Abstract: A flame deflecting device that comprises a fire resistant lamina and a protective casing mountable on a building exterior in rows above windows. Each device has a width greater than the window below. When mounted on a building, the device does not extend vertically by more than three feet (0.9 m). When activated on the occurrence of fire, the flame resistant lamina is released and extended substantially horizontally from the building exterior, thereby deflecting flames, smoke and hot gases escaping from below.

Abstract: A flame deflecting device for mounting on a building exterior comprises a panel which is attached by hinges at its lower end to extend upwardly along the face of the building between windows at different levels. A releasing device, preferably actuated by flames from the lower window, releases the panel so that is falls to extend substantially horizontally to deflect flames, escaping from the lower window, from the upper window thus retarding the spread of fire while allowing the fire causing the flames from the lower window to rapidly burn out. The releasing device may be a heat destructible fastening element holding the panel against a compression spring on a stud fixed to the wall of the building.

Abstract: Means for retarding the spread of fire from a building space, comprising an upwardly extending duct, the cross-sectional area of which is related by formulae to the cross-sectional area for air intake to the space, and has an access gate at the lower end for connecting the duct with the building space, and preferably a release gate at the upper end for connecting the duct with the outside atmosphere. Preferably the access gate and release gate are thermally actuated by having heat destructible components which are destroyed by flames from a fire in the space. The cross-sectional area of the duct and of the air intake are determined by design to i) drain away flames and smoke, ii) produce a depression in the building space thereby retarding the spread of fire, and iii) draw sufficient air to the building space to ensure relatively low fire temperature and a relatively short fire duration. The same ducts may serve a number of building spaces above one another at different floor levels.