Device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part

Abstract

A device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part, which device comprises a housing having a housing wall, wherein the housing has an axial passage channel that is delimited by the housing wall and extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, a series of sealing surfaces is provided in the axial passage channel, subdividing said axial passage channel into a first, second and a third consecutive chamber, each of which chamber is closed by means of said housing and a first and second one of said sealing surfaces, wherein each sealing surface is provided with a plurality of sealing elements configured and arranged to facilitate passing said lines, pipes and / or cables in between of said sealing elements without creating a gas channel in between of adjacent chambers, wherein at least part of said sealing elements comprise intumescent material; at least one block of intumescent material arranged in the second chamber, wherein said at least one block is configured to demonstrate intumescence so as to fill up the second chamber and constitute a fire stop.

Description

[0001] Device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to devices for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through building structure parts, such as building walls and the like, providing protection against passage of fire and passage of fire gases and smoke through such a device.

[0004] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] Known devices for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through building structure parts usually have features to achieve a desired smoke impermeability, fire gas impermeability, and optical seal or opaqueness. For this purpose, it is known, for example, to use brush curtains or loop curtains.

[0006] It is known to use two opposing rows of brushes as a sealing structure, the bristles of which may penetrate one another. A solution is known from U.S. Pat. No. 10,363,444 Al in which brushes arranged on one side are arranged in an X-shape to one another in the longitudinal direction of the device, so that one brush bristles of one brush intersect with the brush bristles of the other brush. The known solution combines these brushes with two firestopping pads having a curved section with a convex surface on the outside and a mutual contact surface on the inside. Cables can be pushed in between contact surfaces of the firestopping pads, so as to achieve a seal around the cables. However, this mechanism is based on compression and deformation, which renders it more sensitive during installation. Furthermore, the arrangement of the various elements in the device is cumbersome, increasing the risk of manufacturing losses.

[0007] It is further known to use two opposing rows of elongate lamellae as a sealing structure. A specific option is known from EP-B-3523562, wherein the lengths of the adjacent lamellae (53) of the said two opposing rows vary in each case such that opposing lamellae (53) about one another with their ends at points which are offset along a transverse direction in an extension direction (E) of the lamellae (53). Therewith, they engage in a comb-like manner. WO-A-2022089967 proposes the arrangement of the lamellae in two mutually perpendicular directions. This would improve the sealing against smoke gases. However, such variations with regards to lamellae increase the cost of manufacture and reduce the installation efficiency. Hence, the benefit does not seem to outweigh cost and practical disadvantages.

[0008] Moreover, the shown solutions in EP-B-3532562 and WO-A-2022089967 focus on smoke gases only. A profound firestopping device however, requires that several protections, so as to meet the necessary fire tests during a period of at least 90 minutes and preferably at least 120 minutes. A first requirement is that fire cannot pass from one building space to an adjacent building space. In the context of the present application, a building space may be a room, but also be a cellar, an area for an elevator or the like, in other words any compartment of a building. Furthermore, in the context of the present application, the term 'adjacent' is to be construed as not merely neighboring in a horizontal direction, but also in a vertical direction, i.e. wherein a partition between such adjacent building spaces is a floor or ceiling rather than a wall.

[0009] The conventional solution thereto is the provision of intumescent material in the form of a collar or a sleeve. When a cable or pipe collapses, the char generated from the intumescent material can replace the collapsed part and close off the opening. Collars can typically accommodate more intumescent material than sleeves. Moreover, the collar housing typically facilitates expansion of the intumescent material into a predefined direction. A further requirement is smoke and fire gas stopping. Smoke may be poisonous but also hinders people to find a way out of a building and hinders firemen in fighting against fire. Additionally, especially in combination with fire gas, it transmits heat to an adjacent building space, i.e. compartment. Such heat transmission is a risk, because the adjacent compartment may get in contact with material of high temperature and may start smoking or burning.

[0010] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part, with improved protection against heat transmission. It is another object to provide a building system comprising said device.

[0012] This object is achieved by the device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables according to claim 1. Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to one aspect, a device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part is provided, which device comprises a housing having a housing wall, wherein the housing has an axial passage channel that is delimited by the housing wall and extends in the longitudinal direction and has in each case one opening at opposite ends, wherein a series of sealing surfaces is provided in the axial passage channel, subdividing said axial passage channel into a first, second and a third consecutive chamber, each of which chamber is closed by means of said housing and a first and second one of said sealing surfaces, wherein each sealing surface is provided with a plurality of sealing elements configured and arranged to facilitate passing said lines, pipes and / or cables in between of said sealing elements without creating a gas channel in between of adjacent chambers, wherein at least part of said sealing elements comprise intumescent material; and wherein at least one block of intumescent material arranged in the second chamber, wherein said at least one block is configured to demonstrate intumescence starting at a first expansion temperature so as to fill up the second chamber and constitute a fire stop.

[0014] According to another aspect, the said device is used for fire protection between a first building space and a second building space mutually separated by a partition, wherein a through- hole is present in said partition extending from the first to the second building space, in which through-hole the said device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables is present.

[0015] According to again another aspect, a partition between a first and second building space is provided, which partition comprises a through-hole extending between said first and said second building space, wherein the device for routing lines, pipes and / or cables is provided within said through-hole, and wherein lines, pipes and / or cables may be routed through the device from the first building space to the second building space.

