GB2221946A - Glazing - Google Patents

Abstract

A glazing panel (12) in a stud (10) and panel (11) partition held between front and rear frames (13, 14) is provided along at least one edge with an elongate, or series of, spring steel clips (17) gripping its lateral edge to increase locally the thickness of the marginal portions and prevent withdrawal of the panel in the event of fire. Insulating material 18 is arranged between the stub and the panel. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Structure incorporating a glazing panel and method of glazing the structure" Description of Invention The present invention relates to a structure incorporating a glazing panel. The panel may be formed of glass or of other light-transmitting material. The invention has been developed primarily for use in internal walls within buildings, for example in demountable partitions.

The presence of a glazing panel in a partition represents a potential weakness, in the event of a fire, because the materials of which glazing panels are formed soften when heated to temperatures at which some opaque materials used in partitioning retain their strength. It is common for a large pressure differential to be established across a partition in the event of a fire becoming established at one side of the partition. The effect of this pressure differential on a glazing panel which has softened may be to cause the glazing panel to bend towards the region of low pressure and to withdraw marginal portions of the glazing panel from a proper relation with other components of the structure.In the case of severe deformation of the glazing panel, this could result in a gap opening up between a margin of the glazing panel and the other structure, so that hot gas is able to pass through the gap and promote the spread of the fire.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure incorporating a glazing panel wherein first and second frames lie at respective faces of the panel, each frame overlapping marginal portions of the panel, the frames are spaced apart by a gap through which the panel extends and the panel has adjacent to at least one margin at least one formation which has a thickness exceeding the corresponding dimension of the gap so that the formation cannot pass through the gap.

The frames may be formed of metal or other material which has a better resistance to fire than does the glazing panel and which maintains its strength and rigidity when heated to a temperature at which the glazing panel softens.

The formation is most advantageously provided at a vertical margin of the glazing panel. In a partition, there is usually an upright stud adjacent to each vertical margin of each glazing panel. The presence of the studs restricts the degree to which the glazing panels can extend laterally outwardly beyond the inner periphery of the frames. It is usually possible to provide that an upper marginal portion extends upwardly beyond the inner periphery of the frames for a considerably larger distance so that the risk of the upper marginal portion being drawn from between the frames, in the event of fire, is less than the corresponding risk in relation to lateral marginal portions.

The formation is preferably a pre-formed element which is mounted on the glazing panel. For example, the formation may be a metal element capable of retaining its strength when heated to a temperature at which the glazing panel softens. The element may be arranged to grip the marginal portion of the panel resiliently and to be capable of maintaining its grip in the event of the marginal portion of the panel becoming thinner, owing to plastic deformation of the panel.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of glazing a structure wherein a first frame defining a central opening is mounted around the perimeter of an opening in the structure, there is placed in the structure to close the central opening a glazing panel having major dimensions exceeding those of the inner periphery of the frame and having, at least in the completed structure, adjacent to opposite margins of the glazing panel respective formations which locally increase the thickness of the glazing panel and wherein a second frame is mounted in the structure at a face of the glazing panel remote from the first frame to overlap the marginal portions of the panel, the second frame being fixed with respect to the first frame in a position such that a gap between the frames is less than the corresponding dimension of said formations of the panel.

The glazing panel is preferably provided with said formations prior to closing of the opening in the first frame by the glazing panel. However, it would be within the scope of the invention, in a case where access can be gained to one or more marginal portions of the glazing panel after the first and second frames have been fixed, to provide the glazing panels with the formations after the two frames and the glazing panel have been assembled together in the structure.

An example of a structure embodying the invention and which is assembled by a method in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE I shows a part of a front elevation of a partition; and FIGURE 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, a cross-section on the line ll-ll of Figure 1.

The partition comprises a number of vertical studs, one of which is shown at 10 in Figure 2, and to which are fixed vertical boards II. The studs are typically rolled steel sections and the boards are typically plasterboard with a decorative finish on exposed faces. Boards may be fixed on opposite faces of the studs, so that there is between the boards a gap and this gap may be filled with fibrous material. Structures of this kind are well known and commonly used for partitioning inside buildings. Joints between adjacent boards generally overlie the studs and are covered with trim strips.

The structure further comprises a rectangular glazing panel 12 which is disposed between a pair of adjacent studs. Marginal portions of the glazing panel are covered by rectangular front and rear frames 13 and 14 respectively. The frames are fabricated from steel and are fixed with resDect to the studs, spacers 15 being interposed between the frames and the studs, as shown in Figure 2. The studs which are adjacent to opposite lateral margins of the glazing panel 12 may also support upper and lower transomes disposed above and below the glazing panel respectively.

The front and rear frames 13 and 14 are spaced apart by a gap through which marginal portions of the glazing panel 12 extend. Resiliently flexible glazing gaskets 16 are preferably interposed between the faces of the glazing panel and the frames to seal the gap. The glazing gaskets are maintained under compression and prevent forwards and rearwards movement of the glazing panel relative to the studs, under normal conditions of use. In the event of the partition being subjected to a fire, at least one of the glazing gaskets is likely to be heated to a temperature at which it softens or is substantially destroyed. Thus, the glazing gaskets are not adequate to hold the glazing panel in position in the event of a fire.

