Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This is a divislon of Canadian Application Serial No.
253,713 filed May 31, 1976.
; BACKGOUND OF TIIE :tNVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a smoke stop for~doors.
Description of the Prior Art
It has long been a desire of the construction industry
to provide a smoke stop between a closed door and the frame
, supporting the door. This smoke stop provides numerous advantages.
If the smoke stop is effective as a smoke stop, it prevents smoke
from passing through the door passage when a fire exists on one
side of the door. This feature is extremely important from a
health and safety standpoint. An additional advantage of a smoke
stop is that it prevents passage of air into the room containing
~- a flame thereby slowing the rate of spread of the flame.
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~ la~ly ~ o~ )t s h~ve beoll mad~ to prc~)arc a smokc stop
5'or ~loors. Th~ rl rr;~, such attclnpts made use of sea]ing
materlals bctween trhc fr.lrrle and the door. Thcsc materials,
ul~on closinG of ~ e door, were collll)rc-ssed bctween the door
and frame thcr~l)y rorlnl,lg a seal therebcl,ween. The ~ls~dvalltage
Or t~liS type of collstm~ctioll is ~hat at al] times the resilient
matel~ial m~lst con~act the closed door, and t,he opening and
closing of the door is t~lertby irn~eded. Additionally, wear
on the door is caused by the consequent relative frLctional
movement upon openlng and closing the door. If the edge o~
the door is a decorative surface, i.e., a highly rinished
pa~nted or varnished section, then the constant contactirlg
with the resilient material upon oper;ing and closing of the
door debases this higllly decora~ive surface making it unsightly
when the door remairls open.
The use of i.ntumescent materials to seal the space
between a door and a frame is not novel. Many attempts have
been made to utilize intumescent materials, i.e., rnaterials
that expand upon appllcation Or heat, to overcome the problems
associated with the usage of the resillent facings and yet
to provide an effective seal between the frame and the door
upon contact thereof with a flame. Thsse prior attempts,
however, h~ve all fallen short Or the intended goal for one
or more reasons. The baslc fallure of the systerns has been
due to the fact that most of the systems use an exposed
intumescent material which upon sufricient heating melts and
runs down the door thereby relinquishing its sealing proper-ties.
Other systems provide sealing with a combustible material
which soons burns away and provides only a temporary solution
before again presenting the problem of the material melting
and destroying the seal. Still other systems have utilized
s]ots wlthin the rrame with the slots containing an exposed
Intumetpcrlt mQterial whi~h upon he~tint exponds nd extrudet
o~l~ o~ t~ t~ (? b ~' ~ W~ ( rl ~ ? ~lo()r ,1r1(l t~
ran~(~. Thi.; :y;~.~m, however, rrli 15 f'oc the ~ame reasons
me~,~lr,ued f1bo~(~, n~mcly, t.h.lt ~hc matcr1.al soor1111e].ts and
ti)e seal beco~ s -1noperat;1ve.
Prior i::;uld pLIlests (le111f~r13~ 1 t~-nSt t~1e a~Jove-dlsc1lssed
:;y~tems h~ve the shrrtcomings explall1e1 witi1 relati(n thereto.
In Ur~i1ed State l'atcn~ 3,7//1,3L15, a grood exan1p~e of the
resi].i.ent C~;ntrlCt 1n-type dtsi.f,1. i9 'ShOWrl. 'I'hi S constant
cont~ t and rubl)i1,g wi.th the door, ht,~cver, ten(ls to d~face
the door clnd thereby rm1kes thi 9 type ol` sysi(sn undesi.rnblt-.
Norwegian Pater1t ~R 6fi,400 .~s an early example of an intume;cerlt
sil1l1lly laid 1lp(~n the door rrame itselr for expansion upon
heatir1b. Th1s sys~em, ~1owever, has t~e conse~1uer1t shortco1rlings
Or tho mate~ic,i me]1lr1g an(l t~len not providi11g an adtqua1e
seal betwee11 the door and t:he rrame. r~ikewise~ Bri.tlsh
Pat;el(t 896,l4~) provides a similar systen1 with an intumescent
material on the race of the frarne; however, one embodin1ent
;~ of this patel1t dol-s provide an adr:titional supE~oIt for the
. intumescent material w1.ich prever1ts expansion in or,e direct;ion.
rhi.s system, however, ctoes have the shortcoming of the
in~:ume:cent materlal.'s being able to quickly melt and run
out of the sealir1g ~r a thereby cclusing a fai].ure of the
smoke stop system. British Patent ~9fi,150, provides sti.ll
anoth..r system of pla~ing an i.ntumesc~nt.11,aterlal within
slot ln the fra1ne, but this system mer-?ly directs the channelin
of the lntumescent material in a dlrrerent direction and
does not overcome the hereinabove discur;3ed associated
; proble11(s. Norwegi:1n Paten1; .~R lO4,072, is a system almost
identlcal to the ]as~ mentioned British Patent but enclo;ing
the intumescent materi.al in a rapidly decomposable tube
whlch soon b(lrns away thus leading to the same problems
discussed in re1ation to the above-me11tioned desiens.
