FIRE SEAL FOR PIPES IN BUILDINGS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a firestop for cavities or penetrations in buildings or building walls, for example, in cavities of raised floor systems, in which cables, pipes, or ducts are to be routed through walls or partitions. In buildings where cables must be routed across different rooms, so-called firestops are required in the intermediate areas, namely at the building walls or in the area of ​​doors, in order to provide a building structure that complies with fire protection regulations. The routing of cables, pipes, or ducts in building walls or in floor cavities is conventionally achieved with penetrations or drilled openings, which, depending on the diameter and number of cables, are laboriously created separately in the building walls.After the cables and pipes have been routed through the building, the resulting gaps between the cables and the penetrations or boreholes are then filled, for example with cement or expanding foam. However, there is a risk that these penetrations could increase the fire hazard in the event of a fire. Therefore, various systems and fire barriers for such building penetrations for cables, pipes, or ducts have been developed in the prior art.

[0002] For example, prior art has proposed filling wall penetrations or boreholes around pipes with a fire-expanding material within the firestop area, as described in DE 20 2013 100 836 U1. Furthermore, prefabricated firestop panels have also been used for this purpose. These panels are inserted into building penetrations, and openings can be specifically cut into the panel material or firestop material as needed. However, these known firestops have the disadvantage of not being sufficiently structurally stable in certain applications. For example, penetrations of cavities in raised floors or similar structures must also have high structural strength within the firestop area to avoid the need for additional support structures.Furthermore, the systems known to date have the disadvantage of being structurally quite complex and their application is rather laborious and therefore expensive, since the arrangement of various types of conduits in different positions is often difficult and time-consuming with intumescent fire-resistant materials or fire-resistant panels with pre-drilled holes. Document US 11,072,924 B2 discloses a fire barrier known from the prior art, wherein a frame (17, 18, Fig. 7) consists of mineral fibers and a binder.

[0003] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a fire barrier for penetrations of cables, pipes, ducts, etc. for cavities or penetrations in buildings, with which high static strength is achieved simultaneously with improved flexibility in the number, shape and size as well as position of penetrations for cables, while at the same time minimizing effort in the construction and reducing costs in the manufacture of such fire barriers.

[0004] This problem is solved by a fire barrier with the features according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] According to the invention, a fire barrier for cavities or penetrations in buildings, building walls or ceilings, in particular floor cavities of raised floors, for the passage of conduits, cables, ducts or pipes, is proposed, comprising at least one modular, cuboid fire-resistant block in which openings adapted to the diameter of the conduits can be produced in a shape, number and position as required, and with an outer frame which closes off and receives the fire-resistant block(s) on at least three sides, characterized in that the frame is formed from plates connected directly to each other at butt joints or edges, at least laterally and from above, which have a higher flexural stiffness and / or compressive strength than the fire-resistant blocks provided therein for static support, wherein horizontal plates rest on vertical plates at least partially.and that both the frame and the fire-resistant bricks are made of a non-metallic refractory material, in particular a mineral material.

[0006] The fire barrier according to the invention is thus essentially formed from two components: firstly, a frame, which is made of plate elements at least on one top and the side sides, which, as horizontal plates, rest at least partially on the vertical plates; and secondly, one or more modular, cuboid fire-resistant blocks, which are arranged inside the frame to close the penetrations for a high level of fire protection when integrating pipes, cables, conduits, or similar items. For this purpose, suitable bores, holes, or penetrations can be created in the fire-resistant block or blocks, which are stacked modularly and fitted into the frame, according to the necessary dimensions.After assembling the modularly arranged fire-resistant blocks within the frame of vertical and horizontal panels, the fire barrier according to the invention is realized in such a way that a flush and tightly closing arrangement is achieved within a building opening, for example in the area of ​​a door in raised floors, thus ensuring the fire barrier is in place. The fire barrier according to the invention requires few parts and assembly effort, has relatively high strength, and is nevertheless easily adaptable to the respective conditions.

