PREVENTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE, IN PARTICULAR FOREST FIRE, INCLUDING A FLAME-RETARDANT SUBSTANCE, FLAME-RETARDANT FABRIC AND FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to preventive protection against fire, including forest fires. The embodiments include one or any combination of a flame-retardant substance, a flame-retardant composition, a flame-retardant fabric and a fire protection device comprising the same, to obtain different levels of protection. An exemplary flame-retardant substance can be configured for application to objects to be protected, and is obtained by a chemical reaction according to the formula [1]: M.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.x+n SiO.sub.2.fwdarw.M.sub.2O.sub.x.n SiO.sub.2+x CO.sub.2, wherein x=1, 2 and/or 3 and n is an integer between 1 and 10. The flame-retardant composition can include an exemplary flame-retardant substance in combination with a clay. An exemplary flame-retardant fabric can be configured for covering objects to be protected against fire and includes at least one woven layer containing silica glass. The flame-retardant substance may be applied to the flame-retardant fabric.

Claims

1. A flame-retardant substance for application to objects to be protected against fire including forest fire, wherein the flame-retardant substance is obtained by a chemical reaction according to the formula:
M.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.x+n Si0.sub.2.fwdarw.M.sub.2O.sub.x.n SiO.sub.2+x CO.sub.2, wherein x may be 1, 2 and/or 3 and n is an integer between 1 and 10.

2. The flame-retardant substance according to claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant substance is liquid and/or thinned with a thinning agent up to a thinning ratio of not more than 1 to 10 by volume or weight.

3. A flame-retardant composition comprising the flame-retardant substance of claim 1 mixed with a clay mineral.

4. The flame-retardant composition of claim 3, wherein the clay mineral is porcelain clay or kaolin.

5. The flame-retardant composition of claim 4, wherein the kaolin is Kaolinum ponderosum or Bolus alba.

6. The flame-retardant composition of claim 3, wherein the ratio (w/w) of flame-retardant substance to clay mineral is between 50:1 and 10:1.

7. Flame-retardant fabric for covering objects to be protected against fire including forest fire, comprising: at least one woven layer containing one or more of silica glass, aramide, or aluminum silicate.

8. Object treated with the flame-retardant substance according to claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant substance or composition is applied to the object in a liquid state by spraying, sprinkling, glazing, dotting, immersing and/or filling.

9. A method of using the flame-retardant substance according to claim 1, for protecting a flammable object against fire, the method comprising: applying the flame-retardant substance in a liquid state to the flammable object by spraying, sprinkling, glazing, dotting, immersing and/or filling; or covering the flammable object to be protected from fire with the flame-retardant substance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the flammable object is an insulting material, a paint, a finish, or a fabric or a wooden material.

11. The flame-retardant composition of claim 3, wherein the flame-retardant substance or composition is applied to the object in a liquid state by spraying, sprinkling, glazing, dotting, immersing and/or filling.

12. A method using the flame-retardant composition according to claim 3 for protecting a flammable object against fire, the method comprising: applying the flame-retardant substance mixed with a clay mineral to the flammable object to be protected by spraying, sprinkling, glazing, dotting, immersing and/or filling; or covering the flammable object with the flame-retardant substance mixed with a clay mineral.

13. The flame-retardant fabric of claim 7, comprising: fibers of pure silica glass in compound with aramide and/or aluminum silicate.

14. The flame-retardant fabric of claim 13, comprising: two, three or more identical or different layers.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein objects are covered with at least one woven layer containing one or more of silica glass, aramide, or aluminum silicate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a building furnished with a fire protection device according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a set of coupleable flame-retardant fabrics coupled with each other by coupling means in an abutting configuration.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a flame-retardant fabric containing cavities filled with flame-retardant substance, wherein the flame-retardant fabric is provided with a gap in front of an object to be protected against fire and exposed to the flame front.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Flame-Retardant Substance

[0034] The flame-retardant substance according to the present invention is obtained by a chemical reaction in accordance with the following formula [1a] below.

M.sub.2CO.sub.3+n SiO.sub.2.fwdarw.M.sub.2O.n SiO.sub.2+CO.sub.2[1a]

[0035] In this formula [1a], M is a monovalent metal, preferably sodium or potassium, n is an integer between 1 and 10 as defined above.

[0036] In some embodiments, divalent metals are used. In these embodiments MCO.sub.3 instead of or together with M.sub.2CO.sub.3 is used. MCO.sub.3 is employed as follows:

MCO.sub.3+n SiO.sub.2.fwdarw.MO.n SiO.sub.2+CO.sub.2[1b]

[0037] Preferred divalent metals are nickel, calcium or magnesium. Also trivalent metals such as aluminum may be used alone or together with mono and/or divalent metals. In these embodiments the stoichiometric equation is

M.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.3+n SiO.sub.2.fwdarw.M.sub.2O.sub.3.n SiO.sub.2+3 CO.sub.2.[1c]

[0038] The flame-retardant substance according to the present invention may be a mixture of the products formed in [1a], [1b] and/or [1c].

