-fabricated assemblies, thereby enhancing fire protection and reducing installation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the fire protection element comprises an insulating layer and a fire protection mat... the insulating layer has a first side surface facing the facade element and a second side surface arranged opposite to the first side surface, which faces the outer edge of the story
Implementation Method 2
A frayed edge section 44 can be provided, in particular at one edge, in order to improve the adhesion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In a façade assembly (14) for a building (10), having at least one façade element (16), which can be secured to a story outer edge (13) of the building (10), and having at least one fire protection element (18), which is installed between the façade element (16) and the story outer edge (13), the fire protection element (18) comprises an insulating layer (19) and a fire protection mat (32), wherein the insulating layer (19) has a first lateral surface (36) facing the façade element (16) and a second lateral surface (38) opposing the first lateral surface (36) and facing the story outer edge (13), and a lower surface (40) extending between the first and second lateral surface (36, 38), and wherein the fire protection mat (32) encompasses the lower surface (40) of the insulating layer (19) and contacts at least one part of the first and second lateral surface (36, 38). The invention further relates to a method for mounting a façade assembly (14) of this type, and to a building construction using the façade assembly (14).