[0016] The present solution provides a fire protection against transmission of fire, smoke and hot gases and furthermore heat transmission via cables arranged within the device. The presence of the first and third closed chambers adjacent to the second chamber provides a heat insulation space for the cables. In case of a fire, there will be a hot side and a cold side. The chamber on the hot side will be burned away. The fire will be stopped in that the intumescent block demonstrates intumescence. Typically, the intumescence is characterized in that the material of the block expands, reacts and constitutes a char. According to the invention, the block is designed so as to fill the second chamber. The char constitutes an insulating, fire-resistant material. At the cold side, the chamber adjacent to the second chamber will remain and provides a heat insulation such that any cable or remainder thereof cannot get into contact with any object in the second building space, prior to bridging the length of said chamber. Preferably, installation of the device into a partition occurs such, that the said first and third chambers extend at least partially outside the partition; in other words, the length of the device in its longitudinal direction exceeds the thickness of the partition.

[0017] Additionally, by means of the sealing surfaces between adjacent chambers of the device, a smoke seal is achieved, so as to prevent transmission of smoke or hot gases. Preferably, each sealing surface is provided with sealing elements comprising intumescent material. More preferably, such sealing elements are elongated and arranged adjacent to each other. This facilitates that the sealing elements may fuse quickly in case of fire or even transmission of hot gases and / or smoke. Moreover, the presence of four or more consecutive sealing surfaces strongly reduces a risk that smoke will pass the device, even in case that there is smoke without fire. This is highly relevant to safety, as smoke hinders people to find a way out of a burning building. Preferably, the sealing elements of a single sealing surfaces are elongated and arranged adjacent to each other. This has been found to enable that cables and the like may pass a sealing surface without entirely opening the sealing surface. The sealing elements are preferably designed to be resiliently deformable. As an alternative thereto, sealing elements can also be provided with, in particular, a plurality of partial regions interconnected via joints. Examples of sealing elements are lamellas, brushes, bristles, strips, tapes, and hose elements. Lamellae are deemed preferred. A combination of such sealing elements is not excluded.

[0018] According to a preferred implementation, said sealing surfaces arranged in a region of one end of the housing are provided with a double row of elongated elements, preferably lamellae. The provision of a double row of elongated elements is found to have better insulating resistance, especially a more thorough sealing in case of fire. The elongated elements in the first and second row of said double row need not to be identical or to be arranged identically.

[0019] In a first implementation, the elongated elements are arranged alternatingly in said first and second row, such that edge portions of said elongated elements overlap and thus lie against each other. The elongated elements can herein be reinforced through the addition of a reinforcing bar with smaller surface area than the elongated elements. Such reinforcing bar may be present in the other row between two elongated elements in said other row.

[0020] In a second implementation, the elongated elements in a single row are provided with spacings between the elongated elements. The pattern of spacings and elongated elements is shifted or different between the first and the second row, such that the spacings in the first row are covered with elongated elements in the second row and vice versa. Preferably, the spacings within a single row do not all have identical width. Rather spacings adjacent to side edges of the row, thus close to the housing wall, are less wide than other spacings.

[0021] More preferably, the sealing elements of a single sealing surface are arranged in at least two sealing structures to be inserted into opposed parts of the housing. More preferably, said at least two sealing structures are present in a single sealing plane. Consecutive sealing planes in adjacent sealing surfaces may have the same or different orientation. A simple embodiment of the device provides that the first sealing plane and / or the second sealing plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It can be provided that the first sealing plane and / or the second sealing plane have an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction. In particular, this facilitates routing of a line, a pipe, a cable, or the like through the device. The first sealing plane and the second sealing plane are particularly preferably arranged substantially parallel to one another, but it can also be provided that the first sealing plane encloses an angle with the second sealing plane.

[0022] While the presence of exactly two sealing structures per sealing surface is deemed most practical, a larger number of sealing structures is not excluded. The individual sealing elements of a sealing structure may all have the same length in their main direction of elongation or have mutually varying length. The individual sealing elements may have all the same width or may have varying width. In case that the sealing elements are lamellae, there is preferably one layer of lamellae per sealing surface. However, the presence of two or three layers of lamellae is not excluded. In case that the sealing elements are brushes or the like, more than one layer of brushes is deemed preferable. In case of using sealing elements with mutually varying length, it is preferable that the second sealing structure of a pair has elongated sealing elements with complementary length, so as to create a sealing surface. The use of sealing elements with a uniform length in the main, elongation direction is preferred. A uniform length herein is used to specify that the tips of the elongated elements lie - substantially - on a single line. Between two sealing surfaces, the elongation direction of the sealing elements need not to be the same, but may include a mutual angle from -90 to +90 degrees.

[0023] A particularly good seal in the region of a sealing structure can be achieved if the sealing elements of the two sealing structures substantially form a common sealing line, and if the sealing elements of one sealing structure rest preferably against sealing elements of the other sealing structure. Sealing elements of a sealing structure are preferably each connected to one side of the housing and in particular have a substantially comparable length in the main direction, wherein ends of the sealing elements facing away from the housing preferably stand on ends of the sealing elements of the other sealing structure facing away from the housing.

