Fire Resistance of Aluminum-Glass Partitions with a Parallel Structure of Intumescent Layers

Aim: The aim of the article is to verify the fire resistance of aluminum-glass construction partitions with a parallel structure. The paper presents the results of tests in a fire chamber of a selected partition, a leading national manufacturer of aluminum-glass systems. The results of the fire tests were used to validate a simple parallel model of the reliability of non-renewable systems. Introduction: Fire-retardant properties of partitions made of glass and aluminum profiles determine their ability to stop the spread of fire by clos - ing the fire in separate zones. Fire resistance of such partitions is measured according to various criteria, in particular the requirements concern: stability R (glass does not break), tightness E, radiation limitation W and insulation I. The tightness requirement E means that the partition effectively protects the fire compartment against flames, smoke and hot gases. The insulating postulate I means that the average temperature of glass and the profiles on the surface of the partition on the protected side does not exceed the contractual value during the nominal duration of the fire. The measure of fire resistance of a partition is time t, expressed in minutes, in which the structure of an aluminum-glass partition meets one or more of the criteria listed. Methodology: The experimental database consists of the results of routine fire resistance tests of system building partitions obtained in the certification process of selected facade systems. Interpretation of the obtained results of laboratory tests was based on simple models of reliability of non-renewable systems. Conclusions: The graphs of average temperature increase on the outer surface of the tested glass are the same in each case in terms of quality and quantity. Up to about 70% of the nominal fire resistance, the temperature increase is linear, followed by a non-linear phase according to a concave curve. The course of the temperature-rise curves on the outer surface of aluminum profiles is qualitatively different. The graphs are non-linear, convex from the beginning of heating, with the inflection point reached after about 20 minutes of the test. The obtained results may indicate that the multi-chamber structure of aluminum profiles does not ensure a parallel reliability structure, because the object has a quasi-parallel structure. The presented results of the temperature-rise curves and their reliability interpretation require confirmation in further laboratory tests of aluminum-glass partitions with a different structure of panes and profiles. Keywords: glass, partitions, laboratory tests, fire resistance, reliability Type of article: case study