[0039] The flame-retardant substance may be formed under pressure and/or heat, preferably in an aqueous solution. The flame-retardant substance may form a sol or a gel. Upon contact with fire or heat the flame-retardant substance may lose water and may harden to a fire resistant solid.

[0040] The consistency of the flame-retardant substance according to the above chemical composition is preferably liquid or jelly-like. Accordingly, the flame-retardant liquid is also referred to as Watergel or water glass.

[0041] The flame-retardant substance according to the invention can be used straight/undiluted or diluted/thinned. The thinning ratio of the flame-retardant substance is preferably up to 1 to 10, so that one liter of water contains at least 100 milliliters of the flame-retardant substance. The flame-retardant substance may be sold in a can of e.g. five liter volume as a diluted ready-made mixture. Alternatively, flame-retardant substance may be sold in a can of e.g. two liters volume in an undiluted state as a base for subsequent dilution. Naturally, the flame-retardant substance can also be applied in an undiluted state to any objects to be protected against fire. Preferably, the flame-retardant substance is used in a mixture together with a clay. This mixture is also referred to herein as flame-retardant composition. More preferably, the mixture or flame-retardant composition contains the flame-retardant substance of the first or second embodiment and clay in a ratio (w/w) of between 100:1 and 5:1, preferably between 50:1 and 10:1, more preferably 20:1 and 12:1. Preferably, the ratio is the ratio of the dry components flame-retardant substance to clay. In one embodiment, water glass is admixed with kaolin (preferably Kaolinum ponderosum or Bolus alba) in a ratio (w/w) of between 50:1 and 10:1, more preferably 20:1 and 12:1. In another embodiment, sodium silicate is admixed with kaolin (preferably Kaolinum ponderosum or Bolus alba) in a ratio of between 50:1 and 10:1, more preferably 20:1 and 12:1. Water or an aqueous solution may be added to the compositions of the third embodiment of the invention.

Flame-Retardant Fabric

[0042] The flame-retardant fabric 3, also called fire-proof fabric, according to the invention is composed of pure silica glass in compound with aramide and/or aluminum silicate. It is preferably woven from fibers made from at least one of these materials. For the most efficient protection against fire according to a high-risk standard, about 100 milliliters of the flame-retardant substance are required per square meter of the flame-retardant fabric 3. The flame-retardant substance can be applied to the flame-retardant fabric 3 in any possible way, preferably by dotting and/or immersing the fabric, and/or filling cavities contained in the fabric and/or an underlay to the fabric 3.

[0043] To obtain the highest possible protective effect, the flame-retardant fabric 3 is used in three layers. Commercially available plastic foils of any strength can be used for filling an underlay, i.e. a layer underneath the fabric 3, with the flame-retardant substance.

FIELD OF USE OF THE INVENTION

[0044] For covering objects to be protected against fire, in particular forest fire, e.g. in case of flying sparks and a moderate thermal load, the flame-retardant fabric 3 without the flame-retardant substance is fully sufficient.

[0045] Hence, flame-retardant fabric 3 without the flame-retardant substance is useful for protecting garden sheds, vehicles and smaller annexes or extensions to existing buildings.

[0046] Sprinkling of the diluted or undiluted flame-retardant substance yet provides simple protection of tree population, lawn, meadow, and the like in case of danger to the own property e.g. by flying sparks.

[0047] As a preventive measure for protecting any objects against fire, in particular wooden objects and constructions, such as cabins or wooden sheds, a simple surface treatment, e.g. by glazing or pressure impregnation, with the undiluted or diluted flame-retardant substance is sufficient and sustainable. The preferred thinning ratio of the flame-retardant substance for surface treatment of objects to be protected against fire is not more than 1 to 5 by volume or weight (i.e. not more than five parts of water to one part of the flame-retardant substance). The advantage of the flame-retardant substance according to the invention is that no (visible) residues remain on the treated object.

[0048] A simple protection of objects can also be obtained with a flame-retardant fabric 3 according to the invention having at least three layers.

[0049] In case of flying sparks in combination with high thermal loads due to radiation, a more advanced protection of objects against fire may prove useful. In this case, the three layer flame-retardant fabric 3 containing the flame-retardant substance provides the highest possible protection and isolation against long-term thermal impact with temperatures of 800 to 1,000 C. It is noted that the flame-retardant substance according to the invention must not necessarily be contained in the flame-retardant fabric 3. For example, the flame-retardant substance according to the invention may be contained in an underlay or bedding layer to be arranged on the inside of the flame-retardant fabric 3, opposite to the fire front.