[0024] Preferably each sealing structure comprises a base, from which the sealing elements extend. In one advantageous embodiment, the base is configured for coupling into the housing, especially mechanical coupling. In one configuration, the base is shaped to fit into a space defined within the housing. The space is for instance a groove, a recess, a cavity, a space provided with a plurality of grooves, such as two grooves. The - grooved - space may have a diameter that is constant along the depth of the groove or may have a diameter that varies along the depth of the groove, for instance reduces with increasing distance to a top surface of the groove. The shape of the base is thereto complementary, such as one or more protrusions, plates, as a rail or the like. In another configuration, which may be but need not to be combined with the preceding configuration, the base is provided with coupling means, such as a tongue, for fastening to the housing. In again a further implementation such coupling means of the sealing structure and the housing may be provided with a lock mechanism, which preferably provides a click upon correct insertion. Alternatively or additionally, glue may be used for fixation of the sealing structure to the housing.

[0025] As an alternative to the presence of a base, it can also be provided that the sealing elements of a sealing structure are connected directly to the housing wall. For this purpose, for example, a plurality of sealing elements can be interconnected via a clip and arranged in a hole in the housing by means of a mandrel.

[0026] Typically, as is known to the skilled person in the art, a housing comprises at least a first and a second part, which are to be assembled. This facilitates the arrangement of further elements into the housing prior to the assembly of the housing parts. The assembly may be performed by a customer, or as part of the device manufacturing. In the present case, the latter is deemed preferable, so as to ensure correct integration of the sealing surfaces and the at least one block of intumescent material - hereinafter also referred to as an intumescent block.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one block of intumescent material extends annularly along an interior of said housing. Such annular arrangement may be an arrangement, wherein the intumescent block is rotationally symmetrical, at least along a first mirror plane. This mirror plane is especially defined by means of the longitudinal direction of the housing and any further direction. In such case, a customer may install the device in any orientation without any potential effect on fire performance. This rotational symmetry does not exclude that the intumescent block has a varying shape along the housing interior. Particularly, in case that the housing has a rectangular cross-section, it is deemed preferable that the annular intumescent block is provided with an inner surface that is provided with rounded edges or even oval or circular. The inner surface is herein defined as the surface towards a central axis along the longitudinal direction through the axial passage, and hence as the surface from which the intumescent material will expand inwardly in case of a fire.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the block of intumescent material includes a first portion that is spaced apart from the housing, with a groove, cavity or channel being defined between said first portion and the housing. Preferably a second portion of the block is configured to provide a mechanical connection between the first block and the housing. Such second portion may be narrower, i.e. have a smaller cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to an inner surface of the housing than the first portion. Such a second portion may alternatively embodied as one or more plates configured to fit into one or more grooves defined at an inner surface of the housing. In a further embodiment, such a second portion may be embodied as pillars or tongues for fixation into correspondingly shaped rings at the interior of the housing. Rather than being part of the block of intumescent material, separate connectors may be provided to provide a mechanical fastening of said first portion to the housing. According to this further embodiment, the first portion, which preferably encompasses at least 60%, more preferably at least 75%, of the volume of the block of intumescent material, is effectively arranged at a distance from the housing. This provides various advantages, such as a quicker closure of the axial passage and use of less intumescent material. It is deemed particularly beneficial to combine this further embodiment with an implementation, wherein the housing also comprises intumescent material. Then, ridges and / or other structures in the housing to fix the lamellae (i.e. sealing structures) and / or the intumescent block may take over the sealing function.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment said at least one block of intumescent material comprises a first block and a second block provided with connection means for mutual connection of the first and the second block. Most advantageously, the first and the second block jointly constitute an annular shape around the axial passage. More preferably, each of said first and second intumescent block has a stop surface for mutual arrangement of said blocks, and the connection means comprises a tongue or protrusion extending from said stop surface and a groove or cavity arranged within said stop surface. More preferably, the stop surface extends laterally around the protrusion or cavity area. This is deemed to provide a stable connection of the first and second block. The cavity may be longer and or wider (especially away from the stop surface) so as to facilitate correct and robust assembly notwithstanding manufacturing tolerances and / or temperature variations during assembly. It is observed for sake of completeness, that a single stop surface may be provided with more than a single protrusion or cavity. While more protrusions or cavities may create better connections, use of a single protrusion or cavity per stop surface is deemed sufficient and provides a robust connection.

[0030] Most preferably each of said first and second intumescent block has two stop surfaces for mutual arrangement of said blocks. In such case, a single intumescent block may have both a protrusion and a cavity, or two or more cavities or two or more protrusions.

[0031] In a further preferred implementation of said preferred embodiment, said stop surfaces of the first and second intumescent blocks constitute primary stop surfaces of the device within the second chamber, and at most secondary stop surfaces are present in the housing parts. The terms primary and secondary herein refer to importance. A primary criterion of importance of the stop surfaces is the effective surface area. A further criterion of importance of the stop surface is a width of the stop surface, wherein the width is defined as a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing. Another further criterion of importance of the stop surface is the presence of any connection means. In one embodiment, the housing is free of a stop surface within the area defined for the second chamber. As a consequence thereof that the housing comprises at most secondary stop surfaces in the second chamber, the housing may be kept thin. Hence, in case of a fire, the contribution of the housing to the intumescence will be limited. The intumescent block may expand outwards and fill any space between the housing, the through-hole (and / or any fire-resistant filling compound therein). This will prevent any leakage for fire and / or smoke around the housing. Thin in the context hereof is for instance less than 5 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, more preferably at most 3 mm. Preferably the housing has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, for instance in the range of 1-4 mm. The width of the stop surfaces of the intumescent block is suitably in the range of 5-15 mm, for instance 7-13 mm. If the housing becomes far too thick, then a larger gap is created during a fire due to melting and / or decomposition of the material of the housing, which preferably is an engineering polymer, such as epoxy, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyamide, polycarbonate. The melting or decomposition not merely creates a gap, but also leads to a flow of fluid material (liquid and / or gas). This flow may be in axial direction and may delay sealing of the through-hole.

