EP3467250B1

EP3467250B1 - Fire-resistant insert for a building element, building element and method of manufacturing such building element

Info

Publication number: EP3467250B1
Application number: EP17461619.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mariusz Buchnajzer; Robert Rymarz
Original assignee: Hydro Building Systems Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: Hydro Building Systems Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2017-10-09
Filing date: 2017-10-09
Publication date: 2020-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-09
Also published as: LT3467250T; EP3467250A1; PL3467250T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a building element comprising such fire-resistant insert as well as to a method of manufacturing such building element. The invention is applicable to different building constructions supporting glasswork or other types of panes for which fire-resistance is required. Said construction might be building facades, windows, roofs or doors for providing a fire- barrier.

PRIOR ART

There is a continuous need for structural elements, for example windows or doors with an increased fire resistance. Typically metal profiles are used for such fire proof structural elements, advantageously aluminum profiles because of their light weight. However frame structures which are made of aluminum lose their loadbearing abilities in high temperatures caused by a fire and start melting. There have been a lot of trials in the area of enhancing aluminum construction resistance against the fire so as they meet appropriate law regulations. On one hand such fire-resistance might be achieved by designing additional support components providing fallback loadbearing abilities to aluminum profiles when they start to melt. On the other hand said fire-resistance might be achieved by protecting main aluminum profiles by introducing an additional material providing additional thermal barrier so as to retard melting process of aluminum profiles.
In current designs, fire-resistant building elements, e.g. aluminum profiles for frame structures combine both types of fire-proof enhancing means, namely fire resistant insert and additional reinforcement elements. Known reinforcement elements are additional extruded part inside/outside the main profile or additional elements made from other material of a higher melting point and fastened inside/outside of the profile, while typical known fire-resistance insert comprises a volume of a composite cooling material which fills a hollow section of a profile. Inserts which fill completely the profile might be introduced in a liquid form during one of the steps of the production process. Such solution is known for example from EP 0686735 .
What is common for such known designs is that such fire-resistant insert must be placed within the building element before the main aluminum profile become an object of a final treatment. The purpose of such final treatment might be coloring or providing the profile with some other aesthetic features. For example a lot of companies provide currently choice of colour finishes options in case of not fire-proof profiles. However such final treatment of an aluminum profile is performed often in high temperatures which in case of fire-resistant building elements would cause the composite material of the fire-proof insert to be useless or importantly less effective. The composite material of the fire-resistant insert become exposed to the action of heat and some irreversible changes in the material properties occur. On the other hand, starting the production process from the final treatment of the main aluminum profile is not possible since the finishing layer is very fragile and would not support the whole production process without damages.
The above mentioned problems have been partially resolved by another design of a fire-resistant insert. There are inserts which fill profiles partially or completely and are specifically formed in the solid state so as to have a form of a slab or other suitable form to be introduced and fixed in a required position within a profile after final treatment of aluminum profiles. Such solutions are known for example from US5694731 . Further, EP 1 120 504 A2 describes a fire-resistant building element according to the preamble of claim 1. However fastening of multiple slabs or other shaped insert parts is a complex and time-consuming process and cause still a high risk of damaging already colored profiles.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a building element comprising a fire insert allowing final treatment of said fire-resistant building element in high temperatures without damaging fire retarding properties of the composite material of the insert while guaranteeing also reinforcement features and simplifying process of assembling. Another object of the invention is to provide an easy and efficient production process of fire-resistant buildings elements meeting esthetic requirements of clients.
According to one aspect this object is achieved by providing a fire-resistant building element (200) for supporting a glasswork (400), comprising a main metal hollow profile (201) forming a main chamber (202) and a pressure plate profile (210) for pressing down the glasswork (400) to be placed in said building element between the main metal hollow profile (201) and the pressure plate profile (210), sealing means placed between the main metal hollow profile (201) and the glasswork (400) to be supported by the fire-resistant building element, said main metal hollow profile (201) having a glasswork side (201a) and at least two lateral walls (201b, 201c) and a protruding fastening member (203) protruding outwardly from a central section (201g) of the glasswork side (201a) for receiving fastening means, said fire-resistant building element (200) wherein a fire-resistant insert (100) is fixedly placed inside the main metal hollow profile (201) so as to border on at least the glasswork side (201a) of the main metal hollow profile (201) said fire-resistant insert (100) comprising an external tubular profile (101) forming a first chamber (102), said external tubular profile (101) having