GB2524592B

GB2524592B - Cable support for suspended ceilings

Info

Publication number: GB2524592B
Application number: GB1405949.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Ward Derek
Original assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Intumescent Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2014-04-02
Publication date: 2019-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-02
Also published as: GB201405584D0; GB201405949D0; GB2524592A

Description

CABLE SUPPORT FOR SUSPENDED CEILINGS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cable support for suspended ceilings. More especially the invention relates to apparatus for retaining cables secured to or supported by a suspended ceiling of a building substantially in their supported position in the event of a fire.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many domestic and industrial buildings have suspended ceilings. Suspended ceiling systems generally comprise runners suspended horizontally from the roof structure of a building using hangers. Ceiling panels are then placed between the runners. The hangers are commonly wires, cables or rods that extend vertically from the ceiling above which are connected to the runners by connector clips.

At present, any electrical cabling simply lies across the suspended ceiling resting on its top surface. A problem occurs if the suspended ceiling collapses in the event of a fire. As the cables are supported only by the ceiling, any collapse of the ceiling will cause the cables to hang down to the floor or otherwise to a level where they represent a serious hazard to firefighters and people seeking to leave the building, especially in the presence of smoke where vision is impaired.

It is known that fire fighters have lost their lives or been seriously injured simply by becoming caught up within, and restrained by, dangling cables.

In some cases the cables may be housed within trunking extending across the suspended ceiling. The trunking is generally produced from a plastics material whose integrity quickly degrades in the event of excessive heat. A consequence of this is that, in the event of a fire, the physical integrity of the trunking quickly deteriorates to such an extent that the previously supported cables are eventually released causing them to hang down.

One objective of this invention is to prevent or at least alleviate this problem by providing a support for cabling and means to clamp the support to hangers of a suspended ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides cable support apparatus for a suspended ceiling, the apparatus comprising one or more supporting arms extending from a main body and means to clamp the main body in use to a vertical hanger of a suspended ceiling such that the or each supporting arm extends perpendicularly from the main body.

Preferably the main body comprises at least two plates separable from one another and means to clamp the plates together around the hanger during use.

Preferably each plate is metallic.

Preferably, at least one plate has adhered, or otherwise secured, thereto a layer of foil lined glass cloth lined internally with a coating of fire proof material, the glass cloth layer encapsulating a core of a fire-proofed material.

Preferably only one plate has a laminate structure. Preferably, in use, the hanger is sandwiched between the glass cloth layer of the said plate and the other plate.

Preferably the clamping means comprises a nut and bolt or threaded screw extending through both plates to secure the plates together.

Preferably a supporting arm extends from two opposing sides of the main body. Preferably the or each supporting arm is formed from metal rod like structure and is L-shaped. In use the long section of the L shape extends horizontally from the main body and the shorter section of the L shape extends upwardly from the end of the longer arm.

Preferably still the support arm comprises a single metal rod secured to the outer surface of one of the plates so to extend outwardly from both sides of the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is a view of one side of a cable support constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the other side of the cable support of figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section taken through the cable support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cable support illustrated in the figures comprises a main body section 1 with a generally square profile and an L-shaped supporting arm 2 extending from either side of the main body 1. As can be seen in figure 2, the supporting arm 2 is single metal rod 3 secured to one side of the main body 1 and extending outwardly from opposing sides of the main body 1.

In use, the main body 1 is clamped to a hanger 4 that hangs vertically within a suspended ceiling structure. In the embodiment described the hanger 4 is in the form of a metal rod. As has previously been identified though, the hanger 4 could be of wire or cable construction.

The orientation of the cable support, in use, is generally as shown in figures 1 or 2. The support arms 2 extend perpendicularly from the main body 1 such that they lie in the substantially horizontal plane. The short sections 5 of the L-shape extend upwardly from the end at right angles to the long sections 6. In this orientation the long sections 6 of the support arms 2 provide a point of support for cables extending across and between neighbouring cable supports clamped to other hangers within the suspended ceiling structure .

The clamping mechanism that clamps the main body 1 to the hanger 4 is best shown in figure 3.

The main body 1 comprises first and second metallic plates 7, 8 .

The second plate forms part of a laminate structure and has adhered to one surface thereof a first layer of foil lined glass cloth 9 lined internally with a coating of fire proof material. Adhered to the first layer of glass cloth 9 is a layer of ceramic-based heat resistant material 10. Adhered to the opposing surface of the heat resistant material 10 is a second layer of foil lined glass cloth 11.

Aluminium foil 12 is laminated to the glass cloth 9 using a Neoprene based adhesive. The other side of the cloth 9 is coated with a sprayed coating of a fire proofed liquid such as one known as PU.

In an alternative embodiment the glass cloth is not foil lined but instead is coated with a liquid containing an intumescent material such as graphite. A glass cloth with intumescent coating is adhered to either side of the inner layer of heat resistant material. Each glass cloth layer may be further secured to its side of the inner layer by staples or the like. The outer surface of each glass cloth may then be covered with foil.

The heat resistant material 10 may be a felt, for example, one that is available under the brand Flexi-felt ™. The material 10 may folded to provide a double layer for enhanced heat resistance .

In use, the plates 7, 8 are placed either side of the hanger 4 with the laminate material layers of the second plate 8 facing inwards towards the hanger 4. The plates 7, 8 are then bought together around the hanger to sandwich the hanger 4 between the second glass cloth layer 11 of the plate 8 and the first metallic plate 7. The plates 7, 8 are then bolted together using screws 13 or other appropriate means such as a nut and bolt.

In the embodiment of figure 2, the support arm 2 is a single metal rod 3 and is secured to the outer side of the second plate 8. The rod 3 is preferably welded to the plate 8. The rod 3 may alternatively be secured to the outer side of the first plate 7.

In an further embodiment (not shown) the first plate 7 also forms part of the same laminate structure as the second plate such that the hanger 4 is clamped between adjacent second layers of glass cloth 11 of each plate laminate.

Any of the laminate layers may be separable to clamp around the hanger 4.

An array of aligned cable supports installed on hangers within a suspended ceiling system provide a supported path for cables which will remain unaffected in the event that panels of the suspended system, beneath the cabling, collapse, for example in the event of fire.

Hangers are generally made of such materials that can accept high temperatures and tend to remain intact and in place in the event of fire. Moreover, the heat resistant layers within the main body structure 1 prevent the degradation of the clamping mechanism to the hanger 4. Consequently the cables should always remain supported.

Claims

1. Cable support apparatus for a suspended ceiling, the apparatus comprising one or more supporting arms extending from a main body and means to clamp the main body in use to a vertical hanger of a suspended ceiling such that the or each supporting arm extends perpendicularly from the main body.

2. Cable support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises at least two plates separable from one another and means to clamp the plates together around the hanger during use.

3. Cable support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each plate is metallic.

4. Cable support apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one plate has adhered or otherwise secured thereto a first layer of glass cloth lined with an intumescent coating, a layer of heat resistant material and a second layer of glass cloth lined with an intumescent coating.

5. Cable support apparatus according to claim 4, wherein only one plate has a laminate structure and, the hanger is in use, sandwiched between the second glass cloth layer of the said plate and the other plate.

6. Cable support apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the clamping means comprises a nut and bolt or threaded screw extending through both plates to secure the plates together.

7. Cable support apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting arm extends from two opposing sides of the main body.

8. Cable support apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the or each supporting arm is formed from metal rod like structure .

9. Cable support apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the or each support arm is L-shaped.

10. Cable support apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the or each support arm is secured to an outer surface of one of the plates so to extend outwardly from both sides of the main body.