Fire protection accessories for installation in a built-in housing and fire protection arrangement with a built-in housing and such fire protection accessories

Description

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to the field of recessed boxes for drywall partitions for receiving electrical equipment.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a fire-resistant accessory to be installed in a recessed box.

[0003] It also relates to a fire-resistant assembly including a recessed box and this fire-resistant accessory.

[0004] Current standards require that a drywall partition which has been pierced with the hole necessary for the installation of a recessed box be restored to its original fire-resistance performance, i.e. to prevent fire from passing through the drywall for a predefined period (for example 30 or 60 minutes).

[0005] To comply with these standards, it is common practice to place an intumescent material, which may be in the form of a patch, inside the junction box. When exposed to heat, the intumescent material expands and seals the duct inlet openings of the box, thus expelling air and preventing flames and gases from passing through.

[0006] We already know from document EP1221749 a box-fitting as mentioned above in which the intumescent material is in the form of a layer placed against the bottom wall of the box.

[0007] The disadvantage of this solution is that the intumescent material occupies part of the internal volume of the recessed box which is useful for receiving bases for electrical equipment mechanisms and their wiring.

[0008] Furthermore, document JP2009 / 044848 describes a recessed box comprising a long, conical sheath held in place by an inlet opening in the box and made of a heat-expanding material. Finally, document EP4102120 describes an electrical enclosure for a motor vehicle comprising an opening fitted with a comb made of an intumescent material.

[0009] Compared to the aforementioned prior art, the present invention proposes to move the intumescent material outside the internal volume of the recessed box to increase the volume available for mounting the electrical elements of electrical equipment.

[0010] More specifically, according to the invention, a fire-resistant accessory is proposed according to claim 1.

[0011] Thanks to the fire-resistant accessory according to the invention, the intumescent material is located outside the interior volume of the recessed box. Indeed, the elongated element is inserted into the recessed box in such a way that it protrudes primarily outside of it, thus artificially increasing the internal volume of the recessed box. The intumescent material therefore creates little or no obstruction within the recessed box.

[0012] In addition, this fireproof accessory makes it possible to make a conventional recessed box fireproof, by mounting it in one of its openings not used for the passage of an electrical conduit.

[0013] Other features of the firestop accessory according to the invention are stated in claims 2 to 11.

[0014] The invention also proposes a fire-resistant assembly for the installation of electrical equipment comprising: a recessed box comprising a wall delimiting an internal volume of the recessed box, the wall having at least one opening for the passage of an electrical conduit, and a fire-stopping accessory as above accommodated in the passage opening.

[0015] The description that follows, with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0016] Regarding the attached drawings: there figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a fire-resistant assembly according to the invention, the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the fire-resistant accessory of the fire-resistant assembly of the figure 1 , there figure 3 is a schematic rear-assembled perspective view of the fire-resistant assembly of the figure 1 , there figure 4 is a schematic front view of the firestop assembly of the figure 3 , and the figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along plane AA of the figure 4 .

[0017] On the figure 1 A fire-resistant assembly 1 for the installation of electrical equipment according to the invention is shown. This fire-resistant assembly 1 is designed to be embedded in a cavity made in a wall (not shown) in such a way that a portion of this fire-resistant assembly 1 is accessible from the front of this wall for the installation of electrical equipment to perform a given electrical function.

[0018] This wall (not shown) is a drywall partition.

[0019] It is worth noting that, as is well known, such a drywall partition, also called a hollow wall, is generally composed of a metal frame (made up of vertical studs and / or horizontal rails) and plasterboard panels attached to at least one of the two faces of the metal frame. The cavity in this drywall partition to house the fire-resistant assembly 1 is then simply formed by a circular opening cut with a hole saw in one of the plasterboard panels.

[0020] In the description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in relation to the installer's line of sight of firestop assembly 1 in the plasterboard. Thus, the terms front and rear will respectively refer to the outward and inward faces of the drywall partition. The terms "inside" or "internal" will refer to the face toward the center of firestop assembly 1, and the terms "outside" or "external" to the opposite face.

[0021] Furthermore, the electrical equipment (not shown) to be included in the fire-resistant assembly 1 essentially comprises, in a conventional manner, an equipment support and an equipment mechanism mounted within the support. The equipment mechanism includes a base attached to the support, housing the electrical components suitable for connection to the electrical network, as well as a cover plate providing access to the electrical components to perform the electrical function of the equipment (for example, a switch, a two-way switch, a dimmer, a network socket, a smoke detector, etc.).