at least one glasswork side (101a) shaped for bordering on at least glasswork side of said main metal hollow profile (201) from its interior, an internal tubular profile (103) arranged inside said external tubular profile (101) and forming a second chamber (104) inside said first chamber (102), said internal tubular profile (103) and said external tubular profile (101) being fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides (101a, 103a), a composite material (110) filling at least partially the first chamber (102), and wherein said internal tubular profile (103) and said external tubular profile (101) are fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides (101a, 103a) by at least two bridging elements (105) so as to form at least one screw means receiving chamber (106) between the two interconnected facing glasswork sides (101a, 103a) of the internal and external profiles (101,103), and wherein the screw means can enter the screw means receiving chamber (106) of the fire resistant insert and further enter the second chamber (104) of the fire-resistant insert.
By providing a fire-resistant building element with fire-resistant insert build of two profiles, internal and external, the insert, connected one to each other, a function of reinforcement element is achieved.
Thanks to the fire-resistant building element with fire-resistant insert having the composite material inside a specifically shaped external profile matching the section of the main profile of the building element it is possible to introduce said insert in a safe and easy manner into the interior of the main profile of the building element so as not to damage the exterior of the building element.
By providing appropriate connections between metal parts of the insert and by filling it between by a composite cooling material, the fire-resistant insert becomes an integral part ready for application in fire-resistant building element. There is no need to build it from numerous parts (separate reinforcement elements, separate cooling material tabs) which improves manufacturing process.
Thanks to the fact that the fire-resistant insert as a whole is a uniform part, the integrality between the composite cooling material and the internal (core) profile of the insert is kept much more longer during the fire, which enhances its fire resistance performance and fire resistance performance of fire-resistant building element.
Advantageously, the composite material is filing additionally at least partially the second chamber.
By providing the cooling composite material also in the second (core) chamber of the fire-resistant insert, when exposed to the action of heat after the external profile have melted, the internal (core) profile is cooled from both sides so as it is secured longer against high temperature and melting .
Advantageously, the internal tubular profile comprises at least one longitudinal protrusion protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.
Additional longitudinal protrusions extending outwardly from the internal profile of the fire-resistant insert keep longer the integrality of the insert, by causing the cooling composite material, even if it started fissuring, not to separate from the internal profile, thus securing longer the internal profile against temperature and melting.
By providing a fire-resistant building element with a fire-resistant insert configured to be easily insertable at any production step of the fire-resistant building element, it is possible for example to colour the external surface of the fire-resistant building element in high temperatures without said insert, thus not causing the fire-resistant insert to lose its properties. Heating of the coating powder for varnish requires a temperature of 200 C and at that time the composite cooling material lose at least partially its features.
By providing a fire-resistant insert which is comprised of at least two profiles the fire resistant building element gains reinforcement elements which form fallback loadbearing structure when the main hollow profile starts melting.
Other advantages arise from a special form of the fire resistant insert thanks to which it borders on at least the hollow glasswork side of the main profile and allows the transfer of the heat to the cooling composite material to be as efficient as possible.
Preferably, the composite material is filing additionally at least partially the second chamber.
Because the fire-resistant insert comprises also the composite cooling material in the second (core chamber), the fire-resistant building element keeps longer its loadbearing capability. Namely, the fallback reinforcement element which is the core profile of the fire-resistant element is cooled from both sides which retards melting of the core profile.
In a preferred embodiment, the internal tubular profile comprises at least one longitudinal protrusion protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.
According to the invention, said internal tubular profile and said external tubular profile being fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides by at least two bridging elements so as to form at least one screw means receiving chamber between the two interconnected facing glasswork sides of the internal and external profiles.
By providing a screw means receiving chamber between the two interconnected facing glasswork sides of the internal and external profiles of the fire-resistant insert it is possible to precisely and stably fasten the fire-resistant not only to main hollow profile of the building element but also to the pressure plate profile. Appropriate screw means might pass till the bottom of said screw means receiving chamber or even pass via its bottom to enter the internal (core) profile of the fire-resistant element so as to guarantee stable holding of all components of the building element in position and limiting the ripping of screw means in high temperatures.
Advantageously said at least one screw means receiving chamber is threaded.
Advantageously, the external tubular profile comprises at least two lateral sides which are shaped for at least partially bordering on at the lateral walls of said main metal hollow profile from its interior.