[0050] The flame-retardant fabric according to the invention may be embodied as a shutter, jalousie, curtain, sheet, mat, tissue and the like, and may have a soft or rigid structure.

[0051] The flame-retardant substance according to the invention may be applied to the flame-retardant fabric according to the invention or to any object to be protected against fire by spraying, sprinkling, glazing, dotting, immersing, filling and the like in an undiluted or diluted state. If diluted, a thinning ratio of the flame-retardant substance according to the invention is preferably not more than 1 to 10 (i.e. not more than ten parts of water to one part of the flame-retardant substance, preferably measured by volume or weight), 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 7, 1 to 6, 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3 or 1 to 2.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, which is a schematic front view of object O in the form of a house furnished with a fire protection device 1 according to the present invention, a case 2 containing the flame-retardant fabric 3 is installed under the roofline. In this embodiment, the flame-retardant fabric 3 is embodied as a jalousie, which is regularly stored in the case 2 in a retracted configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, the flame-retardant fabric 3 is partially deployed to extend outside the case 2 and to cover the upper part of the front side of the object O. Both side edges of the flame-retardant fabric 3 along the deployment direction are guided in guides 4 installed at both edges of the front side of the house. The guides 4 are heat-resistant and fire-proof and preferably from metal. In a cross-section perpendicular to the deployment direction, the guides 4 have an L-shaped or a U-shaped profile so as to extend on the outer side (L-shaped profile) or on the outer side and the inner side (U-shaped profile) of the deployed flame-retardant fabric 3. Preferably, the guides 4 engage with the edges of the flame-retardant fabric 3 in a form-fit fashion, so that the flame-retardant fabric 3 cannot escape from the guides 4, even when pressure is applied to the outside of the flame-retardant fabric 3, which is exposed to the flame front. As shown in FIG. 1, as set of coupleable flame-retardant fabrics 3 of another type may be used to cover the roof of the housing, wherein the shape of the set of coupled flame-retardant fabrics 3 is configured to correspond to the shape of the roof. The set of coupled flame-retardant fabrics 3 is fixed to the object O by means of latching devices 5 and the flame-retardant fabrics 3 are coupled with each other by means of coupling devices 6.

[0053] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a set of coupleable rectangular flame-retardant fabrics 3 coupled with each other by coupling devices 6 in an abutting configuration, wherein the set can be fixed to the object to be protected though latching devices 5.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a flame-retardant fabric 3 containing cavities 7 filled with the flame-retardant substance, wherein the flame-retardant fabric 3 is provided with a gap G in front of the object O and exposed to the flame front F.

Preferred Uses

[0055] The flame retardant composition of the invention (preferably a mixture of waterglass and kaolin) is suitable to protect many flammable materials against fire and to prevent many flammable materials from catching fire, respectively.

[0056] Such a material comprises an insulating material, a wooden material (living or not-living), a paint, a finish, or a fabric.

[0057] The insulating material may be made from or may contain foam glass, glass wool, mineral wool, styrofoam/EPS, Expanded clay, calcium silicate, perlite; PUR/PIR, XPS, flax, hemp, seagrass, wood wool, coconut fiber, felt, cork, sheep wool, cellulose, planer spun, cotton, glimerschief, a textiles, an expansion joint, a silicone, a silicate, or mixtures of any of these.

[0058] Another insulating material may be a cellulosic foam board, a cellulose flake, a blow-in, a hemp barrier board, a Cotton flake, a natural fiber, a wood fiber insulation board, a pressboard board, a reed pipe or a light construction board.

[0059] Another material is an additive used in the production of insulating materials, e.g. an additive made from a regenerative product, a leave (foliage) or the like.

[0060] The wooden material may comprise a plants or a tree or parts or elements thereof. Trees or plants may soak the flame retardant composition of the invention. In such an embodiment the plant or tree may be but into a vessel or container including the flame retardant composition of the invention together (e.g. in an aqueous solution or suspension). Plants and trees are thereby impregnated from the inside an will not catch fire.

[0061] The flame retardant composition of the invention may be used as an admixture or additive to a high press fire extinguishes, or a charge-extinguisher, preferably the flame retardant composition are used in an injector mode.

[0062] The flame retardant composition of the invention may be used in forest or field fires as medium spreaded in aisles.

[0063] The flame retardant composition of the invention may be dropping with outer load containers from helicopters or other flying vehicles.

[0064] The flame retardant composition of the invention may be used applied to a hydroshield as a fire protection surface.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0065] 1 Fire protection device [0066] 2 Case [0067] 3 Sheet [0068] 4 Guide [0069] 5 Latching device [0070] 6 Coupling device [0071] 7 Cavity [0072] F Flame Front [0073] O Object [0074] G Gap