Fire protection for buildings

Abstract

A heat and fire protection system and methods of protecting structural elements and assemblies from heat and fire. When a steel structure is erected vertical columns of the structure typically comprise I-sections. In order to provide fire protection for the I-sections and so improve the resistance to fire of the steel structure a column protection system has been developed. The column protection system includes column protection elements which are placed around an I-section. The column protection elements are secured to the I-section. Horizontal beams can also be protected by the column protection system.

1 . A heat/fire protection system for a structural assembly, the heat/fire protection system comprising:
 a plurality of cover elements, each of the cover elements including an attachment portion and a body portion, wherein the body portion provides both structural rigidity and heat/fire protection.   
     
     
         2 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , which is a heat/fire protection system for a structural assembly of columns and beams. 
     
     
         3 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is adapted to provide heat/fire protection to a steel column or beam. 
     
     
         4 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is adapted to withstand temperatures in excess of those that can be withstood by steel before failure. 
     
     
         5 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is self-supporting. 
     
     
         6 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover elements are adapted to surround elements of the structural assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover elements include interengaging projections and recesses or cut-outs to allow two cover elements to surround an element of the structural assembly and engage with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is a collar adapted to be secured to a structural member. 
     
     
         9 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover element comprise inner and outer sections. 
     
     
         10 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner section is a thermal insulation material. 
     
     
         11 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 10 , wherein the inner section is in a preformed shape, adapted to fit between a structural member and the outer section. 
     
     
         12 . A structural member, optionally a beam or column, incorporating a cover element as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A cover element as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A structure comprising a fire protection system and a structural assembly as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of protecting a structural assembly comprising a plurality of structural elements from heat/fire, the method comprising:
 fitting a plurality of cover elements to the structural elements of the structural assembly, wherein body portions of the cover elements provide both structural rigidity to the cover elements and heat/fire protection to the structural assembly.   
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a protected structural member comprising:
 securing at least one attachment portion to a structural element; and   securing a body section over the at least one attachment portion, wherein the body portion provides both structural rigidity and heat/fire protection.   
     
     
         17 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 8 , wherein the structural member comprises an I-section. 
     
     
         18 . The heat/fire protection system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal insulation material comprises rock wool or mineral wool.