[0022] As shown by figure 1 , the firestop set 1 includes a firestop accessory 10 and a recessed box 200.

[0023] The 200 mm flush-mounting box is a standard design, used for protecting, securing, and wiring electrical equipment. The internal volume 201 of the 200 mm flush-mounting box accommodates the base of the electrical fitting mechanism and allows for its wiring. The fire-resistant accessory 10 restores the fire resistance of the drywall partition, thus providing passive fire protection.

[0024] Essentially, the 200 flush-mounting box comprises a body 210 which here has a generally cylindrical shape around a central axis A3 (see figures 4 And 5 ), but which could of course have a different shape, notably parallelepiped-shaped.

[0025] As shown by figures 1 , 3 , 4 And 5The body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200 comprises a generally tubular side wall 211 and a bottom wall 212 that closes the flush-mounting box 200 at the rear. The flush-mounting box 200 is open at the front by a front opening 201A opposite the bottom wall 212. The body 210 thus delimits, between the side wall 211, the bottom wall 212, and the front opening 201A, the internal volume 201 (see the figure 4 ) of the 200 recessed box which allows in particular to accommodate the base of the electrical equipment as well as the electrical wires coming from the network, necessary for its wiring.

[0026] For fixing it in the circular opening made in the plasterboard of the drywall partition, the body 210 of the recessed box 200 has an external flange 213 that runs along the outside edge of the front opening 201A and is adapted to bear against the front face of the plasterboard, all around the circular opening. This external flange 213 allows the body 210 of the recessed box 200 to be locked rearward in the drywall partition.

[0027] As shown in particular by figures 1 , 3 et 4 To lock the body 210 forward in the drywall, the recessed box 200 is equipped with two screws 221 and clips 220 which are positioned diametrically opposite on the outer face 211A of the side wall 211. Each screw 221, to the free end of which a clip 220 is screwed, passes through features provided in the side wall 211, namely a channel 222 opening at the front of the recessed box 200 and holding the head of said screw 221 so that said screw is only free to rotate about its axis (and therefore blocked in translation), a recess 223 in the outer face 211A of the side wall 211, and an opening 224 opposite the opening of said channel in the recess 223. A ramp 223A is provided at the bottom of each recess 223, part of which is inclined. Once in place, each claw 220 is partially housed in a recess 223 resting against the ramp 223A.Each claw 220 is rotationally locked in the recess 223, while each screw 221, free to rotate about the axis of its threaded body, is fixed in translation. The assembly is conventionally such that the rotation of each screw 221 in the channel 222 causes a translational movement of the corresponding claw 220 along the threaded body of the screw 221. During its movement, each claw 220 slides on the ramp 223A provided at the bottom of the recess 223 to emerge from the recess 223, projecting from the outer face 211A of the side wall 211 of the recessed box 200, and to abut or hook onto the rear face of the plasterboard panel of the drywall partition.

[0028] As shown in particular by figure 4 , for fixing the electrical equipment support to the flush-mounting box 200, the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200 has on its inner face 211B two diametrically opposed screw holes 230, into which are screwed two screws 231 intended to be engaged through holes, for example in the shape of a keyhole, provided in the equipment support.

[0029] The screw holes 230 and the arrangements for the claw screws 221 are placed at the four cardinal points of the circle followed here by the edge of the front opening 201A of the flush-mounting box 200.

[0030] The flush-mounting box 200 also includes several cable entry points. Such a cable entry point (not shown) houses the cables and / or electrical wires from the local power grid. As shown in the figures, the flush-mounting box 200 has four cable entry points. Each entry is a passage opening 240 extending partly along the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200 and partly along the bottom wall 212 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200. The overall shape of each passage opening 240 is oblong.

[0031] Each opening 240 is closed by a tearable or perforable cover 241. This cover 241 is here made of a flexible membrane (of the type marketed by the applicants under the reference "Batibox™").

[0032] The 210 body is made of rigid plastic material (typically polypropylene). The flexible membranes are made of a more flexible thermoplastic material (typically SEBS, an acronym for Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene) overmolded onto the rigid material.

[0033] Remarkably, as the figure 2 The firestop accessory 10 comprises an elongated element 100 provided with an intumescent material 110. As shown on the figures 3 à 5 Advantageously, the elongated element 100 is adapted to be threaded through one of the passage openings 240 of the recessed box 200 and includes retaining means 120 suitable for cooperating with an internal part of the recessed box 200 to fix the elongated element 100 to the recessed box 200 in such a way that the elongated element 100 extends predominantly outside of it.

