US-12623441-B2 - Fire-resistant glazing

US12623441B2US 12623441 B2US12623441 B2US 12623441B2US-12623441-B2

Abstract

A fire resistant glazing is provided that seeks to avoid the issue of air gaps forming between a glazing and a frame into which the glazing is placed, a method of manufacturing the fire resistant glazing and the use of same. The fire-resistant glazing includes an intumescent edge mass located at least partially between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material and which is suitable for, and may be installed within, a glazing frame.

Inventors

Nils BRINKMAN
Matthias Auth
ANDREAS POERSCH

Assignees

PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220628
Priority Date: 20210630

Claims (16)

1 . A fire-resistant glazing comprising: at least a first sheet of glazing material comprising a first major face, a second major face and at least one edge face; and at least a second sheet of glazing material comprising a first major face, a second major face and at least one edge face, wherein the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material are arranged in a spaced-apart face-to-face arrangement with the first major faces of the first and second sheet of glazing material facing each other to form a cavity, and wherein the edge faces of the first and second sheets of glazing material are substantially aligned to form a glazing edge; an intumescent layer located in the cavity between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material; and wherein the fire-resistant glazing further comprises: a spacer located between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material proximate to the glazing edge; a secondary sealant located between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material, and an intumescent edge mass located at least partially between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material, wherein the secondary sealant includes at least one groove parallel to the glazing edge in which the intumescent edge mass is at least partially located.
2 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass is entirely located between the first sheet of glazing material and the second sheet of glazing material.
3 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass protrudes beyond the glazing edge.
4 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 3 , wherein one or more edge faces on one or more sheets of glazing material is/are provided with the intumescent edge mass.
5 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 4 , wherein one or more second major faces of the sheets of glazing material is/are provided with the intumescent edge mass.
6 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass is in direct contact with the first major surface of the first and/or second sheets of glazing material.
7 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 wherein the intumescent edge mass is substantially continuous on at least one glazing edge.
8 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass is further provided with a protection layer.
9 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass comprises a water-resistant intumescent material.
10 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass comprises a paste, putty, mastic or caulk.
11 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass is not applied as a solid strip or tape.
12 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass has a minimum reaction temperature of between 90° C. and 220° C.
13 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass has a foaming pressure of at least 0.7 N/mm 2 , and/or wherein the intumescent edge mass has an expansion ratio of from 3 to 30, and/or wherein the intumescent edge mass has a density of from 800 kg/m 3 to 1900 kg/m 3 .
14 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass has a three-dimensional direction of action.
15 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 1 , wherein the intumescent edge mass is non-continuous upon at least one glazing edge.
16 . A fire-resistant glazing according to claim 15 , wherein an area where the intumescent edge mass is not present is proximate to a glazing corner and/or not proximate to a glazing hinge.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fire-resistant glazing, a method of manufacturing said fire-resistant glazing, and the use thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fire-resistant glazing which comprises an intumescent edge mass and to the manufacture and use thereof. Fire-resistant glazings generally comprise at least two transparent sheets and at least one fire-resistant interlayer. The transparent sheets are commonly glass sheets, although other transparent materials such as polycarbonates may be used. In many countries, regulations exist specifying the fire resistance of glazings required in commercial and residential settings. Generally, these regulations specify a minimum time for which a glazing must form a barrier to the propagation of fire. Intumescent layers for fire-resistant glazings may be formed by a cast-in-place method or a pour-and -dry method. Intumescent layers formed by the cast-in-place method are usually formed by pouring a solution of an intumescent layer precursor between two glass panes. In order for the intumescent layer precursor to be poured between the glass panes, an edge seal is required to form a cavity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,273 A discloses a method for the production of a transparent heat protection element using a hydrous alkali silicate, comprising introducing a pourable composition into a mould cavity between two transparent carrier elements and allowing the composition to cure to form a solid polysilicate layer. Intumescent layers formed by a pour-and-dry method may be formed directly on the glass pane to be incorporated in the fire-resistant glazing unit. For example, EP 2557141 B1 discloses a fire protection component which is formed in a planar manner and which is connected to at least one space-bounding surface component. Alternatively, intumescent layers formed by a pour-and-dry method may be formed on a temporary substrate, and then separated from the temporary substrate and applied as a sheet to the glass pane to be incorporated in the fire-resistant glazing unit. For example, US 2005016742 A1 discloses a process for the production of a clear flexible film comprising an alkali metal silicate waterglass which comprises spreading a waterglass solution upon the surface of a flexible backing material, drying said solution to form a clear film and separating said film from said backing material. When used in a commercial or residential building, the fire-resistant glazing is often installed in a frame to form a fire-resistant glazing unit. As a result, in addition to the requirement that a fire-resistant glazing reduces the propagation of fire and/or heat through the glazing, there is also a requirement that fire and/or smoke is not able to pass between the fire-resistant glazing and the frame. As such, during installation of a fire-resistant glazing in a frame it is commonplace to provide either the fire-resistant glazing or the frame within which it is to be installed with an intumescent tape to block the passage of smoke and/or heat though the frame rebate. Once the glazing is installed in the frame and the tape applied, in the event of a fire and upon exposure to high temperatures, the intumescent tape expands and generates a foam and/or a damp course. The foam subsequently fills joints and gaps between the glazing and the frame, thereby closing voids or openings through which heat, smoke, and/or flames may pass or seep. Consequently, the intumescent tape seeks to improve the fire resistance of the glazing and thereby slow the spread of fire through a building. For example, GB 2394246 B discloses a fire-resistant glazing comprising a panel having an aperture and a glass pane positioned within the aperture such that a marginal edge of the glass pane is received within two opposed recesses in an edge of the panel bordering the aperture, and an intumescent strip is located between the marginal edge of the glass pane and the edge of a panel bordering the aperture. Likewise, EP 2987938 A1 discloses a fire-resistant glazing door having parallel spaced apart sheets of glass and an edge seal offset inwardly and comprising a glued strip of intumescent material. However, a disadvantage of known fire-resistant glazings is that an intumescent tape is usually applied either to the edge of the fire-resistant glazing, or to the aperture configured to receive the glazing pane at the point of installation. This makes the installation of a fire-resistant glazing into the aperture time-consuming, and therefore expensive. In addition, in cases of installer error, there is the possibility that the intumescent tape will not be applied either correctly, or even at all. Furthermore, the intumescent tape may be damaged during the installation process. This potentially renders any building fitted with a glazing with such damaged intumescent tape less effective at preventing the transmission of fire, and potentially unsafe, as well as