[0007] The elements of the fire barrier, namely the fire-resistant blocks and the frame panels, are each made of at least fire-retardant or fire-resistant non-metallic materials. Such non-metallic, fire-resistant materials are known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment of the fire barrier according to the invention, the frame is formed not only from above and the sides, but also on all sides around the modularly arranged fire-resistant blocks. This means that the outer panels of the frame do not merely have a gate-like or bridge-like shape, but rather a frame form that completely surrounds the fire-resistant blocks, including a lower panel element at ground level. The vertical panels are at least partially covered by the horizontal panels, thus providing support and bearing upon them.This allows for high fire resistance in floor applications using only the frame panels. Therefore, additional fasteners between the horizontal and vertical panels are not necessarily required, as long as the fire-resistant blocks are securely held within the frames. However, the panels can also be securely fixed together using additional fasteners such as screws.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the breaking load and compressive strength of the fire barrier, which is largely determined by the frame panels, lies within a range of 2.5 kN to 6 kN as measured according to DIN 4103, and preferably ≥ 4 kN according to this standard. Fire barriers installed in the floor area thus possess sufficient strength and inherent rigidity for the attachment and installation of further elements, such as passage doors, floor coverings, or similar items. The fire barrier is therefore not only flexible and easy to work with and install, but also offers sufficient strength due to its special construction consisting of a frame and modular blocks. For further processing, no additional metal supports or panel elements are required to protect the fire barrier from damage under high loads.

[0009] Since, according to the invention, at least one modular, cuboid firestop block is present inside a frame, the openings in the cuboid firestop block can be created, for example, by simple drilling. It is also possible to use prefabricated cuboid firestop blocks, which are then modularly connected to one another. This makes it easy to create openings for the corresponding cables, pipes, etc., with different diameters. It is also not necessary to subsequently seal the firestop with foam or laboriously applied plaster. The firestop itself already provides a sufficiently flat, sealed surface on both the top and sides, so that integration into existing wall penetrations, floor penetrations, or ceiling openings is easily achievable.

[0010] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the firestop frame has plates such that a distance of approximately 500 mm is maintained between the vertical plates of the frame, in which the modular fire-resistant blocks are then inserted. Such a maximum distance has the advantage of ensuring sufficient compressive strength of the firestop, even if the materials of the fire-resistant blocks are selected to lack sufficient inherent rigidity. According to an advantageous aspect of this invention, the distance between the vertical plates of the firestop frames is in the range of 350 mm to 450 mm. More preferably, the distance is 385 mm, which, according to the inventors' tests, provides sufficient stability even at doorways with, for example, glass doors or double doors, etc.