By appropriately shaping the lateral walls of the external profile of the fire-resistant insert it is possible to provide a direct contact of said insert with the main hollow profile on the biggest surface as possible. This enhances heat transfer to the fire-resistant insert and improve the cooling function of the insert.
Preferably, the glasswork side of the main metal hollow profile comprises two flat lateral sections and a C - shaped central section, said flat lateral sections being aligned and connected with the ends of the arms of the C-shaped central section and wherein the lateral walls of the main hollow profile have prolonged sections so as to form with the flat lateral sections and the arms of the C-shaped central section screw means insertion cavities, having a bottom for passing screw means and side walls for guiding screw means, wherein the glasswork side of the fire-resistant insert has lateral sections shaped so as to border on the bottom of said screw means insertion cavities for passing screw means into the fire-resistant insert so as to fixedly place the fire-resistant insert inside the main metal hollow profile .
Because of a specific shape of the glasswork side of the fire-resistant insert so as it borders on at the whole glasswork side of the main profile of the building element, especially on the bottoms of the screw means insertion cavities, it is possible to easy, efficiently and stably fasten the fire-resistant insert to the main profile of the building element by appropriate screw means.
Preferably, the pressure plate profile is fixed to the main metal hollow profile and to the fire-resistant insert by means of screw means so as the screw means enter the screw means receiving chamber of the fire-resistant insert or so as the screw means enter the screw means receiving chamber of the fire-resistant insert and further enter the second chamber of the fire-resistant insert.
Thanks to a specific shape of the fire-resistant insert which is provided with appropriate chamber for inserting screw means so as a stable positioning of the insert within the profile and a connection with the pressure plate is achieved, it is possible to obtain a fire resistant building element based on any type of non fire-resistant aluminum profile. As a consequence production costs are reduced as the basis profiles can be sold both as a non-fire-resistant or fire resistant after a simple modification.
In another preferred embodiment the hollow main profile and the fire-resistant insert are provided with at least one bore for inserting a peg for fastening to another fire-resistant building element.
The shape of the external aluminum profile of the fire-resistant insert which is mostly complementary to the one of the main hollow aluminum profile allows stable fastening of said fire resistant insert together with the main profile to another building elements only by one fastening means which gives a very stable connection.
Yet in another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a fire-resistant building element according to claim 9.
Preferably, the step of providing a fire-resistant element comprises additionally filing the second chamber at least partially with the composite material.
Preferably, the step of providing a fire-resistant element comprises extruding the second internal tubular profile additionally with at least one longitudinal protrusion protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.
Preferably, the step of providing a fire-resistant element comprises extruding the second internal tubular profile additionally with at least one longitudinal protrusion protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.
A separate step of providing an integral fire resistant insert which is constituted from several parts and which apart cooling properties possess loadbearing capabilities allows very simple and less time-consuming assembling of a fire resistant building element previously coated with a final layer which provides esthetic features. Moreover such approach to assembly of fire-resistant building elements allows an easy modification of any type of non-fire-resistant aluminum profile into a fire-resistant aluminum profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description of several embodiments, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG.1 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the building element with a main hollow profile suitable for receiving a fire-resistant insert according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the fire-resistant insert in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the building element with the fire resistant insert before mounting pegs in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 4 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the building element with the fire resistant insert and screwing means as well pegs in accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the building element with the fire resistant insert after mounting pegs, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Identical elements or elements having the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.
It should be understood that the embodiments and attached drawings are provided for exemplary purposes only and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the present application the term "means" is understood as one or more elements.
Figure 1 shows a building element 200 suitable for receiving a fire-resistant insert 100 according to the invention. Such building element 200 usually comprises at least one aluminum profile 201 which is a hollow extruded profile. The building element 200 might have a function of a pillar (post, mullion) or a beam (interconnecting, transom profile), for supporting a glasswork or other type of panels. From such building elements 200 can be formed windows or doors frames or any other building construction such as glassed or panelled walls.
