This invention relates to a fire barrier for sealing an opening in a wall against the passage of smoke and flames therethrough.

The large reception areas and foyers often found in large buildings such as office complexes, hotels, banks etc, are often divided into smaller units by means of partition walls, and typically openings are provided in such walls through which business can be conducted and people can communicate. A problem with such practice is that if fire breaks out in one part of the reception area or foyer, it can spread rapidly, and in a more or less unimpeded manner, to other parts of the reception area or foyer, since the individual units have hitherto tended not to be separated by means of reinforced fire-resistant doors and other physical barriers to the passage of fire.

It is an object of this invention to overcome, or at

least alleviate, this problem.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a fire barrier device for installation in an opening in a wall to resist the passage therethrough of fire, the fire barrier comprising a flexible curtain formed from or comprising intumescent material; support means for supporting the curtain at the upper end of said opening; and latch means for holding the curtain in a stowed configuration at the upper end of the opening; the latch means being connectable to, and actuable by,an associated fire or smoke detector, to release the latch means, to allow the curtain to unravel to close the opening; the curtain material being sufficiently intumescent to intumesce in the presence of heat to seal the opening against passage of fire therethrough.

The support means can take the form of a framework, e.g. of rectangular form, which lines the opening in a wall. Such a framework will typically comprise a base member, side walls and an upper frame member spanning the side walls. The flexible curtain may be secured to the upper frame member. The side walls of the framework may be configured so as to define channels which guide the curtain as it descends to block the opening. Such channels may be defined by the side walls and inwardly directed flanges extending from the upright edges thereof.

The curtain preferably is arranged for free-fall once the latch means is released, and advantageously is stowed in a folded concertina form. Alternatively, the curtain

may be wound on a roller mounted in the upper end of the framework or opening, but this is a less preferred form of construction since the roller may have a greater tendency to stick or jam in an emergency.

The curtain preferably is formed from a cloth, e.g. glass cloth, impregnated with an intumescent substance or composition. Such a substance can be, for example, an alkali metal silicate such as sodium silicate, or an expandable graphite such as exfoliated graphite.

In order to facilitate folding into a concertina configuration, the curtain may be provided with substantially horizontal fixed fold lines, of alternating direction of fold. The fold lines may be fixed by virtue of being sewn into the curtain.

The curtain usually will be provided at its lower end with a weight to assist its descent. The weight can take the form of, for example, an elongate generally flat metal (e.g. steel) strip. In order to prevent impact damage as the curtain descends, the underside of the elongate strip and/or upper surface of the opening or the base member of the framework may be provided with cushioning means; for example, a foam strip.

The lower end of the curtain is preferably provided with a latching member for engagement with a complementary member of the latch means.

The latching means most preferably is in the form of an electromagnetic latch comprising an electromagnet secured to the support means or to an upper portion of the

framework, and a complementary latch member secured to the lower end of the curtain, which latch member is attracted and held by the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energised.

Alternatively, the latching means can take the form of asolenoid having a plunger which, in the absence of smoke or fire, engages a suitable detent such as a recess or aperture in the complementary latch member to hold the curtain in the raised position, but which upon receipt of a signal from the smoke/fire detection means, disengages from the detent to allow the curtain to fall.

The fire barrier device of the present invention preferably is provided with electrical connections enabling it to be connected to a source of power for the electromagnet or solenoid and to smoke/fire detection means.

In another aspect, the invention provides a fire protection system comprising a fire barrier device as hereinbefore defined, and smoke/fire detection means actuable to release the latch when smoke and/or fire is detected.

The invention will now be illustrated, but not limited by reference to the particular embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire shutter according to one embodiment of the invention, with the curtain shown in the "down" position;

Figure 2 is another front elevation of the embodiment

shown in Figure 1, but with the curtain in the raised position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line I-I in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 4.