Unlted States Patent 2,9lO,739, makes use of intun1escerit
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matcr:lals llac~d Ln a sLot in thc door, but, at best, tlle improve-
mcnt thercln ifi one in ~i~lch would encloses a portlon of the
intumcsccllt material caus:Lng the obvlous problem of the wood's
rapidly burnlng away thereby exposing the intrumescent material
to flame which readi]y dest:roys lt and the seal provided thereby.
Danish Patent 93,373, provides for an enclosed material, but the
intumescent material can only expand througll slots in the frame,
and after extr~ding through thc slots, the material again creates
the problems discussed llereinbefore. United States Patent
3,566,541, makes good use of a combination of the prior art systems
providing for one exposed strip of intumescent material which has
the problems discussed hereinbefore, but which also provides for
an enclosed intumescent material sealed within a resilient
contacting sealer. This design not only causes permanent contact
and frictional wear on the door due to the continuous contact
upon closing of the door, but as well, has the problems associated
with a rapidly decomposable container for the intumescent material
which, upon burning, provides the same problems discussed herein-
before. Likewise, Danish Patent NR 92,422, provides an intumescent-
material completely enclosed by a combustible material which upon
the flame contacting the combustible material creates the same
problems discussed hereinbefore. Finally, United States Patent
3,426,491, makes good use of a sandwich-type system for sandwich-
ing the intumescent material between metal and wood, but again,
this system fails to prevent ready escape of the intumescent
material creating the consequent failure of the seal upon heating.
In the design of this invention, the metal frame has a
slot running the length thereof with an intumescent material con-
tained within the slot by one or more fins made of a material
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havillg rcLarded dccompos.lbillt~ at the kindllng temperature of
the door.
Upon eY.pans-ion of the intumescent material, upon
application of heat, the fLns are pressed lnto contact with the
door.
SUMMARY OF T~l~ INV~NTION
It is an object Or this inventlon to provide a smoke
stop for doors.
It is a further object of this invention to provide
a smoke stop for doors which will not fail at the kindling
temperature of a wood door.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide
a combination door and frame which provides for a smoke stop
therebetween upon heating of the door and the frame due to flame
exposure.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide
an assembled wall with a door and frame therein having a smoke
stop provided in the door frame for sealing the space between the
door and the frame when the wall is exposed to flames.
It is a further objec. of this invention to provide a
method for making a door frame which upon exposure to flames
provides a smoke stop between the frame and a door closed therein.
The objects of this invention according to the parent
application are-accomplished by a smoke stop for doors comprising:
a metal frame member with a slot therein extending along sub-
stantially the entire length of the frame member; a continuous
tube disposed within the slot, the continuous tube retarded
; decomposability at the kindling temperature of the door and the
continuous tube having one or more fins running the entire length
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thereof and projecting outward; and an intumescent material
completely enc]osed within ~he cont.inuous tube, whereby when
the door is closed and the ~rame member is subjected to flames,
the intumescent material expands causing one or more of the
fins on the tube to enter into enqagement with the door along
an edge thereo~ thereby providing a smoke stop between the door
and the frame member.
The objects of this invention, according to the parent
application, are also accomplished by a method of making a door
frame which when subjected to flames acts in conjunction with a
door to provide a smoke barrier, the method comprising: preparing
a door frame member with a slotted door stop extending along
substantially the entire length thereof; and inserting within the
slot a continuous tube containing an intumescent material, the
continuous tube having retarded decomposability at the kindling
temperature of the door, and the continuous tube having one or
more fins running the length thereof and projecting outward.
According to the present invention the above objects
are met by providing, in a door and door frame assembly the
: 20 improvement comprising: a metal door frame member having a
door stop with a slot extending along substantially the entire
length of the door frame member; an intumescent material within
the slot; a fin assembly including a backing element and one or
more fins projecting therefrom, the fin assembly being made of
material having retarded decomposability at the kindling tempera-
ture of the door, the fin assembly sealing the intumescent
material within the slot and the fins being movable to a line Of
contact with the door, whereby when the door is closed and the
door frame member is subjected to flames the intumescent material
expands causing one or more of the fins to enter into contact
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cn~Jagemerlt ~Jith l~le door along an edc3e thereof thereby providing
a smoke stop betw~en thc ~oor and the frame member.
Additionally the ~bove objects are met by a method of
making a door frame assembly with a door s-top having a slot
running its entire len~Jth which when subjected to flames acts
in conjunction with a door to provide a smoke barrier, the method
comprising: preparing a door stop of a door frame member with
a slot running the entire length thereof; inserting an intumescent
material within the sloti and sealing the intumescent material
within the slot with a fin assembly including a backing element
and one or more fins projecting therefrom, the fin assembly
extending along substantially the entire length of the slot, the
; fin assembly having retarded decomposability of the kindling
temperature of the door.