[0011] An advantageous form of firestop has a construction depth, that is, a depth in the horizontal direction in the width, in the range of 150 mm to 250 mm, preferably 200 mm. The vertical and horizontal plates of the firestop frame are thus within a construction depth range that allows connection to commercially available raised floor panels and permits complete bridging of a penetration with a firestop according to the invention, even across walls or thicker wall sections in such penetrations or passageways of building doors or similar.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the frame panels, namely the vertical panels serving as static supports and the horizontal panels above them on the top or bottom of the frame, are connected to one another, for example, by fasteners such as screws, nails, or similar. Furthermore, according to the invention, the fire-resistant blocks inserted into the frame in a modular fashion are also connected to one another in an airtight manner, in particular by suitable fasteners such as adhesives, cement, or putty. This enables complete and airtight sealing with the fire barrier according to the invention. Construction foam or sealing of the outer surfaces of the fire barrier is therefore no longer necessary.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the frame plates, i.e., the vertical plates and the at least one horizontal plate on the top side which is arranged overlapping them, have a multi-layered sandwich-like structure with a layer of calcium sulfate in the middle over at least 80% of the thickness. The sandwich shape is thus formed such that a layer of calcium sulfate is located in the center of the plates, while another material, for example cardboard, paper, or plastic, is present on the two outer sides.The sandwich construction offers the advantage of a largely flat surface on the outer surface of the frame panels, facilitating the connection and attachment of flooring, floor panels, raised floor elements, or even frames for doors, glass walls, or similar components. Meanwhile, the inner structure of the panels is largely fire-resistant, providing excellent structural stability for the entire fire barrier. The frame panels offer sufficient resistance to compression and bending, ensuring a sufficiently stable and structurally effective fire barrier in conjunction with the fire-resistant blocks inserted within. Furthermore, this sandwich construction allows for easy adaptation to different dimensions and structural conditions.The resulting panels can be easily sawn to size and, in the respective application, easily adapted to the specific requirements, especially regarding width, depth, or length.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the panels of the frame of the fire barrier according to the invention have a material composition with a lower fire protection class than that of the at least one fire-resistant block inserted inside the frame. The larger surface area of ​​the fire-resistant blocks of the fire barrier is thus realized with a relatively high fire rating or fire protection class, while the panels of the frame, which constitute a smaller portion of the total surface area, can be realized with a lower fire protection class and therefore with a more cost-effective material, while still maintaining sufficient static strength with regard to compressive stresses and flexural rigidity. The fire protection class or fire resistance of the elements is measured according to the invention in accordance with the standards DIN 4102 and EN 13501, which are applicable to such building components and fire barriers.The fire protection class of the fire-resistant bricks according to this standard can be, for example, F90 or F120, while that of the frame and its panels can be lower, for example, F60 or even F30, although this is not a limitation for the invention as it is more generally defined in the claims. With such a construction, a very high overall fire resistance and fire protection approval capability of the fire barriers according to the invention is ensured, so that they can also be used for buildings and rooms with a fire risk and where such fire protection regulations are required.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one building-mounted profile is provided for fixing the frame in a U- or H-shape in cross-section, which is preferably height- or depth-adjustable to adapt the shape and position of the frame. The profile can be made of a metal profile in a U- or H-shape in cross-section and is equipped with a height adjustment mechanism, for example, via screws or rows of screw holes. The profile fixed to the building can be attached either laterally to a wall or to the edge of an opening in a building wall. Preferably, according to the invention, the profile with the height adjustment mechanism is fixed to a floor so that any height differences compared to the dimensions required for the fire barrier can be compensated for.This offers advantages, for example, when precise adaptation to a raised floor system within a cavity in the floor area is required. The profile for the frame, or the fire barrier itself, can be fixed using conventional screw fixings or similar methods. This allows the use of standardized frame shapes for the fire barrier according to the invention, with predefined standard dimensions, while still enabling easy on-site adjustments to accommodate any unevenness in the underlying floor. The fire barrier remains securely fixed and, with sufficient strength, also provides structural support for the components above it, such as door frames of interior doors, building elements, or raised floor panels, etc.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the frame is formed with panels having a thickness of at least 40 mm for the horizontally installed panels, while the thickness of the vertical panels is less. The vertically arranged panels of the frame, which serve as supports for the horizontally installed panels placed above them, are thus realized with a lesser thickness than the specified minimum thickness for the horizontal panels. The horizontal panels, in the area of ​​bridging a conventional fire barrier, for example, a distance between the vertical supporting panels of the frame in the range of 350 mm to 450 mm.According to the inventors' investigations, a minimum thickness of 40 mm for the horizontal plates of the fire barrier frame has proven to provide sufficient strength for all applications in the area of ​​such fire barriers in building spaces, for example, door openings. A smaller thickness is sufficient for the vertical plates, as the loads are introduced longitudinally.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the firestop block(s) of the fire barrier are formed from modularly stackable and adaptable cuboids made of, in particular, porous material, which are provided with openings or passages for the cables or can be flexibly provided as required. The modular firestop blocks are thus made of a material into which openings or bores of varying shapes, sizes, and numbers can easily be fitted, depending on which cables, ducts, or conduits are to be routed through the fire barrier according to the invention in the specific application. For example, corresponding holes with the outer dimensions of cable ducts can be made in individual firestop blocks, or a half-opening for this purpose can be machined laterally into the blocks of two adjacent modular firestop blocks.The fire-resistant blocks are then assembled and joined using appropriate bonding agents such as putty or cement, or, if sufficiently tight, simply joined together. This depends on the material of the fire-resistant blocks and can be varied accordingly within the scope of the invention. The essential aspect of the invention is simply that the fire-resistant blocks are modular, adaptable to one another, and stackable, and that they securely and fire-resistant or smoke-tightly seal openings or penetrations in building walls for the installation of cables and pipes with a high fire protection rating, in particular a fire protection rating of F90 ​​or higher according to DIN 4102.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outer surfaces of the firestop frame have a continuous, essentially smooth and flat surface for connection to floor systems or floor surfaces, in particular raised floors in doorways or similar structures. The firestop according to the invention can thus be used directly for installation in existing rectangular openings in cavities or walls of buildings. Adaptation or integration by means of further structural measures, such as bricks, baseboards, support rails, or similar elements, is therefore unnecessary. Mounting of other components, such as door frames, raised floor panels, or similar elements, can nevertheless be carried out directly on the firestop, since essentially smooth or flat surfaces are present on the top, bottom, and sides for connection to the masonry on the right and left.

[0019] Further advantages, features, and aspects of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fire barrier according to the invention for conduits, ducts or pipes in the application case of a raised floor below a double door in a building; Fig. 2 is a top view of a second embodiment of a fire barrier according to the invention for conduits in the application case of a penetration in a building wall with a four-sided frame; and Fig. 3 is a partial top view of a further embodiment of a fire barrier according to the invention in the area of ​​a building floor for conduits with a three-sided frame made of panels and a profile for floor fixing with height adjustability.

