Insulating Fire Blast Resistant Window Door Buck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window and door buck framing materials for insulated concrete walls lack continuous fastening elements around edges, leading to inefficiencies in energy efficiency, moisture control, and structural integrity, especially in fire and blast-resistant applications.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning window and door buck system comprising top, sides, and bottom sections that can be assembled to fit any opening size or shape, with integrated insulating edge elements and anchors for concrete bonding, providing a continuous concrete profile and internal fastening mechanisms for reinforcement and finish attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional non-insulating materials (wood, metal, plastic) are used for window and door bucks, then the bucks can be easily manufactured and installed, but they lack continuous fastening elements around edges, resulting in poor energy efficiency and moisture control
Solution Approach 1:
The buck frame is constructed using composite materials combining wood or metal framing members with rigid insulation boards attached to the exterior faces. This composite structure provides both structural integrity and continuous insulation around the window and door opening, eliminating thermal bridges and improving energy efficiency while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the structural framing function with the insulation function into a single integrated buck frame assembly. The insulation boards are permanently attached to the framing members, creating a unified component that provides both mechanical support and thermal protection, eliminating the need for separate insulation installation steps
2Reliability
If traditional bucks are used for fire and blast protected walls, then the concrete can be poured and cured, but the bucks must be removed after curing, leaving only foam panels and concrete core without continuous fastening elements
Solution Approach 1:
The buck frame is designed with permanent attachment features built in advance during manufacturing. Fastening elements such as metal straps, anchors, or integrated fastening systems are pre-attached to the insulation boards and framing members before installation, so that upon concrete curing, the window and door units can be immediately secured with continuous fastening around the entire perimeter without requiring additional complex assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
The buck frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the window or door unit, maintains the insulation barrier, enables fire and blast protection through the concrete wall assembly, and provides continuous fastening capability. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing overall device complexity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If window and door units are recessed into the wall thickness, then fire and blast protection is improved, but exposed concrete bands allow extreme temperatures and moisture to penetrate into the building interior
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior face of the insulation board is covered with a weather-resistant barrier membrane or thin film that extends continuously around the buck frame perimeter. This flexible membrane seals the interface between the insulation and the recessed window or door unit, preventing moisture and extreme temperatures from penetrating along the concrete bands into the building interior while maintaining the fire and blast protection provided by the recessed installation
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom buck frames are manufactured to fit specific opening sizes and shapes, then adaptability to different window and door systems is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buck frame is divided into modular segments including standard-sized insulation boards and framing members that can be cut and assembled to accommodate various opening dimensions and shapes. Common opening sizes use pre-cut standard panels, while custom sizes simply require cutting the modular components to fit, maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized base components while achieving adaptability through simple field customization
Data Source
AI summary
An insulating fire and blast resistant window and door buck is described that is designed for use with an insulated concrete wall form. The window and door buck described provides a core of concrete for fire and blast protection while also providing structural concrete for attaching window and door elements. In some embodiments, the window and door buck comprises two pieces of insulation that are separated by a gap and held together by a tie piece. The insulation pieces are proportioned to so that an alignment element fits inside the cavity of the wall form. When the buck is placed in an insulated wall form and concrete is poured into the form a strip of concrete fills the gap, resulting in a fire and blast resistant wall.