- Furthermore the present invention is seen to encompass
~ a method for providing a smoke barrier in an opening in a wall,
?; the method comprising: preparing a door stop of a door frame
member with a slot running the entire length thereof; inserting
~; an intumescent material within the slot; sealing the intumescent
} 20 material within the slot with a fin assembly including a backing
element and one or more fins projecting therefrom, the fin assembly
extending along substantially the entire length of the slot;
~- inserting the door frame member within the opening; and attaching
a door to the door frame member the fin assembly having retarded
i decomposability at the kindling temperature of the door, whereby
when the door is closed and subjected to flames, the intumescent
material forces the fins outward into contact engagement with the
~- door thereby providing a smoke barrier for the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention may be more fully described, but is not
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limited by the attached drawings wherein;
FIG. 1 is a top cross-sectional view of the smoke stop
of this invention as attached to a wall and door;
FIG. 2 is a top cross-sectional view of another embodi-
ment of the smoke stop of this invention; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the
smoke stop of this invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of this invention are more
fully described by the attached drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1-3,
a door frame 11 is shown having a door stop 12 extending outward
therefrom to stop movement of the door 13 at the desired location.
The door frame has a slot 14 therein which, in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 and 3, contains a tube 15, of material which is non-
combustible at the kindling temperature of the remaining portions
of the system. The tube 15 has fins 17 integrally formed thereon
and also contains an intumescent material 18 which expands upon
exposure to heat and thus forces the fins 17 into contact with
the door 13.
For the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 intumescent material
18 resides within slot 14 of door frame 11 and is held therein
by a covering fin assembly 16 having a backing element and one or
more fins projecting therefrom. The fins engage the sides of slot
14 to seal the intumescent material within the slot. By engagement
of the fins with the sides of slot 14 a tube-like compartment for
the intumescent material is provided. The fin assembly 16 is made
,- of non-combustible material and as with the~ embodiment of FIGS. 1
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and 3, thc intumescent malcrial expands upon exposure to heat
and causeS the rins -to be ~orced outwardly into contact with door
: 13 to provide a seal bctween the door 13 and the frame 11.
The intumescent material may be that used in any of
the previously described systems as well as such material as is
described in United States Patents 2,912,393; 2,632,743 and
3,365,322 and includes additionally such materials as aluminum
chloride added to incompletely condensed phenol-formaldehyde
condensate5; ammonium salts, along with dextrin or urea,
with a riller,
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amrnoni.um i~ ") te, sugar, gum arablc~ and f'urthcr lncludlng
other addl.tives wel].l~no~rl to thc intnlmescent art such as
watcr, g]asC~ rlb--r, al.kali met;al r,i~i.cate and the many other
syr,tems known as lntulnescent rnaterlal, and other such systems
whlch have the property Or belng re~cll].y expand~ble upon
heat to the exterlt th~lt they f~orce outward t~le flns on the
tube so tha~ they wi.ll contact the door to provide a smoke
stop betwcen the door and rrarne. In other word3, any Or the
wel] known lntllmescellt rnaterlal are acceptable provldi.ng
10 that llpOII app] i cation of the heat range uf normal flame
temperatures withi.n a room, they readi.ly expand to force the
fi.ns outward in contact wlth ~he door. It has been found to
be particu].ar].y acceptable to use various plastic materials
which have cntralned or entrapped therein small particles ol'
water and which UpOIl heat expand forcing ~he plastic i.tse].f
to expand and force outward the fi.ns to the extent necessary
to contact the door. Any material of reduced or retarded
decomposabili.ty may be used for the continuous tube. It ls
preferable that such materlal be somewhat deformable or
resllicnt in order to accommodate the design requlrements Or
. the system.
Although, any wall system ls acceptable ror use ln thls
invention, the preferred embodirrlents lnclude a particularly
desirable type Or system whereirl the the door frame engages
wall panels 19 and 20 which are additlonally secured by stud
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- In the embodl.ment shown ln Figures 1-3, the expanslon
. Or the intumescent materlal caused by heating of the frame
forces the rins outward ln contact with the door providing
. 30 a seal between the door and the frame. Since the lntumescent
material is completely enclosed wlthin the slot, its expansion
merely forces the fins against the door but does not allow
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the intumescent material to escape thereby destroying the
seal. Even if cxtrcme heat cauv;es cxtlelrle pressurc withln
the intu:llescent materlal, tll( expansion wlll stl]l provlde
a smol;e stop by forcin~ non-combllstlble materLa] into the
seal whlch would remai.n ln splte of a leakage of the intumescent
ltsel r.
It may be seen that this new and n~vel inventl(,ll
prov:ldes a new and un1.que system whlch has heretofore been
unknown. The syst;em readily and inexpensivel.y overconles al].
. 10 Or the deficiencies Or pri~r systems and provites an eff'ective
smoke stop betweell a door and a rrame upon exposure Or the
door and the lrame to the heat Or a rlame. This new and
nove] design provldes heretofore unknown sarety features an-l
slgni.ricanl:ly advances constructi.on systems which provide
for smoke stops between doors and door frames.
'~ Having fu]ly descrlbed thls new and uni~ue lnvent-ion,
the rollowinæ is c~aimed:
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