[0020] In the Fig. 1A perspective view shows a first embodiment of a fire barrier 10 according to the invention in application to a raised floor system 8 with cavities 20 below a double door. The fire barrier 10 essentially consists of a frame 3, provided on at least three sides (laterally and above), made of vertically and horizontally arranged panels 4, which are firmly connected to one another at butt joints or edges, supported by the horizontal panels 4. Modular fire-resistant blocks 2 with openings for pipes 1, conduits, or ducts are inserted into the frame 3. The fire-resistant blocks 2 have a high fire resistance rating required by building regulations for fire protection, as specified in DIN 4102 (EN 13501-1), for example F60, F90, or F120, and are designed as modular, cuboid fire-resistant blocks.

[0021] Depending on the size of the required penetration, the fire-resistant blocks 2 are flexibly inserted into the area of ​​the frame 3 from the panels 4 and firmly and smoke-tightly connected to each other by mortar or similar material, or alternatively directly without an additional intermediate layer due to the flexibility of the material. The fire-resistant blocks 2 are pre-treated so that the required openings, bores, or cavities for cables, ducts, or pipes 1 in the fire barrier 10 are as shown in Fig. 1 They can be shown to be produced.

[0022] The fire-resistant blocks 2 exhibit a higher level of fire protection, fire resistance, or fire strength according to DIN 4102 or EN 13501 than the outer panels 4 forming the frame 3. In this embodiment, the panels 4 are provided, for example, with outer layers of calcium sulfate with a minimum thickness of ≥ 40 mm, so that they have sufficient strength and static stability for this location in the building floor 8, both in vertical and horizontal arrangements, even in such floor cavities 20. According to the invention, the panels 4 in this embodiment can also be realized in a multi-layered, sandwich-like structure, namely with an inner layer of calcium sulfate extending over at least 80% of the thickness direction and layers of a different material, e.g., cardboard, fire-resistant mineral fibers, plastic film, or similar, provided on the outer surfaces.

[0023] The openings 6 produced for the conduits 1 in the fire protection blocks 2 of the fire barrier 10 are produced as required in a circular shape by drilling or in a rectangular shape, for example for channels, by cutting.

[0024] After inserting the cables, ducts, or pipes into the firestop 10 thus created, any remaining gaps are optionally filled with cement or fire-resistant material, so that the firestop 10 is completely smoke-tight and fire-resistant, and complies with the requirements for an increased fire protection classification according to the safety regulations in the construction industry. Alternatively, the openings 6 can also be precisely designed so that the material of the fire-resistant blocks 2 creates a direct, tight connection with the pipes 1.

[0025] The frame 3, made of the horizontal and vertical panels 4 produced in this way, creates a continuously flat surface on the outer sides of the fire barrier 10, both at the top and on the sides. This surface provides a direct connection for the installation of a building floor 7, a raised floor system 8, or other adjacent building elements such as partition walls, interior doors, etc. The frames 3 are sufficiently self-supporting, so that no additional structurally effective metallic struts or supports are required in the building cavity 20 for such a raised floor system.

[0026] The Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a further application example of an embodiment of a fire barrier 10 according to the invention, featuring a frame 3 on all four sides, i.e., with horizontal lower and upper plates 4 which rest on the end faces of the vertical plates 4. In this embodiment as well, the frame 3 is made of calcium sulfate plates 4 that are firmly connected to each other at the edge or butt joint and can be flexibly cut to the required size and assembled on site. A firm connection between the plates 4 can be achieved, for example, by means of screws or nails or by means of adhesive layers. The modular fire-resistant blocks 2 provided inside the frame 3 are provided with corresponding openings 6 as required, which can be easily made in the fire-resistant blocks 2, for example, by drilling.In this embodiment as well, the plates 4 have a sandwich-like structure of at least three layers, with an inner thicker layer of at least 80% of the thickness made of calcium sulfate and outer layers made of other material, for example mineral, plastic, cardboard (paper) etc.

[0027] In the Fig. 3A further embodiment of a fire barrier 10 according to the invention is shown in a partial top view. In contrast to the previous embodiments, here the vertical plates 4 of the frame 3 are fixed to the building floor 7 by means of a preferably metallic profile 5, e.g., by screws. In this embodiment, the profile 5 has a substantially U-shape with several parts in order to easily allow the vertically arranged plates 4 of the frame 3 to be adjusted to the corresponding height of the fire barrier 10 to be provided on the building floor or in the cavity 20. This also provides the profile 5 with height adjustment in this embodiment in such a way that there are no elements projecting laterally beyond the plates 4. In this way, the fitting of fire-resistant blocks 2 and the connection to adjacent wall areas can be easily carried out on the construction site.