[0032] In again a further implementation, the housing parts may be provided with stop surfaces for mutual placement and any connection means for mutual connection within the areas configured for the first and the third chamber. This is deemed to be practical. Additionally, such stop surfaces create resistance against bending and may provide support for carrying weight of a plurality of cables and other components to be arranged through the device. It is to be understood, in the context of the invention, that the first and third chamber are configured so as to extend at least partially outside the partition. Hence, the partition itself will not provide any support for the cables and the like.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment, said at least one block of intumescent material is arranged relative to the sealing surfaces of said second chamber, such that upon expansion of the intumescent material, the block of intumescent material will merge with said sealing surfaces. This may be achieved by means of the connection features defined in the housing, which effectively specify the distance between the inserts, i.e. the at least one block of intumescent material and the sealing structures constituting the sealing surfaces.

[0034] Preferably, the intumescent material of the at least one intumescent block has an expansion ratio in the range of 18-30, preferably 18-26, wherein said expansion ratio is defined and measured in accordance with EOTA TR024, especially section 1.2.11.

[0035] In another advantageous embodiment, that is preferably combined with the preceding embodiment, the intumescent material of the said sealing elements has an expansion ratio in the range of 10 to 20, preferably 11 to 17, wherein said expansion ratio is defined and measured in accordance with EOTA TR024, especially section 1.2.11. Hence, the block expands more than the sealing elements. More preferably, the sealing elements comprise a material that is mechanically softer than the material of the housing and the material of the block.

[0036] In a further embodiment, wherein the housing comprises intumescent material, the expansion ratio of the intumescent material is intermediate to that of the intumescent block and the sealing elements. This facilitates sealing off spaces at the outer edge of the device.

[0037] The intumescent materials used in the device of the invention preferably comprise expandable graphite. The material further comprises a binder polymer and may contain further fire retardants and intumescent additives as known per se to the skilled person. The sealing structures, housing parts and blocks are preferably manufactured using a polymer processing technology known in the art such as injection moulding, 3D-printing, transfer moulding and extrusion.

[0038] Typical binder polymers (P) suitable for use in the intumescent material (C) in the method of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE), for instance a low density polyethylene (LDPE) to a high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene-polypropylene copolymers, poly-l-butene, poly(methyl-pentene), copolymers of ethylene and octene, ethylene / propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM); polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene trimethylene terephthalate (PETT), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyamide (PA) or nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers (EBA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic polymers or copolymers, metallocene polymers, polyphthalamide (PPA), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), silicone rubbers or polymers, latexes, styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) or other thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polycarbonate (PC), polyimides, polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene ether (PPE), polyphenylene ether sulfone (PPSU), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), or silicone polycarbonate copolymers, or a mixture of two or more thereof. Preferably, the binder polymer (P) may be chosen among the group of polyolefins such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) or other thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), or mixtures of two or more thereof.

[0039] Non limitative examples of commercially available expandable graphite suitable for use in the intumescent material of the present invention include S7, S500, S7 100, S90 available from Grafitbergbau Kaisersberg GmbH, ES 350 F5, ES700 F5 PH, ES 250 B5, ES 250 B5E available from Kropfmuhl AG, 3772, 3721, 3335 available from Asbury Carbons. Typical further intumescent additives for use in the intumescent material of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, ammonium or amino compounds, such as, for example, ammonium poly-phosphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, ethylene-diamine phosphate, ammonium pentaborate, melamine, dicyandiamide, full phosphoric esters with polyols; polyhydric alcohols such as erythritol, dipentaerythritol, pentaerythritol, sugar, dextran, starch, vermicular graphite, exfoliating graphite, waterglass or sodium silicates, expanded mica, vermiculite, titanium dioxide, perlite, or mixtures of two or more thereof. As known to the person skilled in the art, intumescent materials are known that comprise a carbon donor, an acid donor, a blowing agent and a nucleating agent. The acid donor is typically ammonium polyphosphate, the carbon donor a polyhydric alcohol such as pentaerythritol, the blowing agent melamine and the nucleating agent is for instance titanium dioxide. Such ingredients may be present in addition to expandable graphite so as to enhance the intumescence, and further to act as flame retardants. Fillers are for instance inorganic particles, for instance mica, clay, limestone, silicate and the like. Preferred fillers may be chosen among the group of kaolin or china clay, calcined clay, clay, heavy spar, titanium dioxide, aluminum trihydrate (ATH), bentonite, mica, wollastonite, glass fibers or mixtures of two or more thereof.

