Metal building with combined temperature control and firefighting system

Claim 1

Combined temperature control and firefighting system for a metal building having side walls and a roof, and wherein the building includes a metal frame structure supporting the walls and roof, said frame structure having hollow members defining water flow passages for circulation of water throughout the building structure to regulate the temperature of the building dependent upon the temperature of the circulated water, flow control means in the flow passages, heat responsive means positioned in the building for sensing the presence of a fire and the like in the building and connected with the flow control means to operate the flow control means in the event of a fire in the building to effect circulation of water through the hollow members to maintain them cool and prevent destruction thereof by the temperature associated with the fire, said building frame structure including roof purlins on which the roof is supported, and first water discharge means associated with the purlins and connected with the flow passages to discharge water on the purlins in the event of a fire in the building, said first water discharge means comprising a plurality of hollow pipes connected with the water flow passages in the frame structure and having frangible plug means associated therewith for precluding the flow of water therethrough during normal operation, said plug means being broken in the event of a fire occurring in the proximity thereof to enable discharge of water therefrom onto the roof purlins, each said frangible plug means comprising a rubber plug snugly fitted into the end of a hollow pipe, closing the pipe to flow of water therefrom, a hollow glass capsule filled to approximately 90% of its capacity with a liquid material and engaged against the rubber plug, a generally L-shaped bracket engaged with the capsule to hold it in position, and a circular clip engaged with the bracket and pipe to hold the bracket and plug securely in position during normal use, whereby the temperature associated with a fire heats the liquid in the capsule, increasing the pressure therein and fracturing the capsule, and enabling the rubber plug to be expelled from the pipe.