Fibre Lock Element Fire Barrier for Rear-Ventilated Facades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear-ventilated building facades require additional structural elements for fire protection, which can form heat bridges and compromise the insulating capacity of the facade.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece lock element made of fibre material with compressibility and flexibility, adjusted to fit between the building wall and facade cladding, using spacer elements that burn or melt to expand and provide a fire barrier without creating heat bridges, and optionally coated with intumescent materials for enhanced fire resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional structural elements are installed for fire protection in the rear ventilation gap, then fire safety is improved, but heat bridges are created that compromise insulating capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire protection function with the existing lock element that secures insulating panels, eliminating the need for separate fire protection structures. The lock element is enhanced with fire-retardant properties and intumescent coating while maintaining its original mechanical function of holding insulating panels in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock element serves multiple functions: it mechanically secures the insulating panels to the building wall and simultaneously provides fire protection by blocking the rear ventilation gap. This multi-functional design eliminates heat bridges that would result from additional dedicated fire protection elements.
2Strength
If metal substructures are used to support facade cladding, then structural strength is improved, but heat bridges are created through the insulating layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fire-retardant and intumescent properties locally to the lock element where fire protection is needed, rather than using metal substructures throughout. This localized approach provides fire protection without creating extensive heat bridge pathways through metal components.
3Reliability
If fire barriers are installed in the rear ventilation gap, then fire spread is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire barrier function is merged into the existing lock element structure. The lock element is designed to extend into the rear ventilation gap and provide fire protection while maintaining its primary function of securing insulating panels, thereby avoiding additional separate fire barrier components.
4Reliability
If intumescent coating is applied to lock element, then fire resistance is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock element's surface properties are modified by applying an intumescent coating that changes its physical characteristics when exposed to fire. This coating application is a standard surface treatment process that enhances fire resistance without fundamentally altering the manufacturing process of the lock element itself.
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 allows for simple, cost-effective installation of a fire protection system that maintains excellent heat insulation properties while preventing fire spread, without the need for additional structural elements and heat bridges.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spacer element made of plastic is located between the surface of the lock element and the facade cladding, which spacer element consisting at least in partial areas of a material which burns or melts in case of fire
Implementation Method 2
at least one spacer element made of plastic is located between the surface of the lock element and the facade cladding, which spacer element consisting at least in partial areas of a material which burns or melts in case of fire
Implementation Method 3
the lock element located under pre-stress by means of the spacer element expands as far as the facade cladding
Implementation Method 4
optionally coated with intumescent materials for enhanced fire resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A building facade consisting of a building wall, an insulating layer comprising insulating elements, having a surface and disposed on the building wall, a facade cladding which is disposed at a distance from the building wall and from the insulating layer to form a rearventilation gap between insulating layer and facade cladding and a lock element provided for fire protection, which is disposed between neighbouring insulating elements of the insulating layer. In order to further develop a building facade in such a manner that it can be manufactured simply and therefore cost-effectively without additional structural elements being provided, the invention proposes a generic building facade where the lock element is formed in one piece from fibre material, extends over the surface of the insulating layer in the direction of the facade cladding and exhibits a compressibility and/or flexibility aligned at least predominantly between building wall and facade cladding.