GB2277871A

GB2277871A - Fire resistant containers

Info

Publication number: GB2277871A
Application number: GB9309942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Alfred Ward
Original assignee: Environmental Seals Ltd
Current assignee: Environmental Seals Ltd
Priority date: 1993-05-14
Filing date: 1993-05-14
Publication date: 1994-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-14
Also published as: GB9309942D0; GB2277871B

Abstract

A container comprises a casing 1 and a door 3, both formed of a non-flammable material (e.g. metal) and latch means 7, 28 for securing the door 3 in a closed position. Both casing 1 and door 3 are lined with layers (13, 14a, 16 Fig. 3) of an intumescent adhesive, a heat resistant thermal insulating material, and an intumescent strip. The fire resistant container may be used to protect filing cabinets from the effects of fire. <IMAGE>

Description

FIRE RESISTANT CONTAINER The present invention relates to a fire resistant container particularly suitable for containing and protecting from the effects of fire, filing cabinets and like storage containers.

More particularly, the present invention provides a container comprising a casing and a door, both formed of a non-flammable material and latch means for securing the door in a shut position; the casing and door each being lined with layers of an intumescent material and a heat resistant thermal insulating material.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a container as hereinbefore defined wherein the casing is of a size to permit an item of storage furniture to be -contained therein.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a composite unit comprising a container as hereinbefore defined and, removably contained therein, an inner container, eg an item of storage furniture such as a filing cabinet.

The casing and door of the container of the invention are each preferably formed of a metal material, for example an iron-based material such as mild steel.

The lining preferably extends over substantially the entire inner surface of the casing and door.

The intumescent material can be in the form of an intumescent paint or coating, or in the form of an intumescent strip or sheet material.

The intumescent strip or sheet material may be secured against the inner metal surface of the casing and/or door by means of a suitable adhesive. Examples of intumescent strip or sheet materials are those disclosed in our co-pending British Patent applications numbers 9224199.1 and 9207659.5 (Publication No. 2254609A).

Examples of intumescent paint compositions include intumescent paint compositions comprising a paint base and intumescent substance such as an alkali metal silicate, eg.

sodium silicate.

The thermal insulating material can be in the form of a sheet or block of a ceramic fibrous material or a man-made mineral fibre (MMMF) of known type such as rockwool.

An embodiment of the invention will now be -illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a container according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view in cross section along line XX of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of portion A in Figure 2; and Figures 4a and 4b are enlarged fragmentary views of the locking mechanism of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring now to the drawings, it can be seen that the container comprises a casing 1, which in this embodiment can be fabricated from 1.5 mm mild steel plate. Casing 1 is linked by means of a continuous hinge 2 to door 3, which in this embodiment can be fabricated from 1.2 mm mild steel plate. In this embodiment, both the casing and door are of all-welded construction, although alternative fastening means, for example rivets or bolts can be used if desired. Surrounding the opening 4 of casing 2, is an inwardly directed flange 5 which on one upright portion 6 thereof is provided witha series of elongate slots 7, the purpose of which will be described below. A pair of parallel spaced apart metal strips 8 are secured by means of welding to floor 9 of the casing 2 and extend from the front to the back of the casing.Strips 8 function as runners enabling a piece of storage furniture such as a -- filing cabinet to be slid easily into the cabinet without damaging the intumescent/thermal insulation lining.

The structure of the wall of the container is shown -more clearly in Figures 2 and 3. There it can be seen that the walls 10 of the casing are lined with an intumescent/ thermal insulating layer 11. The laminar structure of layer 11 is shown more clearly in Figure 3, from which it is apparent that the layer 11 comprises an inwardly facing glass fibre decorative layer 12 secured by means of an intumescent adhesive 13 to a sheet of ceramic fibrous board 14. Board 14 is provided as its inwardly facing surface with a layer of vermiculite 14a, which in turn is secured by means of adhesive layer 15 to intumescent strip material 16, and intumescent strip layer 16 in turn is attached to cabinet wall 10 by means of adhesive layer 17.The intumescent strip layer typically is formed from a mixture of intumescent particles (eg. exfoliating graphite or sodium silicate) and an inorganic fibre material such as rock wool or ceramic fibre. Methods of preparing strip materials of the aforementioned type are disclosed in our co-pending British Patent applications numbers 9224199.1 and 9207659.5 (Publication number 2254609A), the disclosures in which are incorporated by reference herein.

The structure of door 3 is shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, from which is apparent that the door 3 comprises a front plate 18 which, at its lateral edges - - extends into inclined surfaces 19. Extending inwardly from the outermost edges of inclined surfaces 19 is a peripheral flange 20. Flanges 21, 22 and 23 extend outwardly from, and perpendicular to, peripheral flange 20. Upper and lower horizontal flanges 21 and 23 are provided at one end thereof with mounting holes 24, 25 for retaining locking shaft 26 The operation of locking shaft 26 is controlled by handle or knob 27 secured to the top of the shaft 26. Extending laterally from locking shaft 26 are a series of hook like projections 28 arranged to penetrate and engage slots 7 on the casing.As can be seen more clearly from Figures 4A and 4B, in use knob 27 is lifted to allow the hook like projections 28 to pass through elongate slots 7 upon closing the door 2.

Releasing the knob 27 allows locking shaft 26 and with it the hook like projections 28 to fall, the ends 29 of hook like projections 28 thereafter preventing opening of the door unless knob 27 and shaft 26 are first lifted.

Door 2 is lined with an intumescent paint/thermal insulation layer 11 in the same manner as the casing. In those locations where it is not feasible to insert layers of insulating and intumescent material, the interior of the metal door is coated with an intumescent paint, which may be of known type.

The container specifically illustrated and described above is intended to contain a filing cabinet of conventional construction. In the event of fire, the intumescent material 16 intumesces and expands rapidly such that the layer 11 fills the space between the metal wB11 of the casing 1 and the wall of the filing cabinet.

The combination of intumescent material and thermal insulating material prevents flames from entering the filing cabinet and protects the filing cabinet and its contents from the heat of a fire for a prolonged period.

The foregoing specific description and drawings illustrate one particular embodiment of the invention, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the fire-resistant cabinet illustrated without departing from the principles underlying the present invention. All such modification and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A container comprising a casing and a door, both formed of a non-flammable material and latch means for securing the door in a shut position; the casing and door each being lined with layers of an intumescent material and a heat resistant thermal insulating material.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the casing is of a size to permit an item of storage furniture to be contained therein.

3. A container according te Claim 1 cr Claim 2 wherein the casing and door are each formed cf a metal material.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the lining extends over substantially the entire inner surface of the casing and door.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the intumescent material is in the form of an intumescent paint or coating, or in the form of an intumescent strip or sheet material.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the intumescent strip or sheet material is secured against an inner metal surface of the casing and/or door by means of a suitable adhesive.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the thermal insulating material is in the form of a sheet or block of a ceramic fibrous material or a man-made mineral fibre.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the casing is of a size to permit a filing cabinet to be contained therein.

9. A container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A composite unit comprising a container as defined in any one of the preceding Claims, and, removably contained therein, an inner container, e.g. an item of storage furniture such as a filing cabinet.