Fire-Rated Sliding Glass Elevator Door Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Glass elevators have historically failed to meet 90-minute fire-rating standards due to the inability of their materials to withstand the rigorous fire and hose stream tests, which require the door to resist fire spread and high-pressure water spray without thermal shock.
Innovation Solution
A fire-rated sliding glass elevator door design featuring a thicker fire-rated glass panel with retainers and a non-combustible door core, where the glass panel protrudes beyond the door core and is secured with bonding tapes and fasteners, combined with a steel frame and intumescent materials to enhance structural integrity and thermal resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional glass materials are used in elevator doors, then the door provides transparency and aesthetic appeal, but the door cannot withstand 90-minute fire-rating tests due to thermal shock and structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite glass panel structure consisting of multiple glass layers bonded together with interlayers. This composite construction combines the transparency of glass with enhanced fire resistance and structural strength, allowing the door to withstand both thermal shock from fire exposure and mechanical pressure from hose stream testing while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the glass material by using specially formulated fire-rated glass with modified composition and thickness. The glass panel thickness is increased beyond standard elevator door requirements, and the material composition is altered to resist thermal expansion and structural failure under fire conditions, thereby achieving 90-minute fire rating capability.
2Reliability
If the glass panel thickness is increased to improve fire rating, then the door core thickness must be increased, but this increases the overall door weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the enhanced thickness and fire-resistant properties specifically in the glass panel region where fire exposure occurs most intensely. The surrounding door frame and structural elements maintain standard thicknesses, thereby achieving the required 90-minute fire rating through localized material enhancement rather than uniformly increasing the entire door assembly weight.
3Strength
If retainers and bonding tapes are used to secure the glass panel, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple fastening components into an integrated retention system. The retainers are designed to work in conjunction with bonding tapes, combining mechanical retention with adhesive bonding in a unified assembly approach. This integration reduces the number of separate fastening elements needed while maintaining enhanced structural integrity of the glass panel within the door assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire-rated sliding elevator glass door is provided. The door includes a face panel, a liner, a fire-rated glass panel, and a retainer that retains the glass panel in the door frame. The elevator door is configured to pass a 90-minute fire rating test. The elevator door can be implemented as a single-speed side open elevator door, a single-speed center open elevator door, a two-speed side opening sliding elevator door, or a two-speed center opening sliding elevator door. A method of constructing the fire-rated elevator door is provided.