Fire Shelter and Method

A fire-and heat-resistant door comprising:

• an inner layer;
• an outer layer with an outer pocket between the inner layer and the outer layer in which thermal insulation is disposed, the outer layer is moveable relative to the inner layer so the outer layer of the outer door expands and contracts relative to the inner layer in response to heat applied to the outer layer;
• a hatch which is adapted to be opened and has an area of at least 9 sq ft, the outer layer has an outer opening and the inner layer has an inner opening aligned with the outer opening, the outer opening and the inner opening defining a channel through which a person can crawl;
• a metal lining which lines a perimeter of the channel, the metal lining positioned about the channel and extends between and contacts the outer layer and the inner layer, the metal lining having longitudinally oriented slots extending along the lining's length which disrupts heat flow across the metal lining;
• a hatch hinge attached to the inner layer so the hatch swings open to allow a person to crawl through the channel and swings closed to close off the channel from a person crawling through the channel;
• a hatch handle attached to the inner layer to be grabbed by which the hatch is opened or closed;
• and
• a gasket positioned about the channel to seal the hatch to the channel when the hatch is closed.

A method for constructing a door assembly comprising the steps of:

• attaching an outer door to an outer hinge on a main frame, the outer door made primarily of metal, the outer door having an inner layer and an outer layer with an outer pocket between the inner layer and the outer layer in which thermal insulation is disposed;
• attaching an inner door to an inner hinge on the main frame, the inner door positioned adjacent and in alignment with and defining a gap with the outer door when the inner door and outer door are in a closed position, the inner door having an inside layer and an outside layer with an inner pocket between the inside layer and the outside layer of the inner door in which thermal insulation is disposed;
• and
• positioning a seal about the gap between the inner and outer doors when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position, the seal disposed between the inner and outer door when the door assembly is in a closed position, the seal sealing out heat and air from the gap from outside the door assembly when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position, the inside layer of the inner door does not exceed a temperature of 95 degrees F. while the temperature of the outer layer of the outer door is up to 1000 degrees Centigrade for up to 15 minutes when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position.

A method for protecting a person from heat comprising the steps of:

• opening an outer door attached to an outer hinge on a main frame of a shelter, the outer door made primarily of metal, the outer door having an inner layer and an outer layer with an outer pocket between the inner layer and the outer layer in which thermal insulation is disposed;
• opening an inner door attached to an inner hinge on the main frame, the inner door positioned adjacent and in alignment with and defining a gap with the outer door when the inner door and outer door are in a closed position, the inner door having an inside layer and an outside layer with an inner pocket between the inside layer and the outside layer of the inner door in which thermal insulation is disposed, a seal positioned about the gap between the inner and outer doors when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position, the seal disposed between the inner and outer door when the door assembly is in a closed position, the seal sealing out heat and air from the gap from outside the door assembly when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position, the inside layer of the inner door does not exceed a temperature of 95 degrees F. while the temperature of the outer layer of the outer door is up to 1000 degrees F. for 3 hours when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position;
• the person walking past the outer door and inner door into a chamber of the shelter;
• closing the outer door;
• and
• closing the inner door.

A shelter for protecting a person from fire and heat external to the shelter comprising:

• a base;
• a front wall extending up from the base;
• a right wall extending up from the base and alongside the front wall;
• a left wall extending up from the base and alongside the front wall;
• a rear wall extending up from the base and alongside the front wall and the left wall and opposing the right wall;
• a roof atop the front wall;
• and
• a door assembly comprising:
• a main frame disposed in either the front wall, the right wall, the left wall or the left wall which provides access to the chamber;
• an outer door made primarily of metal rotatably attached with an outer hinge to the main frame, the outer door having an inner layer and an outer layer with an outer pocket between the inner layer and the outer layer in which thermal insulation is disposed, the outer layer of the outer door is moveable relative to the inner layer of the outer door so the outer layer of the outer door expands and contracts relative to the inner layer of the outer door in response to heat applied to the outer layer;
• an inner door made primarily of metal rotatably attached with an inner hinge to the main frame and positioned adjacent and in alignment with and defining a gap with the outer door and when the inner door and outer door are in a closed position, the inner door having an inside layer and an outside layer with an inner pocket between the inside layer and the outside layer of the inner door in which thermal insulation is disposed;
• and
• a seal disposed between the inner and outer door when the door assembly is in a closed position, the seal positioned about the gap between the inner and outer doors when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position, the seal sealing out heat and air from the gap from outside the door assembly when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position;
• the roof, the front wall, the right wall, the left wall, the rear wall, and the door assembly together define a protected chamber from fire and heat, the chamber does not exceed a temperature of 95 degrees F. while the temperature is up to 1000 degrees centigrade for up to 15 minutes external to the shelter and also while the temperature is in excess of 600 F. for at least 2 hours external to the shelter when the inner and outer doors are in a closed position.