US-20260125898-A1 - Fire Supression Assembly and a Support for Use in a Fire Supression Assembly

US20260125898A1US 20260125898 A1US20260125898 A1US 20260125898A1US-20260125898-A1

Abstract

A support for a fire suppression assembly of a building wall. The support has a spanning member which is sized to span between first and second wall elements to define a concrete receiving cavity therebetween. The support has at least one retaining member associated with the spanning member, the at least one retaining member being sized and dimensioned to retain a portion of fire suppression material relative to the support such that said portion of fire suppression material may form at least a portion of at least one of said first and second wall elements.

Inventors

Tom Maher, JR.

Assignees

CASTLEFORMS LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251031
Priority Date: 20241106

Claims (20)

1 . A support for a fire suppression assembly of a building wall, the support comprising: a spanning member configured to span between first and second wall elements to define a concrete receiving cavity therebetween; wherein the support comprises at least one retaining member associated with the spanning member, the at least one retaining member being configured to retain a portion of fire suppression material relative to the support such that said portion of fire suppression material may form at least a portion of at least one of said first and second wall elements.
2 . The support of claim 1 , further comprising first and second wall element engagement portions for engaging with respective first and second wall elements.
3 . The support of claim 2 , wherein the first and second wall engagement portions each comprise an upper wall element engagement portion and a lower wall element engagement portion for engaging with respective upper and lower sections of the first and second wall elements.
4 . The support of claim 2 , wherein retaining members form any number of the wall element engagement portions, and any wall engagement portions not formed by retaining members are configured to engage with wall forming panels such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels.
5 . The support of any of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining member comprises at least one retaining flange or bracket, the fire suppression material being retained by said flange or bracket.
6 . The support of claim 5 , wherein the flange or bracket comprises at least one generally horizontal projection.
7 . The support of claim 6 , wherein the at least one generally horizontal projection comprises at least one generally vertical projection extending therefrom such that the generally horizontal projection inhibits or prevents fire suppression material from moving vertically and the generally vertical projection inhibits or prevents the fire suppression material from moving horizontally.
8 . The support of claim 6 , wherein at least the first and/or second wall engagement portion comprises at least one retaining member, the at least one retaining member comprising a generally horizontal projection extending from the spanning member, said generally horizontal projection being located generally centrally in the vertical dimension of the spanning member.
9 . The support of claim 8 , wherein the generally horizontal projection comprises an upwardly depending vertical projection extending from its end distal the end which is proximal the spanning member to form a first retaining member with the generally horizontal projection and/or a downwardly depending vertical projection extending from its end distal the end which is proximal the spanning member to form a second retaining member with the generally horizontal projection such that the at least one retaining member may retain fire suppression material to form the upper and/or lower sections of the first wall element.
10 . The support of claim 8 , wherein the first wall engagement portion or the second wall engagement portion comprises the at least one retaining member.
11 . The support of claim 8 , wherein both the first and second wall engagement portions comprise the at least one retaining member.
12 . The support of claim 6 , wherein the first and/or second wall engagement portions comprise opposing retaining members, one of said opposing retaining members being an upper retaining member and the other of said opposing pair being a lower retaining member such that the upper and lower retaining members may engage and retain a section of wall element therebetween.
13 . The support of claim 12 , wherein upper and lower retaining members each comprise a generally horizontal projection extending from the spanning member, and/or wherein the first wall engagement portion or the second wall engagement portion comprises the opposing retaining members, and/or wherein both the first and second wall engagement portions comprises the opposing retaining members.
14 . The support of claim 13 , wherein the upper retaining member further comprises a downwardly depending generally vertical projection extending from the end of its generally horizontal projection distal the end which is proximal the spanning member, and/or wherein the lower retaining member further comprises an upwardly depending generally vertical projection extending from the end of its generally horizontal projection distal the end which is proximal the spanning member.
15 . The support of claim 1 , wherein the fire suppression material may be secured to the support via at least one mechanical fastener, and/or wherein the fire suppression material is mineral wool.
16 . The support of claim 15 , wherein the at least one mechanical fastener is at least one screw which is screwed through the fire suppression material and into the support, said screw being optionally provided with a washer locatable in use on the non-support facing surface of the fire suppression material.
17 . The support of claim 16 , wherein the at least one screw is sized such that when screwed through the fire suppression material and into the support said screw extends into the concrete receiving cavity.
18 . A fire suppression assembly comprising at least one portion of fire suppression material and at least one support, the at least one support comprising; a spanning member configured to span between first and second wall elements to define a concrete receiving cavity therebetween; wherein the support comprises at least one retaining member associated with the spanning member, the at least one retaining member being configured to retain a portion of the fire suppression material relative to the support such that said portion of fire suppression material may form at least a portion of at least one of said first and second wall elements.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the first and second wall elements are formed from wall forming panels such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels attachable to the support.
20 . A method of forming a wall or portion thereof comprising a fire suppression assembly, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of supports each comprising a spanning member configured to span between first and second wall elements to define a concrete receiving cavity therebetween; wherein the supports comprise at least one retaining member associated with the spanning member, the at least one retaining member being configured to retain a portion of the fire suppression material relative to the support such that said portion of fire suppression material may form at least a portion of at least one of said first and second wall elements; retaining at least one portion of fire suppression material via the at least one retaining member; and filling the concrete receiving cavity to form a wall or portion thereof having the at least one portion of fire suppression material, and optionally comprising the step of forming at least a portion of the first and second wall elements from wall forming panels such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels which are attachable to the support.

