Fireproof Decorative Panel with Thin Wood Veneer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire-resistant decorative panels face challenges in balancing fire resistance with material efficiency and weight, as they either require thick, heavy insulating layers that are difficult to predict in terms of reaction to fire or lack sufficient fire resistance due to thin wood veneers that catch fire quickly, leading to unsatisfactory heat waves.

Innovation Solution

A fire-resistant decorative panel design featuring a central core coated with wood veneers of specific thicknesses (0.2 mm to 0.4 mm and 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm) on both sides, which facilitates heat dissipation and reduces combustible material, ensuring a reaction to fire classification of A2 according to European standard EN 13-501-1, while maintaining lightness and hiding surface imperfections, and using a fire-retardant sticky mixture for enhanced bonding and mechanical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a thick incombustible foam layer is added between the central core and wood veneer to improve fire resistance, then fire resistance time is improved, but the panel becomes thicker and heavier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistance timeVSAvoidpanel weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the incombustible foam layer from the panel structure, extracting the problematic element that caused weight increase. The solution achieves fire resistance through the wood veneer itself by controlling its thickness to 0.2-0.4mm, eliminating the need for additional insulating foam layers while maintaining fire safety performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the thickness parameter of the wood veneer from conventional thicker layers to a specific thin range of 0.2-0.4mm. This parameter optimization allows the veneer to provide sufficient fire resistance while minimizing weight and thickness, resolving the contradiction between fire safety and lightweight design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Weight of stationary object

If the wood veneer thickness is reduced to make the panel lighter and thinner, then weight and thickness are reduced, but the veneer catches fire too quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel weightVSAvoidfire resistance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the wood veneer thickness parameter to a specific range of 0.2-0.4mm. This precise parameter control ensures the veneer is thin enough to minimize weight and thickness while remaining thick enough to provide adequate fire resistance, preventing rapid ignition while maintaining lightweight characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining the thin wood veneer (0.2-0.4mm) with the central core, where the composite material properties are optimized to achieve both lightweight design and fire resistance. The combination allows the thin veneer to serve dual purposes: aesthetic appearance and fire protective barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If a unifuge plate is added between the central core and wood veneer to improve fire resistance, then fire resistance is improved, but the panel becomes more complex and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistance timeVSAvoidpanel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the unifuge plate from the panel structure, extracting the intermediate layer that increased structural complexity. The solution achieves fire resistance directly through the wood veneer material itself, eliminating the need for additional insulating plates and simplifying the overall panel construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the fire resistance function directly into the wood veneer layer itself, combining the aesthetic surface layer with the fire protective function. This integration eliminates the need for separate unifuge plates, reducing structural complexity while maintaining fire safety performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If the wood veneer is made thinner to reduce combustible material, then reaction to fire classification is improved, but the surface imperfections become more visible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction to fire classificationVSAvoidsurface appearance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the wood veneer thickness parameter to the specific range of 0.2-0.4mm, which is thin enough to minimize combustible material and achieve A2 fire classification, yet thick enough to provide sufficient surface coverage to hide imperfections. This parameter optimization balances fire safety with aesthetic requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 panel achieves a reliable A2s1d0 fire reaction classification, delays ignition, reduces material waste, facilitates transport and installation, and ensures mechanical shock resistance, while maintaining a thin, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing design.

Implementation Method 1

when the first wood veneer is exposed to fire, it enables the heat from the fire to be transmitted almost instantaneously to the central core where this heat is dissipated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transmission: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a unifuge sheet is heat deformable by expanding in the form of a layer of incombustible foam with fine pores, resistant to compression and acting as a thermal insulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3409857B1Decorative fireproof panel, use thereof and method of manufacture thereof
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 MALVAUX S AS
  • EP3409857B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a fire-resistant decorative panel (1) for interior design. This decorative panel (1) comprises a central core (10) having a front face (101) covered with a first wood veneer (11). The central core (10) and the first wood veneer (11) are bonded together. Furthermore, the central core (10) is made of a solid, non-combustible material having a first thickness (α). According to the invention, the first wood veneer (11) has a second thickness (β) distinct from the first thickness (α), this second thickness (β) being between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a decorative panel (1) as described above. According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a use of a decorative panel (1) as described above.