[0028] The fixed connection between the horizontal plates 4 and the vertical plates 4 of the frame 3 on the one hand, and the profile 5 on the building floor on the other hand, can be achieved, for example, by means of schematically illustrated screws and offers the advantage that even with a frame 3 provided on only three sides, a secure and statically stable fixing of the fire barrier in the manner of a bridge construction or arch structure with the modular and flexible fire protection blocks 2 inserted therein is made possible.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiments according to Figs. 1 to 3Preferably, the fire barrier 10 is provided with vertical plates 4 of the frame 3 such that the distance between the vertical plates 4 for receiving fire-resistant blocks 2 is a maximum of 500 mm, preferably 350 mm to 450 mm, or particularly preferably 385 mm. With a minimum thickness of, for example, 40 mm for the plates 4 in a horizontal position, sufficient strength and rigidity of the entire fire barrier can thus be ensured for conventional applications in the construction sector. It has been shown that this enables a sufficiently high compressive strength of the fire barrier as a whole, namely in the range of up to 4 kN at a breaking load according to the standard DIN EN 4103.Regarding the overall breaking strength and static stability of the fire barrier 10 according to the invention, it must be taken into account that this is achieved solely due to the non-metallic materials used for the frames 3 (plates 4) and the non-metallic fire-resistant bricks 2 (which have a high fire protection rating). The device according to the invention is thus designed as a construction that can be realized with relatively few elements and is nevertheless easy to construct and process.

[0030] The fire barrier 10 according to the invention is ideally suited for use in so-called raised floor systems or also in simple penetrations of masonry walls, where a rectangular opening is made in the partition walls of buildings (cf. Fig. 2 The various aspects and features of the invention, which relate to the individual embodiments of the Fig. 1 , the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 3The components described in each section can be combined with each other in any way from a technical perspective. For example, instead of a single modular fire protection block 2, there can be multiple fire protection blocks for penetrations or openings 6 of pipes 1. It is also possible to have only a single fire protection block 2. The gate-like, three-sided arrangement of vertical plates 4 and horizontally placed plates 4 directly above them, which overlap several vertical plates according to the Fig. 1 Alternatively, a horizontal base plate 4 can be provided to complete a frame 3 provided on all sides according to the invention for firestopping 10. The materials of the fire-resistant blocks 2 as well as those of the plates 4 of the frame 3 can vary, as long as they are non-metallic, fire-retardant or at least to some extent fire-resistant materials. Reference symbol list

[0031] 1. Conduits, cables, ducts or pipes 2. Fire protection block 3. Frame 4. Plate 5. Profile 6. Openings 7. Building floor 8. Floor surface or floor system 10. Fire barrier 20. Floor cavity (e.g. raised floor)

Claims

1. Fire barrier (10) for cavities or passages in buildings or building walls, in particular floor cavities (20) of raised floors, for the passage of conduits (1), cables, channels or pipes with at least one modular, cuboidal fire protection brick (2), in which openings adapted in diameter to the conduits (1) can be produced in a form, number and position as required, and with an outer frame (3), which closes off and receives the fire protection brick(s) (2) on at least three sides, wherein the frame (2) is formed from plates (4) connected directly to one another at an abutment or edge, at least laterally and from above, wherein horizontal plates (4) rest at least in regions on vertical plates (4) and both the frame (3) and the fire protection bricks (2) consist of a non-metallic fireproof material, in particular a mineral material, characterised in that the directly connected plates have a higher flexural stiffness and / or compressive strength than the fire protection bricks provided therein for static support.

2. Fire barrier (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the plates (4) of the frame (3) and the fire protection bricks (2) inserted therein in the form of modules are connected to one another in an airtight manner.

3. Fire barrier (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plates (4) of the frame (2) have a multilayer sandwich-shaped structure with a layer of calcium sulphate in the centre over at least 80% of the thickness.

4. Fire barrier (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plates (4) of the frame (3) have a material-based composition with a lower fire protection class than that of the at least one fire protection brick (2).

5. Fire barrier (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one profile (5) fixed on the building side is provided for fixing the frame (3) in a U- or H-shape, which is preferably height-adjustable for adapting the shape and position of the frame (3).

6. Fire barrier (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame (3) with plates (4) is formed with a thickness of at least 40 mm for the horizontally installed plates (4), the thickness of vertical plates (4) being smaller in comparison.

7. Fire barrier (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fire protection bricks (2) are formed from modularly stackable and adaptable cuboids made in particular of porous material, which are provided with passages or openings (6) for the conduits (1) or can be provided flexibly.

8. Fire barrier (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer surfaces of the frame (3) have a continuously smooth and flat surface for connection to floor systems or floor surfaces (8), in particular for raised floors or in doorways.