[0040] In one implementation, the intumescent material comprises 25-60% by weight of binder polymer, more preferably 30-50% by weight, 20-40% by weight of expandable graphite, more preferably 25-35% by weight, 10-20% of further intumescent additive which may also act as flame retardant, such as ammonium polyphosphate, melamine phosphate and filler from 0 to 40% by weight. The filler content may be 0-10% by weight, preferably 0-5% for a low-density material resulting in a hard component, and 25-40% by weight for a high-density material resulting in a component with higher flexibility.

[0041] The device of the invention is configured for insertion into a through-hole in a partition, such as a wall, ceiling or floor. The device of the invention may be provided with a holder that is attached or attachable to an outside of the housing wall. Preferably, the holder is provided with an extension such as a flange, that can be placed to a side of the partition. Such extension is more preferably provided with a hole, allowing a customer to fix the holder and therewith the device to the partition by means of a screw, nail or other fastener. In order to have sufficient fixation of the holder to the housing wall, the holder may be provided with first contact surfaces configured to lie on and / or be attached to the housing wall. Preferably, a holder may be provided as two separate parts, that upon assembly constitute a ring-shaped element, which goes around the housing wall. It will be understood that an inner surface of this ring will have a rectangular shape, in the preferred version that the housing wall is block shaped with a rectangular cross-section. More preferably, in case of such a holder supplied in two parts, each part may have a second contact surface for alignment and / or attachment to a corresponding surface of the other part.

[0042] The holder may be supplied separately to a customer or be pre-assembled. One advantage of a supply as a separate, accessory part, is that a customer may use a plurality of devices adjacent to each other, so as to fill a through-hole of a size larger than the cross-sectional area of a single device. Holders of any appropriate shape can then be used for fixation of the devices altogether to the partition.

[0043] As an alternative to a holder, the device may be configured such that one half can be fastened to a floor or a ceiling first, subsequent to which the other half can be mounted to the already fastened one. The said other half will then hang down from the one half, in case of fastening to a ceiling. This configuration furthermore facilitates installation of the device prior to installation of a building part, such as a wall, through which the device will ultimately extend. As will be understood, the expression "extension through a wall" also includes the situation wherein the wall partition, such as based on gypsum board, would not extend entirely to a ceiling, but wherein any open space around the device is filled up otherwise to ensure separation of one room from an adjacent one.

[0044] Such configuration preferably includes fastener receiving areas defined in the housing of the at least said one half, and means for mutual fixation arranged in said halves. The means for fixation may be arranged as elements of the housing wall, but at least one thereof (i.e. the means present in one half) are embodied by means of inserts fixed to the housing wall. Fixation of the inserts may be achieved with side rails and mechanical anchoring. Glue or other chemical agents may be used instead and preferably additionally. In order to generate means for fixation, the inserts in one half are provided with a locking element that is complementary to a locking element in the other half, such as a combination of an aperture and a protrusion or pin, or the combination of an aperture and a - preferably openable - fastener receiving area through the housing wall so as to apply a fastener through both of said housing wall and the aperture of the insert.

[0045] It is specified for sake of completeness that any embodiment and / or implementation discussed hereinabove or hereinafter applies to any aspect of the invention.

[0046] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Embodiments will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale and in which equal reference numeral in different figures refer to equal or corresponding elements, in which: FIG. l(a)-(c) are views of a device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part having a passage channel; Fig 1(a) is a three-dimensional view; fig.1(b) is a front view and fig. 1(c) is a side-view;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a part of the device according to FIG. 1, in its assembled state, including a housing part, a series of sealing surfaces, a block of intumescent material and a holder;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing part for use in the device of the invention;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the block of intumescent material for use in the device of the invention;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a front view of a sealing surface for use in the device of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 6(a) and 6(b) are a three-dimensional view and a front view of a holder for use in the device of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part having a passage channel in a three-dimensional view;

[0054] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a part of the device according to FIG. 7, in its assembled state, including a housing part, a series of sealing surfaces, a block of intumescent material and a holder, as well as attachment means;

[0055] Fig. 9 is a top view of the part shown in Fig. 7;

[0056] Fig 10 and Fig. 11 show a third embodiment of a device for routing lines, pipes and / or cables through a building part having a passage in a front view and a three-dimensional view respectively;

[0057] Fig. 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of a device for routing lines, pipes and / or cables, though merely a part thereof, corresponding to the view in Fig. 8, and

[0058] Fig. 14 shows the device for routing lines, pipes and / or cables after installation in a building part.

[0059] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0060] FIG. l(a)-l(c) show a first embodiment of a device 1 for routing one or more lines, pipes, cables, or the like, such as power lines, water lines, gas lines, and the like, through a building part, such as, for example a building wall, a ceiling, and a floor. The building part is also generally referred to as a partition. Fig. 2 shows a part of the device, Fig. 3-6 show components for use in the device. Fig. 13 shows the device 1 after installation into a building part 100, in this example a wall. In accordance with the illustrated example, the outer shape of the device 1 is a block and thus in cross-sectional view rectangular in a direction normal to a longitudinal direction L. This longitudinal direction is defined as a direction of an axis of the through-hole through the partition. Such a rectangular shape is deemed advantageous and practical in view of the shape of holes made through a wall, ceiling or floor. However, it is merely a preferred embodiment. It is for instance not excluded that corners of the block would be rounded off and / or that the device would be hexagonal. Furthermore, while the interior space of the housing 10 of the device has in the illustrated example a shape that corresponds to the outer shape, this is not necessary. For instance, the outer shape could have rounded corners or be hexagonal, whereas the inner shape at the location of the sealing surfaces 20 would be rectangular.