[0034] As shown by figure 1 The elongated element 100 comprises a hollow sheath 130, shaped like a sleeve, which houses the intumescent material 110. This hollow shape defines a housing 101 for the intumescent material 110. The sheath shape is understood to mean that the sheath 130 has a longitudinal portion 131 with a closed end 132 and an opposite open end 133, the open end 133 having a single exit opening 133A (see figure 2 ).

[0035] As depicted on the figure 1 The casing 130 and the intumescent material 100 are thus two separate elements. The intumescent material 100 is inserted into the casing 130, the casing 130 being rigid.

[0036] The longitudinal portion 131 is here elongated along a longitudinal axis A1 (visible on the figures 1 , 4 And 5) and therefore has a straight shape. More specifically, it has a tubular shape of revolution centered on the longitudinal axis A1. Alternatively, the longitudinal portion could be elongated in a curved manner.

[0037] The longitudinal portion 131 of the case 130 is here very slightly tapered in that the cross-sections, defined as sections made in planes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A1, decrease in size from the open end 133 of the case 130 to the closed end 132 of the case 130. As shown on the figures 1 à 5 , the cross sections of said longitudinal portion 131 are continuously and regularly decreasing from the open end 133 to the closed end 132 of the case 130. Alternatively, the longitudinal portion could be cylindrical, for example of revolution.

[0038] The exit opening 133A of the open end 133 of the case 130 is here generally circular and centered on the longitudinal axis A1. The exit opening 133A has dimensions substantially equal to those of the inside of the longitudinal portion 131, that is to say, here, to an internal diameter of the longitudinal portion 131, at the level of the open end 133. The exit opening 133A is formed here in continuity with the housing 101 of the case 130. As shown in the figure 2 , the dimensions of the outlet opening 133A are thus adapted to place the intumescent material 110 in the casing 130.

[0039] The longitudinal portion 131 of the sleeve 130 is adapted to be threaded through one of the passage openings 240 provided in the recessed box 200 in the sense that, on the one hand, its cross-sections have a size less than or equal to that of the passage opening 240, and, on the other hand, the sleeve 130 has a length such that the longitudinal portion 131 can be engaged in the passage opening 240 from the inside of the recessed box 200.

[0040] Here, as the figure 5 , the longitudinal portion 131 of the case 130 has, at the level of the open end 133 of the case 130, a section of identical size, except for the assembly clearance, to that of the part of the passage opening 240 made in the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200. The firestop accessory 10 is therefore adapted to be placed in this part of the passage opening 240 to close it.

[0041] As shown by figure 1 The closed end 132 of the casing 130 has a beveled wall 132A which extends more specifically along a frustoconical surface around the longitudinal axis A1. The beveled wall 132A connects the longitudinal portion 131 of the casing 130 to a circular face 132B of the closed end 132. The surface area of ​​the circular face 132B of the closed end 132 is smaller than the surface area of ​​the outlet opening 133A. The casing 130 thus has, at its closed end 132, a tapered shape which facilitates its insertion into the passage opening 240 of the flush-mounting box 200.

[0042] The case 130 carries the retaining means 120 on the side of the open end 133, more specifically around the exit opening 133A. The retaining means 120 thus extend in projection from the longitudinal portion 131 of the case 130. Here, the retaining means 120 extend generally radially with respect to the longitudinal axis A1.

[0043] In this case, as the figures 1 et 2 The retaining means 120 include a stop in the form of a stop collar 121. The stop collar 121 is adapted to bear against the body 210 of the recessed box 200 around the edge of the passage opening 240. As shown in the figure 5 , the stop collar 121 thus has a size greater than that of the passage opening 240. Here, the stop collar 121 borders the exit opening 133A of the open end 133 of the case 130, which means that it surrounds the open end 133. Alternatively, the collar could be positioned back from the exit opening.

[0044] The 121 stop collar here has a flared shape, visible in particular on the figure 2 Thus, as the figure 5 , the stop collar 121 does not extend here in a plane but is slightly curved so as to fit the shape of the inner face 211B of the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200.