Turning now to the drawings, it can be seen that the fire shutter comprises a framework 1, into which is secured a fire curtain 2. An electromagnetic latch arrangement 3,4 can hold the fire curtain in a folded raised position, as shown in Figure 2, or a lowered position, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

The framework 1 is formed of an appropriate metal such as mild steel and comprises a base member 5, side walls 6, upper frame member 7, and front and rear cross members 8 and 9 respectively. Base member 5, side walls 6, and front and rear cross members 8 and 9 may be formed integrally by fabrication from a single strip or sheet of steel plate or can be constructed by welding together the members 5 and side walls 6. The upright edges of each side wall 6 are bent inwardly to form flanges 10; this being most readily apparent from Figure 3. The side wall 6, together with its associated flanges 10, defines a channel to guide the travel of the fire curtain 2 between raised and lowered positions. The upper frame member 7 is formed with flanged

edges which fit over the upper edges of the cross members 8 and 9 and are detatchably secured thereto by screws 12.

Affixed to the underside (e.g. by welding) of the upper frame member 7 are steel brackets 13 which are L-shaped in cross section. The portions 14 of the brackets

13 outstanding from the surface of upper frame member 7, are drilled to receive screws 15. The outstanding portions

14 together with the screws 15 together constitute a means for attaching the upper edge of the fire curtain 2 to the rame member 7.

Secured to the lower edge of the fire curtain 2 by means of screws 16 and elongate brackets 17 of L-shaped cross-section, is an elongate flat steel plate 18, which is sufficiently heavy to ensure that the fire curtain descends fully. Affixed to the underside of steel plate 18, e.g. by means of an appropriate adhesive, is an elongate strip 19 of a resilient plastics foam or sponge material, which serves to cushion the steel plate 18 against the base member 5. Extending forwardly of the steel plate 18, from a point approximately equidistant from the two side walls 6, is a generally tongue-shaped member 20, which can be formed integrally with the plate 18 or manufactured separately and welded thereto. Secured to the upper surface of tongue-shaped member 20, by means of a screw (not shown) is a generally circular metal plate 4, which constitutes part of the electromagnetic latch mechanism.

Attached to the front cross member 8, by means of screws and extending across the width of the frame 1 is a

hood or skirt-like arrangement 21, which is formed integrally from bent steel strip. Disposed beneath the hood 21, at approximately the mid-point between the two side walls 6 is an electromagnetic latch 3. The latch 3 is connected, by means of external wiring to an appropriately sited smoke detector (not shown) or to another component of a smoke/fire detection system. A reset switch 23 is provided so that the electromagnetic latch 3,4 can be re-energised following premature release, or after testing of the system.

The fire curtain 2 is formed of a glass cloth, impregnated with an intumescent material, examples of which include alkali metal silicates such as sodium silicate.

The curtain 2 has fold lines 24 sewn into it at intervals along its length. Such fold lines assist the folding of the curtain into a "concertina" configuration when held in the raised position.

The fire shutter typing is installed in a suitable window aperture in a wall or partition (not shown) and drilled holes are provided in framework 1 to enable attachment by means of screws, nails or like fixing means. Once installed, in normal use, the electromagnetic latch 3 is maintained in an energised state, thereby attracting latch member 4 and holding the curtain 2 in the folded raised position as shown in Figure 2.

If the smoke/fire detection system detects the presence of smoke or flames in the vicinity, the electromagnetic latch 3,4 is de-energised, and the magnetic

attraction between latch members 3 and 4 thus disappears. The curtain 2 then falls under its own weight and the weight of metal plate 18, guided by the channels defined by side walls 6 and flanges 10, to close the opening. The foam or sponge layer 19 cushions the fall of the plate 18 and prevents damage to the base member 5. In the event that excess temperatures associated with fire are created adjacent the curtain, the intumescent material with which the curtain is impregnated intumesces and seals the opening against the passage of fire.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings Figures 1 to 5 is presented for the purposes of exemplification only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations could be made to the embodiment illustrated, without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of this application.