[0061] A second embodiment of the device 1 is illustrated in Fig. 7-9. A third embodiment of the device 1 is illustrated in Fig. 10-11, and a fourth embodiment of the device 1 is shown in Fig. 12-13. These second, third and fourth embodiment principally correspond to the first embodiment, with the proviso that the sealing surfaces 120, 220, 320 from said further embodiments are different from the sealing surface 20 of the first embodiment. The figures 8 and 9 furthermore indicate an advantageous implementation for attachment of the device 1 to a ceiling or floor, as will be further explained after specifying the functioning of the device 1 in general.

[0062] The device 1 for routing one or more lines, pipes, cables or the like is typically installed into a through-hole through a partition, prior to laying any pipe, line or cable therethrough. It may be that such pipe, line or cable is provided quickly after the installation of the device, i.e. in the course of one and the same construction or reconstruction. It may alternatively be that any pipe, line or cable is only inserted later on. It is further feasible that more or more pipes, lines or cables is added through the device in the course of time. These use options are merely exemplary and other options are not excluded.

[0063] In the present case, the device 1 is designed with two parts 3, 4, each having a substantially U-shaped cross section, which parts can be detachably arranged on one another according to FIG. 1. The subdivision of the device 1 into two parts 3,4 is common in the present field of technology and serves to facilitate assembly of the different elements of the device 1. In the interconnected state of the parts 3, 4, the housing 10 of the device 1 forms an axial passage channel 14 extending in the longitudinal direction L, which axial passage channel 14 extends from a first axial end 11 to a second axial end 12 and at least in the region of the ends 11, 12 has a continuous opening 12 for lines or the like. In alternative designs, the device can also be made in one piece. Lines, pipes, cables and the like may be routed through the axial passage channel 14 from the first axial end 11 to the second axial end 12 and beyond.

[0064] The device 1 comprises a housing 10, a plurality of sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320 to close said axial passage channel 14, one or more intumescent blocks 30 arranged with the housing 10 and a holder 40 for arrangement as an annular ring around the housing 10. Since the device 1 is designed as two mutually complementary parts, so are the said constituting elements. The housing 10 has first and second part 3,4; the sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320 comprise first and second sealing structures 21, 22; the holder comprises first and second holder parts 41, 42, and there may be a first and a second intumescent block 30. However, it is not excluded that one or more of said constituting elements would be formed as a single piece even in case that the device is composed of two parts 3,4. The holder 40 may for instance be composed of an annular part for arrangement circumferentially around the housing. The annular part may but does not need to include a gap, or stated differently may extend merely over two thirds or three quarters or even over at least 90% of the circumference, the remainder constituting the gap. A sealing surface 20 could be embodied by means of a single sealing structure that includes a base with annular shape and elongated elements within said base.

[0065] In accordance with the present invention, as can be best seen with reference to Fig. 2, the axial passage channel 14 of the housing 10 is subdivided into a series of chambers 7-9, especially a first chamber 7, a second chamber 8 and a third chamber 9. Each of said chambers 7-9 is closed by the housing wall 15 and a pair of sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320. At least one block 30 of intumescent material is provided in the second chamber 8. In the first, third and fourth embodiments, the said sealing surfaces 20, 220, 320 comprise elongated sealing elements 23, 223, 323, that comprise intumescent material just as the at least one block 30 of intumescent material. In the second embodiment, the said sealing surfaces 120 comprise membranes 125 configured to be punctured when a cable, line or pipe is arranged through the device 1. While the all sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320 in a single illustrated embodiment are identical, this is not necessary, For instance, a device may use sealing surface 120 comprising membranes 125 at its first and second axial ends 11, 12, while elongated elements 23. 223, 323 - also known as lamellae - would be used in between of the first chamber 7, the second chamber 8 and the third chamber 9. Similarly, one design of elongated elements 23, 223, 323 may be combined with another design. However, it seems still preferred that all sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220 and 320 in a single device 1 are implemented in identical manner. Such may simplify manufacturing and logistics on the one hand, and prevents assembly issues in case that the preferred locations for cables, pipes or lines in the different sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320 would not coincide. In case of fi re, intumescent material will expand and create a fire barrier, so that fire cannot transfer from one side to the opposed side of a wall or other partition in the building, notwithstanding the hole needed to pass cables, pipes or the like through said partition. This function is fulfilled by the intumescent block 30 in the second chamber 8. The first and third chamber 7, 9 with the sealing surfaces 20, 120, 220, 320 serve to create a smoke barrier, and additionally serve as an insulation space. More particularly, bending down of a cable get prevented through the presence of such extra chamber. As such, the hot cable will not get contact with a wall, floor or plastic material and / or electronic device on the 'cold' side of the partition away from the fire. Such contact would again transmit heat from the fire side through the fire barrier to the cold side, with all potential risks of reinstated fire, melting, burning and the like. The first, second and third chamber 7- 9 each have a length in axial direction. The length may be chosen in dependence on the fire class and the fire resistance time as desired and / or as specified. Preferably the length the same for the first and the third chamber 7, 9, so that the device 1 is symmetrical and can be built into a wall in two ways. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that the first chamber 7 would have a larger length than the third chamber 9 or vice versa. Such asymmetry may be beneficial for installation into a partitioning wall, whether either the partitioning wall has an asymmetrical build up, or wherein the first building space and second building space (or compartment) separated by the partitioning wall have different functions with different risk of fire. For instance, the first building space may be a space or compartment in which a heating vessel or an elevator is arranged whereas the second building space is a chamber, hall or corridor. The second chamber 8 has in one embodiment a longer length than the first or third chamber 7,9. However, the second chamber may also have a length that is identical to or even smaller than that of the first or the third chamber. The length of the second chamber particularly depends on the ultimate design and the required amount of intumescent material in the second chamber 8.