Description

PRIORITY OF INVENTION This Application claims priority to UK Patent Application No. GB2416330.5, filed 6 November 2024. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fire suppression assembly and a support for use in a fire suppression assembly, and in particular to a fire suppression assembly and support for preventing fire propagating within building walls. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As has been well publicised in recent times as a result of the tragedy at the Grenfell tower in London, elements used to insulate or form part of building wall structures can greatly contribute to spread of fire as said fire can travel across floor structures via flammable wall elements. For example, should a fire start on the ground floor of a building, the fire can propagate through the wall section and to the first floor, where it may cause more destruction. Current efforts to prevent such spread of fire involves the application of metallic material or flashing at the relevant junctions to prevent travel of fire thereacross. However, application of such elements is time consuming, labour intensive, and can be costly. It is desirable to provide a fire suppression assembly and support therefore that permits walls to be formed which supress travel of fire at critical junctures within a building and negates or limits the need for additional fire suppression material to be added after initial wall formation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a support for a fire suppression assembly of a building wall, the support comprising: a spanning member configured to span between first and second wall elements to define a concrete receiving cavity therebetween; wherein the support comprises at least one retaining member associated with the spanning member, the at least one retaining member being configured to retain a portion of fire suppression material relative to the support such that said portion of fire suppression material may form at least a portion of at least one of said first and second wall elements. Advantageously, at least one portion of fire suppression material may be retained relative to the support and form part of the resulting wall structure once the concrete receiving cavity is filled with concrete, thus providing at least a section of wall across which fire is supressed from spreading. Ideally, the wall elements are wall forming portions which act to form the concrete forming cavity to retain concrete once pumped, poured or therwise placed thereinto, and provide insulative and/or fire suppression properties on the external surfaces of the concrete once set. Preferably, the support further comprises first and second wall element engagement portions for engaging with respective first and second wall elements. Ideally, the first and second wall engagement portions each comprise an upper wall element engagement portion for engaging with upper sections of the first and second wall elements. Preferably, the first and second wall engagement portions each comprise a lower wall element engagement portion for engaging with upper sections of the first and second wall elements. Ideally, the wall engagement portions are located in four quadrants of the support. Ideally, the at least one retaining member forms any number of the wall element engagement portions. Preferably, one, all, or any number therebetween of the wall engagement portions can be utilised to retain fire suppression material. Preferably, and any wall engagement portions not formed by retaining members are configured to engage with wall forming panels such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels or the like. Advantageously, a portion of wall may be created which comprises fire suppression material forming all sections of its wall elements, or may have a mixture of wall elements, at least one comprising fire suppression material and the remainder comprising Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels or the like. Ideally, the at least one retaining member comprises at least one retaining flange or bracket, the fire suppression material being retained by said flange or bracket. Preferably, the flange or bracket comprises at least one generally horizontal projection. Ideally, the at least one generally horizontal projection comprises at least one generally vertical projection extending therefrom. Preferably, the generally horizontal projection inhibits or prevents fire suppression material from moving vertically. Ideally, the generally vertical projection inhibits or prevents the fire suppression material from moving horizontally. Preferably, at least the first and/or second wall engagement portion comprises at least one retaining member, the at least one retaining member comprising a generally horizontal projection extending from the spanning member. Ideally, the generally horizontal projection is located generally centrally in the vertical dimension of the spanning member. Preferably, the generally horizontal projection comprises an upwa