Fire-Resistant Glazing Post with Segmented Profiles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional frame and support structures for fire-resistant glazing, particularly in glass pivoting doors, suffer from reduced stability due to differential heat expansion and deformation during fires, leading to potential gaps that allow fire and smoke to pass through.
Innovation Solution
A frameless post system with two parallel, vertically arranged profiles connected only at the door hinges via a connecting element, ensuring thermal separation and distributing the weight-bearing forces effectively to maintain structural integrity and prevent gap formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal profiles are used for frame and support structure, then the glass pivoting door can be supported, but the structure deforms differently due to differential heat development during fire, creating gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The post is divided into two separate profiles (first profile and second profile) that are not thermally connected to each other. Each profile independently supports the fire-resistant glazing, preventing differential thermal deformation from creating gaps. The door hinges connect the door to one profile while the other profile remains thermally isolated, eliminating the thermal bridge that causes deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves as an intermediary that mechanically connects the two profiles at the door hinge location while maintaining thermal separation. This allows the profiles to be positioned and supported relative to each other without creating a continuous thermal path that would cause differential expansion and deformation during fire conditions.
2Reliability
If fire-resistant panes are used, then fire and smoke passage is prevented, but the door becomes significantly heavier requiring stronger support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into two separate profiles that independently bear the weight of the heavy fire-resistant door. By distributing the load across two separate vertical profiles rather than one continuous frame, the system can support the increased weight of fire-resistant glazing without requiring a single oversized structural element.
3Stability of the object's composition
If profiles are thermally connected for structural integrity, then the frame is stable, but differential heat expansion creates gaps during fire
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into two thermally isolated profiles that independently respond to thermal conditions. Since each profile is thermally independent, they expand and deform uniformly without differential stress, preventing gap formation at the connection points. The door hinges provide mechanical connection without creating a thermal bridge between the profiles.
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 post system maintains the fire-resistant glazing's structural integrity by preventing deformation and ensuring secure holding of fire protection panes, even under high loads and thermal stress, thereby effectively blocking fire and smoke passage.
Implementation Method 1
The fire protection layer absorbs the thermal radiation and forms a highly effective insulating layer
Implementation Method 2
Solid materials that foam up in the event of a fire, or materials that increase volume in some other way, are used as a fire protection layer between the panes of glass
Implementation Method 3
Gel-like, water-containing materials, in particular materials containing alkali metal silicate mass, which do not foam up in the event of a fire, are also used as a fire protection layer between the glass panes of a fire protection pane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a post 1 for a swing door (11), in particular for a frameless swing door made of glass, which is characterized by two profiles 2, 3 which can be arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other vertically to the substrate, wherein door hinges 12 of the swing door 11 can be attached to one of the profiles 3 of the two profiles 2, 3 and the two profiles 2, 3 are connected to each other exclusively in the area of the door hinges 12 by means of a connecting element.