[0066] The first, second and third chamber 7-9 are mutually separated by a sealing surface 20, 120, 220, 320. Additional sealing surfaces 20 are provided at the first and the second axial ends 11, 12 of the axial passage channel 14. The sealing surfaces 20, 220, 320 according to the first, third and fourth embodiment comprise, as stated hereinabove, elongated elements 23, 223, 323 and a base 24 from which the elongated elements extend. One sealing surface 20, 220, 320 may be embodied as a combination of a first sealing structure 21 and a second sealing structure 22. One such sealing structure 21 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 5. Particularly, the sealing structures 21, 22 of each embodiment are configured to be insertable - with their bases 24 - into fixation elements 17 at the interior surface 18 of the housing, as shown in Fig. 3. The elongated elements 23, 223, 323 are preferably embodied as lamellae, though brushes or the like are not excluded. They are designed to be flexible and resilient and have an extension in a main direction M (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L) that is many times greater than an extension transversely to the main direction M and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L (in a further direction N).

[0067] A sealing structure 21 having a single row of elongated elements 23 is deemed sufficient as a barrier between adjacent chambers 7 , 8, 9 of the device 1, although a plurality of rows of elongated elements 23 is not excluded. Particularly in the implementation with brushes, more than a single row may be appropriate for any sealing surface within the device 1. In a preferred embodiment, a sealing structure comprising a double row of elongated elements 23, 223, 323 is used in a sealing surface 20, 220, 320 at an axial end 11, 12 of the housing 10 of the device 1. The sealing surfaces 220, 320 of the third and fourth embodiment provide preferred implementations of such double row of elongated elements 23, 223, 323.

[0068] This double row concept creates more thorough insulating resistance. In use, in case of a fire, the device 1 is arranged between the so-called hot side, where the fire is, and a cold side, which needs to be protected against the fire. Cables comprising a metal core may be arranged through the axial passage 14 of the device 1, and extend to the cold side, which will be the third chamber for sake of explanation. At the hot side, the first chamber 7 will likely burn away during a fire. The second chamber 8 will be converted into a char and acts as a thermal insulation. Thus, whereas the fire temperature may easily be 800°C, the temperature at the border between the second chamber 8 and the third chamber 9 may be around 250°C -300°C. This implies that the metal core of the cable will also heat up. The third chamber 9 is then foreseen to insulate the cable from the cold side. The presence of a double row of elongated elements 23, 223, 323 in the sealing surface 20, 220, 320 at the axial end 22 of the axial passage 14 will expand and form a more thorough sealing than a single row of elongated elements 23 would do. As a result, the temperature of the cable at the outside of the third chamber 9 will be lower than inside the third chamber 9. This further reduces the risk that the cable at the outside of the third chamber 9 would be so hot that it could generate a new fire on the cold side.

[0069] In the third embodiment shown in Fig. 10 and 11, two rows of elongated elements are provided within the sealing surface 220. Each layer comprises a pattern of elongated elements 223 and spacings 226 in between. However, the pattern of the first row and the second row is mutually different or shifted. This results therein, that the the spacings 226 in the first row will typically be covered through a elongated element in the second layer, and vice versa. This ensures a good closure, while the elongated elements 223 nevertheless have sufficient flexibility to facilitate laying of one or more cables, lines or pipes through the device 1. As can be seen in Fig. 10 and 11, the elongated elements 223 and spacings 226 within a single row do not all have identical width. Particularly, the spacings 226L and 226R on the outside of the pattern, on the left-hand and righthand in Fig. 10 and 11 have narrower width than the other spacings. This is deemed beneficial for mechanical stability, not only at room temperature, but also at enhanced temperatures.

[0070] In the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 12(a) and (b), the elongated elements 323 have a - predominantly - rectangular shape, when seen from the longitudinal direction L. The sizes of the rectangularly shaped elongated elements 323 are such, that adjacent elongated elements 23 rest against one another in order to achieve an impermeability also with respect to a passage between the elongated elements 323. Thereto, the sealing structure 21 comprises two rows, with the elongated elements 323 alternated between the first row and the second row. This is indicated in Fig. 12(a) in that the elongated elements 323 are marked with i or ii. Each elongated element 323 is furthermore provided with a reinforcement bar 324, arranged in the other row than the elongated element 323. The first row and second row may be manufactured separately and be assembled afterwards, for instance using anchoring features and / or a chemical agent such as a glue. Each elongated element 323 plus reinforcing bar 324 could alternatively be made separately, and assembled into the sealing structure 21 in the appropriate orientation.

