Building façade constructed of curtain wall panels including fire-safing insulation and method of installation

Abstract

A building façade secured to a building structure having a plurality of floor levels can comprise a plurality of façade panels wherein one or more façade panels include a strip of fire-safing insulation. The façade panels can be secured to the building structure adjacent an edge of a floor with the strip of fire-safing insulation engaging the floor edge along a vertical surface and a horizontal surface of the floor. Additionally, a method of installing a façade on a building structure can comprise the steps of: providing a plurality of façade panels, wherein the façade panels include a strip of fire-safing insulation, hanging the façade panels on the building floors adjacent an edge thereof, during the step of hanging, traversing the strip of fire-safing insulation vertically downwardly and horizontally towards the floor edge, and sandwiching the strip of fire-safing insulation between the façade panels and the floor edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a façade on a building structure comprising a plurality of vertically stacked levels defined by horizontally arranged floors therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of façade panels, wherein one of more of the façade panels includes a strip of fire-safing insulation; 
 hanging the one or more façade panels on the one or more building floors adjacent an edge thereof; 
 during the step of hanging, traversing the strip of fire-safing insulation vertically downwardly and horizontally towards the floor edge; and, 
 sandwiching at least a portion of the strip of fire-safing insulation between the one or more façade panels and the floor edge. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, after the step of hanging, the strip of fire-safing insulation engages the floor edge along a vertical surface and a horizontal surface of the floor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein, during the step of hanging one or more façade panels, one or more strips of adjacently hung façade panels engage each other and thereby form a continuous strip of fire-safing insulation between the adjacently hung façade panels and the floor edge. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, prior to the step of hanging, further comprising the step of securing the strip of fire-safing insulation to the one or more façade panels. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of securing comprises the steps of piercing the strip of fire-safing insulation with an impaling pin and attaching the impaling pin to the one or more façade panels. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, during the step of attaching, a surface of the impaling pin is adhered to the one or more façade panels. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, during the step of attaching, the impaling pin is fastened to the one or more façade panels with a fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, during the step of hanging, further comprising the steps of compressing at least a portion of the strip of fire-safing insulation and bending the impaling pin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of securing comprises the step of adhering the strip of fire-safing insulation to the one or more façade panels with a noncombustible adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one of more of the façade panels further includes a shelf member extending therefrom and defining a corner therebetween, and wherein the strip of fire-safing insulation is provided substantially in the corner and wherein, during the step of hanging, further comprising the step of placing a portion of the shelf member over the floor edge and sandwiching at least a portion of the strip of fire-safing insulation between the one or more façade panels and a vertical surface of the floor and between the shelf member and a horizontal surface of the floor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of applying a noncombustible sealant between the shelf member and the horizontal surface of the floor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein gaps are formed between shelf members of adjacently located façade panels and further comprising the step of sealing the gap with a noncombustible sealer and/or a noncombustible sealing strip. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein one or more panel position adjusting mechanisms operatively engage the shelf member and, during the step of hanging, further comprising the step of vertically and/or horizontally adjusting the position of the one or more façade panels relative to the floor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, during the step of hanging one or more façade panels, one or more strips of adjacently hung façade panels engage each other and thereby form a continuous strip of fire-safing insulation between the adjacently hung façade panels and the floor edge. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, during the step of hanging one or more façade panels, one or more strips of adjacently hung façade panels engage each other and thereby form a continuous strip of fire-safing insulation between the adjacently hung façade panels and the floor edge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to or during the step of providing, wrapping the one of more of the façade panels and the strip of fire-safing insulation with a protective sheeting material and, prior to the step of hanging, removing the protective sheeting material from the one of more of the façade panels and the strip of fire-safing insulation. 
     
     
         17 . A building façade secured to a building structure comprising a plurality of vertically stacked levels defined by horizontally arranged floors therebetween comprising:
 a plurality of façade panels wherein one or more of the façade panels comprise a strip of fire-safing insulation; 
 wherein the one or more of the façade panels are secured to the building structure adjacent an edge of a floor thereof; and, 
 wherein the strip of fire-safing insulation engages the floor edge along a vertical surface and a horizontal surface of the floor. 
 
     
     
         18 . The building façade of  claim 17  wherein: the one or more of the façade panels further comprise a shelf member extending therefrom and defining a corner therebetween, and wherein the strip of fire-safing insulation is provided substantially in the corner; a portion of the strip of fire-safing insulation is sandwiched between the one or more façade panels and the vertical surface of the floor; and, a portion of the strip of fire-safing insulation is sandwiched between the shelf member and the horizontal surface of the floor. 
     
     
         19 . The building façade of  claim 18  further comprising a noncombustible sealant between the shelf member and the horizontal surface of the floor. 
     
     
         20 . The building façade of  claim 18  further comprising gaps between shelf members of adjacently located façade panels and a noncombustible sealer and/or a noncombustible sealing strip extending along the gap. 
     
     
         21 . The building façade of  claim 18  wherein one or more panel position adjusting mechanisms operatively engage the shelf member and support the one or more façade panels on the floor. 
     
     
         22 . The building façade of  claim 18  wherein the strip of fire-safing insulation is secured to the one or more façade panels. 
     
     
         23 . The building façade of  claim 17  wherein the strip of fire-safing insulation is secured to the one or more façade panels.