Improvements in and relating to Metal Sheets for the Construction of Fireproof Buildings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Metal Sheets for the Construction
of Fireproof Buildings.
I CHARLES PEGRAM of 127 Brighton Road Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in and relating to metal sheets for
the construction of fireproof buildings and refers more particularly to the metal
sheets or plates used in the partitions floors ceilings and other parts of such
buildings whereby the sheets can be produced much more rapidly and consequently
cheaply and with a considerable saving in metal. My improvements also relate to
the fixing of such sheets to their supporting girders or joists and to the mode of
casing around the girders or joists with such sheets.
The sheets are so formed that the plastic material can be readily and securely
attached thereto in carrying which into effect I perforate my sheets with a number
or series of oblong or square perforations the edges of which are pressed outwards
at an angle to the sheet the corners of these projections being mitred so as to give
increased strength to the sheet. The perforations are placed in rows or series of
rows each row or series of rows being placed at an inclination or angle with the
other. Intermediately between these rows of perforations I tuck or bend the
sheet to form a dovetail groove each of which cross the whole width of the sheet.
For attachment of these sheets to the Horsectioned iron supports I make
an incision across each side of the dovetail recess at the ends of the sheets and
bend the metal of the sides over so as to strengthen the top and bottom of the
dovetail the slot thus formed enabling me to slide each end of my sheet down the
flanges of the sectioned support by which means the sheets are securely fixed in
a position which give a practically flush face on one side and thereby saves the
necessity of increasing the thickness of the plastic material sufficiently to cover
the flange of the iron support and at the same time forms a serrated face to the
support thus assisting the plastic material to retain a firm hold of what would
otherwise be the plain face of the support.
In the casing of girders with my sheeting I form a shaped support of
T section of a size to fit the girder and in the inner flange of the T on each side
of the girder I form an inclined slot into which I place the slotted head of a prop
the foot of which rests upon the lower flange of the girder thus supporting the
U frame in position and on to the outer flanges of this TI slide my sheets which
are provided with slotted ends for this purpose as before described.
For additional strength in the case of floors I bend my sheets into a circular
form with the perforations and grooves running parallel or in concentric curves
which thus form the supports for the floors while I slide straight sheets on to the
flanges of the girders to receive the ceiling thus forming an air space between floor
and ceiling.
Dated this 27th day of November 1894.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Metal Sheets for the Construction
of Fireproof Buildings.
I, CHARLES PEGRAM, of 127 Brighton Road, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in and relating to metal sheets for
the construction of fireproof buildings and refers more particularly to the metal
sheets or plates used in the partitions, floors, ceilings and other parts of such
buildings whereby the sheets can be produced much more rapidly and consequently
cheaply and with a considerable saving in metal. My improvements also relate to
the fixing of such sheets to their supporting girders or joists, and to the mode of
casing around the girders or joists with such sheets.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of iny improved metal sheeting attached to
a cross floor girder, and having the ceiling carried beneath it.
Figure 2 is a plan of the sheet shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation
of the same.
Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the flanged ribs brought over or bent for
engaging or keying on to end girders.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are elevation, elevation, and plan respectively of my system of
building up fireproof partitions.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively perspective elevation and elevation shewing
the covering of girders according to my system while
Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional plan on line TT (Figure 8).
I form the sheets A so that the plastic material B can be readily and effectively
secured thereto to form ceilings, partitions, walls or the like. I perforate the flat
or sheet portion A of the metal with a number or series of holes D, the edges d of
which I cause to pass or project downwards so as to form a countersunk or mitre-
like key for the plastic material B to enter.
To give as great a cross sectional area as possible to my sheet I perforate the
holes in an inclined position one preferably opposite in its direction to the other.
Along the perforated length of sheet I provide ribs or grooves E of dovetail form,
and I cause the ribs or pockets thus formed to run the whole length of the sheet.
For securing a self-contained attachment to or X or other section girder G
without having to employ bolts or pins, I make an incision F across each side of
the dovetail rib and then bend over the metal thus cut, so as to strengthen the
top and bottom of the dovetail; the slot or opening thus formed enabling me to
slide each end of the sheet down or along the flanges g of the iron girder G
forming the support for carrying the sheet, and thus to provide a practically flush
or uninterrupted surface for the plastic material to be attached to. By means of
this system of sliding the sheets on to the girders I am enabled to economise the
amount of plastic material employed seeing that I have not to provide material
thick enough to cover the thickness of the flange of the girder, which is now
necessary for sheets which rest upon the upper portion of the bottom flange.
Figures 5 and 6 shew an elevation of a fireproof partition built up according to
my improved system wherein supporting pillars H of "X" section are employed
which pass through the dovetail ribs E, suitable holes of corresponding shape being
therein provided for this purpose.
When casing girders with my sheet metal I provide a channel or ✓ iron or steel
support of "T" section-which I place around or secure to the girder as shewn

page_text: in elevations at Figures 8 and 9 and in section at Fig. 10 and in the inner flange
of the "T" on each side of the girder I form an inclined slot A¹ into which I place
the slotted head B₁ of a prop C, the foot of which rests upon the lower flange of
the girder, thus supporting the frame in position; and on to the outer flanges of the
"T" I slide my sheets which are provided with slotted ends for this purpose as
before described.
For additional strength when making floors I bend my sheets into a curved or
circular form with the perforations and grooves running parallel or in concentric
curves thus forming supports for the floors. I slide straight sheets on to the
flanges of the girders to receive the ceiling, and in this manner provide an air
space between the floor and the ceiling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved construction and arrangement of metal sheeting for use in
forming floors, ceilings, partitions and for like purposes substantially as heroin-
before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a metal sheet for use in constructing fireproof or other buildings, the
arrangement of a series of perforations having projecting lips or bevilled edges for
locking the plastic material therein, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In metal sheeting for use in the construction of buildings, opening or cutting
the ribs or grooves of the sheet so as to permit of its being carried upon a girder
flange with its bottom surface maintained flush or continuous substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of September 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.