There are provided on the lateral marginal portions of the glazing panel 12 which is shown in Figure 2 a number of formations which effectively increase locally the thickness of the glazing panel to a value exceeding the width of the gap between the frames 13 and 14. In the example illustrated in the drawings, these formations are elements which are preformed separately from the panel 12 and applied thereto prior to mounting of the glazing panel in the structure. The element 17 shown in Figure 2 is a C-shaped clip formed in steel. The clip embraces a marginal portion of the glazing panel and has sharp edges which grip the glazing panel at a position spaced somewhat from the edge of the panel. At these edges, the clip exerts substantial pressure on the glazing panel.

In the event of the glazing panel becoming softened by a rise in temperature, the clip is able to bite into the panel at the position spaced from the lateral edge of the panel, thereby improving the grip of the clip 17 on the panel.

The clip 17 may extend along substantially the entire length of one edge of the glazing panel 12. Alternatively, a number of relatively short clips may be provided at spaced positions along the lateral margin of the panel. A corresponding clip or a corresponding set of clips is provided along the opposite lateral margin of the panel 12 and the structure adjacent to that margin corresponds to the structure illustrated in Figure 2. The structure along the upper margin of the panel also may be similar and this margin also may be provided with one or more clips similar to the clip 17.

As shown in Figure 2, a body of fibrous thermal insulating material 18 is provided in the cavity between the frames 13 and 14, the stud 10 and the spacers 15. In the event of fire, the lateral marginal portion of the glazing panel 12 is protected by the frames 13 and 14 from direct impingement of flames or hot gases. The insulating material 18 inhibits the transmission of heat to the marginal portion of the glazing panel on which the clip 17 is provided. Accordingly, this marginal portion is unlikely to soften to the same degree as a central portion of the glazing panel may soften.

When the structure is assembled, the studs are usually fixed first in position, upper and lower ends of a row of studs being held in tracks on the ceiling and the floor respectively. The spacers 15 are fixed to the studs at opposite sides of the opening which is to be glazed. The rear frame '14 is then secured to the corresponding spacers so that the position of the rear frame is fixed with respect to the studs. The clip 17 and other clips are fitted to marginal portions of the glazing panel and the glazing panel is then introduced into the opening between the studs to lie adjacent to the forwardly facing edge of the rear frame. It will be noted that the width of the glazing panel, together with the clips thereon, is just sufficiently small for the glazing panel to pass between the studs.Once the glazing panel has been set in the required position, the front frame 13 is applied to overlap marginal portions of the glazing panel and is fixed to the corresponding spacers. The thermally insulating material 18 is either introduced immediately before the front frame is applied is introduced prior to the glazing panel 12.

The boards 11 may be applied either before or after the glazing panel is incorporated in the structure. Trimstrips 19 may be applied over the joints between the boards and the frames 13 and 14. The glazing gaskets 16 will generally be introduced after the front frame has been fixed with respect to the studs.

In the event of the glazing panel 12 being softened by fire and being caused to bow towards the space at one side of the partition, the lateral marginal portions of the glazing panel may be drawn through the gap between the frames 13 and 14. However, such movement of the lateral marginal portions of the glazing panel will be arrested by engagement of the clip 17 and other clips with the frames, since the dimension of the clips corresponding to the thickness of the glazing panel is substantially in excess of the width of the gap between the frames. We have found that a glazing panel of six millimetre glass can be held in position for a period well in excess of one hour whilst the partition is subjected to conditions normally applied during a fire test.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS:

   I. A structure incorporating a glazing panel wherein first and second frames lie at respective faces of the panel, each frame overlapping marginal portions of the panel, the frames are spaced apart by a gap through which the panel extends and the panel has adjacent to at least one margin at least one formation which has a thickness exceeding the corresponding dimension of the gap so that the formation can pass through the gap.
2. 2. A structure according to Claim I wherein said formation is an element preformed separately from the glazing panel.
3. 3. A structure according to Claim 2 wherein the element grips the marginal portion of the panel.
4. 4. A structure according to Claim 3 wherein the element grips the marginal portion of the panel at a position spaced from an adjacent edge of the panel.
5. 5. A structure according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the element grips the marginal portion of the panel at a position which lies directly between said frames.
6. 6. A method of glazing a structure wherein a first frame defining a central opening is mounted around the perimeter of an opening in the structure, there is placed in the structure to close the central opening a glazing panel having major dimensions exceeding those of the inner periphery of the frame and having, at least in the completed stucture, adjacent to opposite margins respective formations which locally increase the thickness of the glazing panel and wherein a second frame is mounted in the structure at a face of the glazing panel remote from the first frame to overlap marginal portions of the panel, the second frame being fixed with respect to the first frame in a position such that a gap between two frames is less than the corresponding dimension of said formations of the panel.
7. 7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein the glazing panel is provided with said formations prior to closing of the opening in the first frame by the glazing panel.
8. 8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein said formations are provided by applying to the glazing panel elements which are preformed separately from the glazing panel.
9. 9. A method according to Claim 8 wherein said elements grip the glazing panel.
10. 10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings.
11. 11. A partition structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.