Typically, said at least one hollow aluminum profile 201 is of substantially rectangular cross-section, however other shapes are possible. In addition it possess some specifically shaped curved sections or protruding parts for cooperating with another components of the building element 200. In particular the main aluminum profile 201 have two lateral walls 201b, 201c, a glasswork side 201a and an interior side 201d. The glasswork side 201a comprises two flat lateral sections 201e, 201f and a C - shaped central section 201g, said flat lateral sections 201e, 201f being aligned and connected with the ends of the arms of the C-shaped central section 201g. The lateral walls 201b, 201c of the main hollow profile 201 are prolonged toward the glasswork by prolonged sections 201h, 201i so as to form with the flat lateral sections 201e, 201f and the arms of the C-shaped central section 201g screw means insertion cavities 206a, 206b. The flat lateral sections 201e, 201f form a bottom for passing screw means 301 while the arms of the C-shaped central section 201g and prolonged sections 201h, 201i form side walls for guiding screw means 301.
Said screw means insertion cavities 206, when considered in three dimensions, they have a form of recesses extending along the whole profile 201. The screw means insertion cavities 206 comprise in their interior several protrusions having form of ribs 205 protruding outwardly so as to form at the entrance to said screw means insertion cavities 206 internal glazing gasket receiving cavities 207.
Internal glazing gaskets 208 are configured to be inserted into said internal glazing gasket receiving cavities 207 and are utilized to an airtight seal on the interior side of the building element 200.
The building element 200 comprises further a pressure plate 210, a washer 211, and external glazing gaskets 212a, 212b to be fastened to the main hollow profile 201 from the other side of the glasswork 400 in order to fasten in a stable manner the glasswork 400 to the building element 200 playing role of a support structure for said glasswork 400. The pressure plate 210 is advantageously an aluminum profile.
The external glazing gaskets 208 are configured to be inserted into specifically shaped cavities in the pressure plate 210 and are utilized to an airtight seal on the interior side of the building element 200.
The fire-resistant building element 200 further comprises a protruding fastening member 203 for receiving screw means 302 and 303 which connect to the main hollow profile 201 all other components of the building element arranged on the other side of the glasswork 400. The protruding fastening member 203 protrudes outwardly from the central section 201g of the glasswork side 201a of the fire resistant building element 200 so as to extend at least partially also between two glasswork pieces 400. The protruding fastening member 203 is fork-shaped so as to form a recess for receiving the end of the screw means 302.
The glasswork 400 is generally arranged between the main metal hollow profile 201 and the pressure plate profile 210. For example, the glasswork 400 can be a fire resistant double glass unit 400.
A washer 211, preferably made of stainless steel, is utilized to provide glass holding function in case of fire exposure from the external side of the construction (when pressure plates profiles melt). A cover 213 made of aluminum is fixed on the pressure plate 210 so as to cover bolts 301 used to fasten the pressure plate 210, the washer 211 and the external glazing gaskets 212 to the main hollow profile 201.
Moreover, as mentioned earlier, several screw means 301, 302, 303 are used to connect different parts of the building element 200 one to each other, as shown later in Fig.3-5. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that bolts or screws or other fastening means can be used. In particular pegs 303 can be used to fasten one building element 200 to another one, for example a column profile to a beam profile. It will be also understood that appropriate holes (not shown) are provided in the main hollow profile 201 for inserting the above mentioned screw means 301, 302, 303.
Figure 2 shows a fire-resistant insert 100 for a fire-resistant building element according to the invention. The fire-resistant insert 100 comprises an external tubular profile 101 which forms a first chamber 102 and an internal tubular profile 103, which forms a second chamber 104 inside the first chamber 102. Both tubular profiles 101, 103 are made of the same material as the main hollow profile 101, namely from aluminum.
It is known that aluminum melts at lower temperatures than steel, at about 650 C° and has very high heat conductivity. Based on the fact that normal fires often reach temperatures of about 850 C° it is necessary to insulate the building elements and prevent the heat transfer from one side of the aluminum profile exposed to the fire to the other side.
That is why the first chamber 102 of the fire resistant insert 100 is at least partially filled by a composite material 110 which is adapted to provide fire protection. The composite material 110 is any type of material exhibiting water holding capabilities and for example can be a mixture containing concrete, which acts as a cooling material, slowing the spread of fire and acting as heat insulator.
The present standards for fire resistance have high demands to such building elements that shall withstand fire load for example 30 minutes or 60 minutes and more for different applications. That is why the fire resistant insert 100 according to the invention might have not the same construction as shown in Figure 2 for different applications. For example it might have only the external tubular profile 101 and be fully filled with the composite material 110 if the fire-resistance requirements are not very high.
In case of higher fire-resistance demands the fire resistant insert 100 according to the invention comprises, as mentioned earlier, the second chamber 104 defined by the internal tubular profile 103 which can have substantially rectangular shape.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second chamber 104 is also filled with the composite material 110, which further boosts fire retardant capabilities of the fire-resistant insert 100. The internal (core) tubular profile 103 enhances loadbearing abilities once the external tubular profile 101 has started melting.
