Fire-safe wall cladding with segmented attachment system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall claddings with plastic structure attachment elements are not fire-safe, as they melt in fires, causing the cladding elements to detach, and replacing them with fire-resistant materials is costly and difficult, while maintaining comparable functionalities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fire-resistant safety attachment element made of materials like steel or clad with fire-resistant coatings, which are designed to remain functional during a fire, attached to the wall cladding elements to prevent detachment, allowing the use of plastic structure attachment elements while ensuring fire safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If structure attachment elements are made of plastic, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but fire safety deteriorates as plastic melts in fires causing cladding elements to detach
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into two separate elements: a plastic structure attachment element for easy manufacture and a metal safety attachment element for fire safety. This segmentation allows each element to fulfill its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety attachment element acts as an intermediary between the plastic structure attachment element and the cladding element, providing fire-resistant connection while allowing the plastic element to maintain its manufacturing advantages.
2Reliability
If structure attachment elements are replaced with fire-resistant materials, then fire safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into a simple plastic structure attachment element and a separate metal safety attachment element, avoiding the need to replace the entire attachment system with complex fire-resistant materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic structure attachment element can be simpler and less expensive, while the safety attachment element provides the necessary fire resistance. The system combines inexpensive components to achieve overall reliability.
3Reliability
If all attachment elements are made fire-resistant, then fire safety is improved, but material costs and production expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
Fire resistance is applied locally where it is most critical - in the safety attachment element that directly connects to the cladding element during fire conditions, rather than requiring all attachment elements to be fire-resistant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining plastic and metal attachment elements, each contributing different properties - the plastic provides ease of manufacture and the metal provides fire resistance, optimizing material selection for cost-effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a wall cladding, including: a supporting structure; a safety supporting structure; wall cladding elements; at least one structure attachment element made of plastic; at least one cladding attachment element per wall cladding element, where the cladding attachment element forms part of the wall cladding element or is attached thereto and is couplable to the structure attachment element; at least one safety attachment element per wall cladding element, where the safety attachment element forms part of the wall cladding element or is attached thereto; and at least one safety element per wall cladding element, where the safety element is designed to be fire-resistant, is attachable to the safety supporting structure, and is attachable to the safety attachment element.