FR2552477A1 - MODULAR PANEL FOR SAFE FLOORS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE MODULAR PANEL FOR RAISED FLOORS CONSISTS OF A MAIN LAYER IN A MASS OF WOOD CHIPS, ON THE UPPER SIDE OF WHICH IS APPLIED A COATING WHICH CONSTITUTES THE PLAN OF THE FLOOR. THE LOWER SIDE IS COMBINED WITH A LAYER OF A MATERIAL HAVING A LOW HEAT TRANSMISSION COEFFICIENT, COVERED WITH A THIN METAL SHEET - FOR EXAMPLE OF ALUMINUM - WHICH HAS THE FUNCTION OF REFLECTING THE INCIDENT RADIATION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. WHICH ALLOWS TO OBTAIN EXTENDED LAPS OF TIME BEFORE THE PANEL COLLAPSES AND TO ENSURE SAFETY MARGINS FOR THE EVACUATION OF THE PREMISES.

Description

Modular panel for raised floors.

  The present invention relates to a modular panel for raised floors.

  It is known that in many cases, for the manufacture of floors without involving a load-bearing floor structure, so-called "raised" floors are prepared which are composed of modular panels associated with each other by a suitable frame and which are arranged so as to leave an intermediate space below said raised floor. These panels, which constitute the floor, are of the modular type and are usually made using various kinds of materials, including steel, aluminum, cement, plaster or a composition thereof. These panels must meet the requirements of dimensional stability, mechanical strength, resilience

and low cost.

  The most common material consists of a mass of glued wood chips which is obtained as is known by kneading and subjecting the chips to high pressure.

  of wood and thermosetting resins.

  However, these panels have the major disadvantage of not withstanding the fire, although it has been studied methods of fireproofing or application of leaves or

  metal plates that have somewhat improved the situation.

  The all-metal panels of welded steel or die-cast aluminum not only have a very high cost but also have a high thermal conductivity which gives them characteristics of resistance to a flame which develops below but their

  gives the great disadvantage of causing an almost immediate rise in temperature, even of the surface of the panel which is not exposed to the flame.

  The cast concrete or plasterboard panels 35 have good fire resistance but are fragile,

  heavy and difficult to build and install.

  Recently panels made from a mixture of plaster, organic or synthetic fibers and various binders have been made and put on the market; these panels have good mechanical characteristics and fire resistance, but they are expensive and have a high weight. The purpose of the present invention is to develop

  a panel for raised floors that overcomes the problems and disadvantages that can be attributed to panels that are currently in production.

  Therefore the primary goal is to achieve a

  panel having high mechanical strength.

  A second goal is to create a panel having

good fire resistance.

  Another object is to provide a panel that can be easily worked in a production line and can be cut easily for laying operations and

implementation.

  Another goal is to make a sign of

moderate cost price.

  These and other objects which will appear more clearly in the following are achieved by means of a modular panel for raised floors characterized in that it comprises: a) a load-bearing layer constituted by a mass of wood chips having good mechanical characteristics, (b) an upper layer of covering which constitutes the plane of the floor, (c) a lower layer of fire-resistant material. d) a lower coating of this resistant material

  fire consisting of a thin metal sheet.

  Other features and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the

  detailed description of a preferred embodiment given for information but not limiting and illustrated in the

  FIG. 1 shows a section of a normal panel in -3 a mass of wood chips; Figure 2 shows a section of a panel following the

present invention.

  Referring to the figures cited, FIG. 1 shows a normal panel comprising a main support layer 1 usually consisting of a mass of pressed wood chips, combined at the top with a coating layer 2 in one. more resistant material.

  This upper layer 2 constitutes the floor plan.

  The lower face of said main support layer 1 is usually coated with a plastic laminate or with a metal sheet 3 or a thin aluminum foil, while the side edge is finished by means of a layer 15 which is generally made of plastic material 4.

  As has already been said, such a panel has only a poor resistance to a fire that would develop

facing the lower part.

  The panel according to the invention which is shown in FIG. 2, consists of a first layer 5 which also preferably consists of a mass of wood chips and which must not

  exclusively fill only mechanical support functions.

  The upper face of this layer is also combined with a coating 6 which constitutes the plane of the floor. On the other hand, the underside of the support layer is coupled to a second layer 7 of a high-heat-resistant material which acts as a "heat shield". By way of example, this inert screen can be produced by means of cement, fiber cement, Eternit, cardboard or asbestos boards or panels or, in particular, by means of panels obtained from a mixture of plaster, organic or synthetic fibers and various binders, characterized

  by a particular cutting ability which adds to optimal mechanical and thermal characteristics.

  The lower face of this layer 7 is preferably covered with a thin metal foil 8, for example

in aluminium.

  The panel thus formed essentially has a layer 5 with high mechanical strength which gives, to a large extent, the characteristics of robustness and which can

  this reason, to be called "carrying" layer.

  The bearing layer is associated with its lower part with a very heat-resistant layer A which develops a largely passive action, but continues in time, in the thermal transmission of the lower face

at the bearing layer.

  In particular, the already mentioned panel obtained from a mixture of plaster, fibers and organic binders has the particularity of carbonizing but not

  burn, which reduces the already poor thermal conductivity and provides good insulation of the porantant layer.

  The metal sheet that covers the underside of the panel has the function of reflecting most of the incident radiation by increasing considerably

the duration of the fire resistance.

  The panel made by means of this combination retains the characteristics of strength and mechanical stability necessary to obtain a good floor, and is, moreover, particularly safe in case of fire because the transfer of heat from the underside 25 on the upper side takes place in a lapse of time

  long enough to allow the evacuation of the premises.

  In addition to this, the partial use of a layer in a mass of chips allows to obtain a panel of moderate cost price and not excessive weight. The two materials used in the main layers can be easily worked both in the

  production lines on the construction site.

  By what has been described and illustrated, it can be seen that all the desired objectives have been achieved by providing a particularly advantageous raised floorboard.

and fire resistant.

  the distribution of the thicknesses between layer 5 and layer 7 must be carried out taking into account the -5

  mechanical characteristics in the layer 5 and the thermal insulation that we want to obtain.

  It is obviously possible to use equivalent materials having the same function.

  The modular panel for raised floors is characterized in that it comprises: a) a load-bearing layer consisting of a mass of wood chips having good mechanical characteristics. B) an upper layer of coating which constitutes a floor plan, c) an inerior layer of fire-insulating material, d) a lower coating consisting of a thin layer of

metal foil.

  Modular panel according to claim 1 characterized in that said bearing layer is constituted by a mass of wood chips pressed thickness calculated in

  function of the mechanical resistance that one wants to obtain.

  3. Modular panel according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper coating layer is associated with the load-bearing layer and consists of an abrasion resistant material capable of constituting the

floor plan.

  Modular panel according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower layer of fire insulating material is preferably, but not necessarily, formed by a layer of a pleated mixture of cellulose fibers and organic binders having

  fire resistance characteristics.

  Modular panel according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said lower covering consists of a thin metal foil, preferably of aluminum.