In one embodiment of the invention, the internal tubular profile 103 can comprise a plurality of longitudinal protrusions 107 spaced along its circumference and having a T-shaped cross-section. Preferably, a set of such protrusions 107 are arranged on each side of the internal tubular profile 103.
Said protrusions 107 strengthen locally the internal tubular profile 103 and prevent the composite material 110, even in case of fissuring, from leaving the volume of the first chamber 102 as well as the second chamber 104, namely in case when the integrity of the internal tubular profile 103 is compromised, for example due to high temperature. The longitudinal protrusions 107 act as a framework which hold the composite material 110, thus securing longer the internal tubular profile 103 against temperature and melting.
According to the invention shown in Figure 2 the external tubular profile 101 and the internal tubular profile 103 are fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides 101a by bridging elements 105. Said bridging elements 105 are advantageously integral extruded elements or attached separately. Said bridging elements 105 as well as central sections of the glasswork sides 101a, form a screw means receiving chamber 106 the shape of which is adapted to receive the end part of screw means 303 (not shown). Preferably, the screw means receiving chamber 106 is threaded.
Among others, thanks to the connection of tubular profiles 101 and 103, the fire-resistant insert 100 is integral part ready for application, which makes the manufacturing easier.
Preferably, the external tubular profile 101 has a substantially rectangular shape wherein horizontal and vertical parts of the C-shaped central section 101e of the glasswork side 101a create an outward extrusion of substantially rectangular shape. In other words, the glasswork side 101a of the external tubular profile 101 comprises three sections, referenced respectively from left to right as 101f, 101e, 101g.
Below is the further description of the fire-resistant building element 200 for supporting the glasswork 400, according to the invention, in reference to Figure 3 in which the building element 200 is shown with the fire-resistant insert 100 arranged in . The fire-resistant building element 200 comprises an extruded main hollow profile 201 forming a main chamber 202 and a pressure plate profile 210 for mounting the glasswork 400 to the main hollow profile 201.
The main chamber 202 has such size and shape so as to allow the fire-resistant insert 100 as described in reference to the figure 2 to be placed inside the main chamber 202 formed by the main metal hollow profile 201. Namely the fire-resistant insert 100 has always smaller cross-section than cross-section of the main hollow profile 201.
Thanks to such rigid support structure for the composite material 110, namely thanks to the presence of the external tubular profile 101 having shape complementary to the shape of the main profile it is possible to appropriately place the fire-resistant insert 100 in one step into the main hollow profile 201 and additionally not to damage the exterior of the building element 200.
This allows for placing the fire-resistant insert 100 inside the fire-resistant building element 200 after it has undergone final construction work which would, in case of high-temperature work, lower the fire-resisting capabilities of the fire-resistant insert 100. The method and means of inserting the fire-resistant insert 100 inside the fire are described above/below in accordance with Fig. 4.
On the other hand, specific complementary shape and the aluminum material of the external tubular profile 101 of the fire resistant insert 100 allows direct contact with the main hollow profile 201 of the building element 200 on the biggest surface as possible so as to maximize heat transfer during fire. This is thanks to the fact that the curved surface of the glasswork side 101a of the external tubular profile 101 of the fire-resistant insert 100 substantially matches the curved surfaces of the glasswork side 201a of the main hollow profile 201 so as it borders at on it.
Preferably, the fire-resistant insert 100 borders on at least the whole glasswork side 201a of the main metal hollow profile 201.In another preferred embodiment the fire-resistant insert 100 has direct contact with all walls of the main hollow profile 201.
The adsorbent composite material 110 acts as energy dissipater, unlike fire protection screens, i.e. absorption of energy by the adsorbent composite material 110 results only in a slight temperature rise of the fire protection facade main profile 201 and external tubular profile 101 of the fire-resistant insert 100 over a targeted and predetermined period. As the temperature rise of the facade main profile until reaching the melting temperature of aluminum is delayed over an extended period, the stability of the main profile 101 (column profile or beam profile) is ensured commensurate with the time allowed by the fire protection classification. Activation of the hydrophilic composite material 110 requires a certain temperature transfer upon the main profile 201 and additionally the external tubular profile 101 to enable a reaction of the adsorbent composite material 110 embedded in within the external tubular profile 101 of the fire-resistant insert 100 .
Preferably, the main chamber 201 has larger size than required for insertion of the fire resistant insert 100. Namely, as shown in Fig.3-5, a free space is left in the main chamber 201 on the interior side 201d after insertion of the fire-resistant insert 100 according to the invention. This allows to leave an additional space for smoothly discharging gases being produced during chemical reactions which occur in the composite material 110 in high temperatures.
In Figure 3 different screw means are depicted for fastening the fire-resistant insert 100 to the building element 200. Firstly, short screw means 301 are used so as to directly fasten the fire-resistant insert 100 to the building element 200. For this purpose screw or bolts can be used. In particular each short bolt 301 comprises a head portion to be seated within the screw means receiving cavity 206 and a threaded shank portion passing through each pair of both lateral sections 201e, 101f, 201f,101g of the glasswork sides 201a, 101a of the building element 200 and the fire resistant insert, respectively for securely interconnect them.