[0045] The 130 case and the 120 restraint means are made by molding a single piece of insulating material, here in ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

[0046] As shown by figure 1 The intumescent material 110 is in the form of a rolled sheet or strip housed within the casing 130. This sheet or strip is rolled around a winding axis A2 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. The intumescent material 110 thus has the shape of a cylinder of revolution whose bases 111, that is, its end faces, which are generally disc-shaped, have a diameter less than or equal to that of the internal cross-section of the longitudinal portion 131 of the casing 130. The intumescent material 110 can typically be rolled tightly and held in this position for insertion into the casing 130. Once in place, it can then be unrolled slightly to conform to the internal surface of the casing 130.

[0047] Alternatively, the intumescent material could be in any other form suitable for the case, for example, as a rod or as a foam injected into the case. The intumescent material could also be injected or poured into the case in liquid form, where it would then solidify. In other words, the intumescent material could be molded into the case. The intumescent material would then be a single piece and would at least partially conform to the internal surface of the case.130

[0048] The intumescent material used may be a composite material comprising a polymer matrix, incorporating: an acid (boric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid) or an organic (urea phosphates, melamine phosphates) or inorganic (ammonium borates, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium sulfate) acid source; a carbon source compound, usually a polyalcohol capable of dehydration such as pentaerythritol, a simple sugar (arabinose, maltose) or a polysaccharide (cellulose, starch); and a blowing agent generating non-combustible gases under the effect of heat such as melamine (NH3, H2O, CO2), guanidine (NH3, H2O, CO2) or urea (NH3, H2O, CO2).

[0049] Such a material may incorporate graphite as a mineral filler and chopped or unbonded fibers.

[0050] As it appears on the figure 5 , the intumescent material 110 here occupies almost the entire internal volume of the case 130. In particular, it occupies the entire longitudinal part 131, stopping at the closed end 132 at the level of the beveled wall 132A, and protruding slightly into the exit opening 133A of the open end 133.

[0051] However, it can of course be provided that the intumescent material 110 occupies only part of the internal volume of the casing 130, thus creating storage space within it. This storage space can, for example, extend along the longitudinal axis A1 and be obtained by unwinding the intumescent material 110 after its insertion into the casing 130. The intumescent material 110 can also be shorter, along the longitudinal axis A1, than the longitudinal portion 131, which also generates storage space. In this case, it is preferably pushed to the bottom of the casing 130 against the closed end 132. In all cases, this storage space can be used to perform electrical functions, such as housing an electrical connection terminal, a cable clamp, or various types of sensors, for example, for temperature, sound, smoke, etc.

[0052] The fire-resistant accessory 10, mounted in the flush-mounting box 200, is shown in the figures 3 à 5 .

[0053] As shown by figure 4 The elongated element 100 then extends substantially radially with respect to the cylindrical body 210 of the mounting box 200. Here, this means that the longitudinal axis A1, along which the longitudinal portion 131 of the sleeve 130 extends, is perpendicular to the central axis A3 of the body 210 of the mounting box 200. Thus, as can be seen on the figures 3 And 5 , the longitudinal portion 131 of the case 130 extends here substantially parallel to the bottom wall 212 of the body 210 of the mounting box 200.

[0054] The stop collar 121 rests against the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200, and more specifically against the inner face 211B of this side wall 211. It also rests against the bottom wall 212 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200 and a part of the cover 241 which closes the part of the passage opening 240 extending onto the bottom wall 212 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200.

[0055] As the figure 5 The fire-resistant accessory 10 is mounted in the flush-mounting box 200 such that the sleeve 130 extends well beyond the flush-mounting box 200. In fact, only the open end 133 of the sleeve 130 extends into the passage opening 240, while the longitudinal portion 131 projects outward from the side wall 211 of the body 210 of the flush-mounting box 200 and away from it. Thus, more than 90%, and preferably more than 95%, of the volume of the intumescent material 110 is positioned outside the flush-mounting box 200, that is, outside its internal volume 201.

[0056] The 133A outlet opening of the 130 enclosure opens into the internal volume 201 of the 200 flush-mounting box. Here, the 133A outlet opening of the 130 enclosure opens entirely into the internal volume 201 of the 200 flush-mounting box.

[0057] In the event of a fire, when the intumescent material 110 is exposed to heat and expands, it flows into the recessed box 200 and fills it. This allows, in particular, the passage openings 240 and / or the front opening 201A of the frame box 200 to be sealed, thus preventing the passage of flames and gases through the circular opening in the plasterboard. The outlet opening 133A of the sleeve 130 is therefore designed to allow the intumescent material 110 to pass into the recessed box 200 when it is exposed to heat. As mentioned previously, the outlet opening 133A also allows the intumescent material 110 to pass through in its initial state (not expanded by heat) so that it can be positioned in the sleeve 130.