Secondly, the fire-resistant insert 100 is additionally fasten to the building element 200 by long screw means 303 which in general are used to fasten all components arranged on the other side of the glasswork 400 to the main hollow profile 201. Advantageously long bolt 303 enters through an aperture (not shown) in the pressure plate 210 and the washer 211 and pass through the protruding fastening member 203 and further enters the screw means receiving chamber 206 . However the person skilled in the art will appreciate that in the absence of the screw means receiving chamber 206 the long bolt 303 can enter directly the second chamber 104 or does not have to be used at all.
As it is shown in Figure 4, the pressure plate profile 210 and the washer 211 are additionally fixed to the main metal hollow profile 201 in a typical way, namely to the protruding fastening member 203 by means of main screw means 302 so as the main screw means 302 enter the protruding fastening member 203 and engage it threadingly. The main screw means 302 pass additionally through a hollow thermal break profile 214 which is fastened to the protruding fastening member 203 by means of intumescent strips 209 placed in parallel on both sides of the thermal break profile 214 and the protruding fastening member 203 . Also in this case the external glazing gaskets 212 are pressurized locally toward the glasswork 400 for sealing and providing smooth flexible contact surface with the glasswork 400 so as to compensate the pressure force.
Further in reference to Figure 4, the fire-resistant insert 100 is additionally fasten to the building element 200 by interconnecting screw means 304 which are preferably pegs 304 for fastening one building element 200 to another one. Said interconnecting screw means 304 again passes at one end through the lateral walls 201b, 201c of the main hollow profile 200 as well through the lateral walls 101b,101c of the fire-resistant insert 100.
Figure 5 depicts already assembled fire-resistant building element 200 according to the invention. The whole construction is very stable and all components are well fastened one to each other so as to bear efficiently predicted loads. It is to be understood that invention provides a use of the fire-resistant building element 200 in the frame construction suitable for manufacturing such products like a window, a door or a frame work wall. For this purpose fire-resistant column profiles 201 should be fastened to fire-resistant beam profiles 201 according to the invention.
Now a method of manufacturing of a fire-resistant building element 200 according to the invention will be described. First a fire-resistant inserts 100 is produced. It is manufactured by extrusion as a structure composed of two connected aluminum profiles 101, 103 so as to obtain two chambers 102,104, one inside another. In other words, a fire resistant element 100 is provided by extruding it as a structure of two interconnected metal profiles 101,103 so at the first profile 101 surrounds the second profile 103. In another example not falling in the scope of the invention, if the fire resistance demands are lower, the fire-resistant inserts 100 is manufactured by extrusion as a structure of single hollow profile 101 forming only one chamber 102. Then internal volume of the aluminum profiles 101,103, namely the first chamber 102 and the second chamber 104 or only the first chamber 102 are filled with composite material 110 in a liquid state in a known manner. In parallel main hollow aluminum profiles 201 are extruded and then forwarded for final treatment to gain some specific aesthetic features, like external coating. This process occurs in high temperatures. In another step the hollow aluminum profile 201, namely columns and beams as well as fire-resistant inserts 100 are cut in the required lengths.
Next, the fire-resistant inserts 100 are inserted into the main hollow profiles 201 (beams or colums), which in preferred embodiment have a size to tightly hold the fire-resistant insert 100 . Then the fire-resistant inserts 100 are secured in their target position. In the next step apertures are performed in parallel in the main hollow profiles 201 as well as in the fire-resistant inserts 100, particularly in the external tubular profile 101. Then a step of initial fastening of the fire-resistant inserts 100 and the main hollow profiles 201 is performed. Namely, the short screw means 301 are inserted into screw means receiving cavities 206 and further, through the glasswork side 201 of the main hollow profile 200 and the glasswork side 101 of the fire-resistant insert 100 into the composite material 110 filing the first chamber 101. Such connection is performed periodically, for example each 40 cm. This allows for a secure placement of the fire-resistant insert 100 and to construct an initial structure. Once the single fire-resistant building element 200 is ready, for example a column, then interconnecting screw means 304 are inserted into the lateral walls 201b, 101b of the column after said interconnecting screw means have been blocked into the lateral walls 201b, 101b of a beam so as to form a support structure for the glasswork 400. At the end once the glasswork 400 has been put in place, other screw means, namely long screw means 303 and main screw means 302 are inserted for final fastening of all other components of the fire-resistant building element which are arranged on the other side of the glasswork 400. Then covers 213 are put in place in the final step of producing a fire resistant glasswork support structure.
The fire-resistant building element 200 as well the method of manufacturing of such building element 200 according to the invention are not limited to the application and the embodiments described above, but can be modified in number of components, elements or units, and steps, respectively, without departing from the invention as defined the appended claims.

Reference numbers:

100 -: fire-resistant insert,
101 -: external tubular profile,
101a-: glasswork side of the external profile,
101b-: lateral side of the external profile ,
101c-: lateral side of the external profile,
101f-: lateral section of the glasswork side,
101g-: lateral section of the glasswork side,
102-: first chamber,
103 -: internal tubular profile,
104 -: second chamber,
105 -: bridging element,
106 -: screw means receiving chamber,
107 -: longitudinal protrusion,
110 -: composite material
200-: fire-resistant building element,
201-: main hollow profile,
201a-: glasswork side of the main hollow profile,
201b-: lateral wall of the main hollow profile,
201c-: lateral wall of the main hollow profile,
201d-: interior side of the main hollow profile
201g-: central section of the glasswork side of the main hollow profile,
201e-: lateral section of the glasswork side of the main hollow profile,
201f-: lateral section of the glasswork side of the main hollow profile,
201h-: prolonged section of the lateral wall of the main hollow profile
201i-: prolonged section of the lateral wall of the main hollow profile
202 -: main chamber
203 -: protruding fastening member
204-: internal glazing gasket
206-: screw means receiving cavity,
207 -: protrusion
208-: internal glazing gasket bed receiving cavity
209 -: intumescent strip
210-: pressure plate profile,
211 -: washer
212 -: external glazing gasket
213 -: cover
214-: thermal break profile
301-: short screw means
302 -: main screw means
303 -: long screw means
304 -: interconnecting screw means
400-: glasswork