[0058] The installation of the firebreak assembly 1 is carried out in the following manner.

[0059] The installer begins by opening at least two passage openings 240 in the body 210 of the recessed box 200, by clearing two covers 241.

[0060] The installer then pulls a cable routing conduit through the other opening 240, so as to pull the electrical wires from the local electrical network into the recessed box 200. These electrical wires will be used to connect the electrical components of the electrical equipment.

[0061] He then engages and fixes the 200 recessed box in the circular opening made in the plasterboard using the 220, 221 claw screw system.

[0062] The firestop accessory 10 is finally inserted from inside the flush-mounting box 200 through one of the access openings 240. To do this, the closed end 132 of the sleeve 130 is inserted first, then the longitudinal section 131 is inserted up to the retaining collar 121. The longitudinal section 131 is typically inserted obliquely at first before being straightened to extend radially, as shown in the diagrams. figures 3 à 5 .

[0063] Thus, the firestop assembly 1 is ready to be used to install the electrical equipment.

[0064] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with the attached claims.

[0065] One option is to replace the case collar with simple protruding tabs on the longitudinal portion of the case. These tabs would then preferably be located at the edge of the open end of the case. Alternatively, they could also be located some distance from this edge, preferably less than one centimeter away.

[0066] Alternatively, the case could be made up of two separate parts, one of which could, for example, constitute the longitudinal portion of the case and the other of which could, for example, constitute the stop collar to be snapped onto said longitudinal portion.

[0067] The case could have non-circular cross-sections, for example rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal, etc...

[0068] The casing could also be partially or entirely made of the intumescent material. The elongated element could even be made from a single piece of intumescent material. It could then take the form of a rod with retention means located at one end.

[0069] The exit opening of the casing could have smaller dimensions than the cross-sections of the longitudinal portion, particularly at the open end. This would, for example, allow the intumescent material to be retained within the casing after insertion.

[0070] The open end of the casing could also have several outlet openings, for example, a plurality of small orifices (significantly smaller than the cross-sections of the longitudinal portion). These orifices could be arranged around the circumference of the longitudinal portion or on an end surface transverse to the longitudinal portion (facing the circular face of the closed end). Preferably, all the outlet openings lead into the casing to channel the intumescent material during its expansion.

Claims

1. Fire-protection accessory (10) for a flush-mounted box (200), comprising an elongate element (100) provided with an intumescent material (110), the elongate element (100) being adapted to be slid through an electrical-conduit passage opening (240) in the flush-mounted box (200) and comprising retaining means (120) adapted to cooperate with an internal part of the flush-mounted box (200) in order to fasten the elongate element (100) to the flush-mounted box (200) in such a way that the elongate element (100) extends mainly outside thereof, the elongate element (100) comprising a hollow case (130) carrying the retaining means (120), wherein the hollow case (130) houses the intumescent material (110), the case (130) having at least one outlet opening (133A) for the intumescent material (110) to pass through towards the flush-mounted box (200) when the intumescent material (110) is exposed to heat.

2. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means (120) project from the case (130) on the side of each outlet opening (133A).

3. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the case (130) is in the form of a sheath having a single outlet opening (133A).

4. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to claim 3, wherein the retaining means (120) comprise a stop collar (121) bordering said outlet opening (133A).

5. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intumescent material (110) is in the form of a rolled sheet or strip that is housed in the case (130).

6. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intumescent material (110) is moulded into the case (130).

7. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intumescent material (110) only occupies a portion of the internal volume of the case (130) so as to provide a storage space.

8. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case (130) is made of intumescent material (110).

9. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is provided that the elongate element (100) is fastened to the flush-mounted box (200) such that more than 90% of the volume of the intumescent material (110) is positioned outside the flush-mounted box (200).

10. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element (100) extends rectilinearly or in a curved manner.

11. Fire-protection accessory (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element (100) comprises a longitudinal portion (131) having a tubular shape of revolution.

12. Fire-protection assembly (10) for installing electrical equipment, comprising: - a flush-mounted box (200) comprising a wall (211, 212) that delimits an internal volume (201) of the flush-mounted box (200), the wall (211, 212) having at least one electrical-conduit passage opening (240), and - a fire-protection accessory (10) according to any of claims 1 to 11 received in the passage opening (240).