Claims

A fire-resistant building element (200) for supporting a glasswork (400), comprising a main metal hollow profile (201) forming a main chamber (202) and a pressure plate profile (210) for pressing down the glasswork (400) to be placed in said building element between the main metal hollow profile (201) and the pressure plate profile (210), sealing means placed between the main metal hollow profile (201) and the glasswork (400) to be supported by the fire-resistant building element, said main metal hollow profile (201) having a glasswork side (201a) and at least two lateral walls (201b, 201c) and a protruding fastening member (203) protruding outwardly from a central section (201g) of the glasswork side (201a) for receiving fastening means,
wherein a fire-resistant insert (100) is fixedly placed inside the main metal hollow profile (201) so as to border on at least the glasswork side (201a) of the main metal hollow profile (201)
said fire-resistant insert (100) comprising an external tubular profile (101) forming a first chamber (102), said external tubular profile (101) having at least one glasswork side (101a) shaped for bordering on at least glasswork side of said main metal hollow profile (201) from its interior wherein a composite material (110) fills at least partially the first chamber (102),
said fire-resistant building element (200) being characterized in that,
- An internal tubular profile (103) having a glasswork side, is arranged inside said external tubular profile (101) and forms a second chamber (104) inside said first chamber (102),

- a said internal tubular profile (103) and said external tubular profile (101) being fixedly interconnected on their two facing glasswork sides (101a),

- a composite material (110) filling at least partially the first chamber (102),
wherein said internal tubular profile (103) and said external tubular profile (101) are fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides (101a) by at least two bridging elements (105) so as to form at least one screw means receiving chamber (106) between the two interconnected facing glasswork sides (101a) of the internal and external profiles (101,103), and wherein the screw means can enter the screw means receiving chamber (106) of the fire resistant insert and further enter the second chamber (104) of the fire-resistant insert.
The fire-resistant building element according to claim 1, wherein the composite material (110) is filing additionally at least partially the second chamber (104).
The fire-resistant building element according to any claim from 1 or 2, wherein the internal tubular profile (103) comprises at least one longitudinal protrusion (107) protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.
The fire-resistant building element according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said at least one screw means receiving chamber (106) is threaded.
The fire-resistant building element according to any claim from 1 to 4, wherein the external tubular profile (101) comprises at least two lateral sides (101b,101c) which are shaped for at least partially bordering on at the lateral walls (201b, 201c) of said main metal hollow profile (201) from its interior.
A fire-resistant building element according to any claim from 1 to 5, wherein the glasswork side (201a) of the main metal hollow profile (201) comprises two flat lateral sections (201e, 201f) and a C - shaped central section (201g), said flat lateral sections (201e, 201f) being aligned and connected with the ends of the arms of the C-shaped central section (201g) and wherein the lateral walls (201b,201c) of the main hollow profile (201) have prolonged sections (201h, 201i) so as to form with the flat lateral sections (201e, 201f) and the arms of the C-shaped central section (201g) screw means insertion cavities (206), having a bottom for passing screw means (301) and side walls for guiding screw means (301), wherein the glasswork side (101a) of the fire-resistant insert (100) has lateral sections (101e, 101f) shaped so as to border on the bottom of said screw means insertion cavities (206) for passing screw means (301) into the fire-resistant insert (100) so as to fixedly place the fire-resistant insert (100) inside the main metal hollow profile (201).
A fire -resistant building element according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the pressure plate profile (210) is fixed to the main metal hollow profile (201) and to the fire-resistant insert (100) by means of screw means (302) so as the screw means (302) enter the screw means receiving chamber (106) of the fire-resistant insert (100).
A fire-resistant building element according to any preceding claim, wherein the main metal hollow profile (201) and the fire-resistant insert (100) are provided with at least one bore for inserting a peg (303) for fastening to another fire-resistant building element (200).
A method of manufacturing a fire-resistant building element (200) comprising the following steps:
- providing a fire resistant element (100) by extruding it as a structure of two interconnected metal tubular profiles (101,103) so at the first external tubular profile (101) surrounds the second internal tubular profile (103) forming two chambers (102, 104), the second chamber (104) being inside the first chamber (102), so that said internal tubular profile (103) and said external tubular profile (101) are fixedly interconnected on two facing glasswork sides (101a) by at least two bridging elements (105) so as to form at least one screw means receiving chamber (106) between the two interconnected facing glasswork sides (101a) of the internal and external profiles (101,103), so that the screw means can enter the screw means receiving chamber (106) of the fire resistant insert and further enter the second chamber (104) of the fire-resistant insert,

- filling at least partially the first chamber (102) with a composite material (110)

- providing a main hollow metal profile (201) by extruding it

- finally treating the main metal hollow profile (200) so as to coat its external surface

- cutting the fire-resistant insert (100) and the main hollow profile (201) into desired lengths

- inserting the fire-resistant insert (100) into the main hollow profile (201)

- fastening the fire-resistant insert (100) to the main hollow profile (201) by screw means (301) after making suitable holes in the fire-resistant insert (100) and the main metal hollow profile (201), wherein the screw means (301) enter the screw means receiving chamber (106) of the fire resistant insert and further enter the second chamber (104) of the fire-resistant insert.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of providing a fire-resistant element (100) comprises additionally filing the second chamber (104) at least partially with the composite material (110).
The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the step of providing a fire-resistant element (100) comprises extruding the second internal tubular profile (103) additionally with at least one longitudinal protrusion (107) protruding outwardly and having a T-shaped cross-section.