[0071] The elongated elements 23, 223, 323 and the base 24 may be formed as a monolithic part. Alternatively, the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 may be fastened to the base 24. For instance, the base 24 may include cavities, into which the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 may be arranged. Fixation of the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 may be done by means of clamping, by means of an additional fixation element and / or by means of adhesive. The cavities could extend through the base 24 to constitute through-holes. The elongated elements 23, 223, 323 of the sealing surface 20, 220, 320 comprise intumescent material. The base 24 optionally comprises intumescent material.

[0072] The elongated elements 23, 223, 323 can also be made with woven fabric, scrims, or paper materials, which are flexible, can be applied snugly to a shell surface of a line or the like routed through the device 1, and, if possible, exert a resilient force on the shell surface in order to ensure the tightest possible seal in the region around the shell surface of the line. The elongated elements 23 can furthermore be coated with an intumescent material. One preferred implementation is the manufacture of the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 from an intumescent material comprising a filler. Such an intumescent material will have a higher density, but also is more flexible. For instance, the intumescent material without filler or with limited filler content may have a density in the range of 400-500 g / dm3, whereas the intumescent material with a filler may have a density in the range of 600-700 g / dm3. These densities are measured on the basis of the material in granulate form and comprising expandable graphite as intumescent material.

[0073] The base 24 facilitates fastening of the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 onto the housing 10. Preferably, the base 24 is provided with a fixation portion designed to be clamped into and / or to fit into a fixation element 17 on the interior surface 18 of the housing 10 with complementary shape. Rather than the fixation portion will be inserted into said fixation element 17, the fixation element 17 may be inserted into said fixation portion of the base 24. However, insertion of the fixation portion of the base 24 into said fixation element 17 is deemed preferable. Said fixation element 17 can be provided on the housing 10 or be part of the housing 10. Adhesive may be used to assist to said mechanical fixation and render it permanent. A fixation element 17 could be embodied as a groove, cavity, snap-fit or the like as known. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixation element 17 is embodied as a groove. The fixation portion of the base 24 may be designed to fit in such groove, cavity, snap-fit or the like (or as stated above vice versa).

[0074] Most preferably, a single sealing surface 20 is constituted by means of a first sealing structure 21 and a second sealing structure 22. The first and second sealing structures 21, 22 preferably extend in planes, which are mutually arranged substantially parallel to each other, and preferably constitute a single plane. Such single plane is preferably oriented normal to the longitudinal direction L, which may facilitate assembly of the device 1 from this first and second part 3,4. However, it is not excluded that such single plane would include an angle different from 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction L. In such case, adjacent sealing surfaces 20 may be arranged parallel to each other or not. The elongated elements 23, 223, 323 of the first and second sealing structures 21, 22 may partially overlap each other at the tips 27 of the elongated elements 23, 223, 323. This is however not necessary. Alternatively, the tips 27 would just face each other. Said tips 27 may be arranged on a single straight line, with virtually all elongated elements having the same length. Alternatively, the length of the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 may be mutually different, and the tips 27 may for instance be arranged on a sinusoidal line. The tips 27 of the elongated elements 23 of the first and second sealing structures 21, 22 may further be mutually arranged that they intermesh in a comb-like manner. It is observed that this description of intermeshing and extension into a plane especially refers to an unloaded state of the device. In case that cables, tubes or the like are inserted into the axial passage channel 14 of the device 1, the elongated elements 23, 223, 323 will bend at or close to their tips 27.

[0075] In the present case, the first sealing structure 21 is arranged on the first part 3 of the device 1, and the second sealing structure 22 is arranged on the second part 4 of the device 1. In the assembled state of the device 1, the sealing structures 21 and 22 are thus arranged on opposite regions of the housing wall 15.

[0076] In the second embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 7 and 8, a membrane 125 is used instead of elongated elements 23 for the sealing surface 120. A membrane 125 constitutes a sealing member that needs to be punctured through when a line, cable or pipe is to be laid through the device 1. In the configuration of the second embodiment, a single sealing surface comprises four membranes of square shape, each membrane 125 being bordered with a frame 126. A single sealing structure 21 would include two membranes 125 with a continuous frame 126 in the configuration of the second embodiment. This subdivision of the sealing surface 120 into four membranes 125 is deemed to balance mechanical stability and ease of laying lines, cables or pipes through the device 1. In a preferred implementation, the membrane 125 is manufactured jointly with the frame 126, with the membrane 125 having a smaller sheet thickness than the frame 126. If so desired, the membrane 125 may be locally weakened so as to facilitate its puncturing. Such local weakening may for instance be achieved with a groove or slit into the membrane 125, which groove or slit merely reduces the thickness rather than going through the membrane 125.

[0077] A preferred implementation of the intumescent block 30 is shown in Figure 4. The arrangement of the intumescent block 30 into the housing 10 can be seen in Figure 2. The intumescent block 30 has a U-shape in a cross-section normal to the longitudinal direction L. Combination of a first and a second intumescent block 30 generates an annular ring, such that any cable, tube or pipe will pass through said annular ring.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4, the intumescent block 30 is provided with an inner surface 31, an outer surface 32, a first and a second stop surface 33, 34, a first side surface 35 and a second side surface 36, which first and second side surface 35, 36 are arranged at a single side of the intumescent block 30. In the illustrated version, these first and second side surfaces 35, 36 are present twice, i.e. at the opposed sides of the intumescent block 30. Connection means 37, 38 are present within the first and the second stop surface. In the illustrated embodiment, a protruding part 37 is present on the first stop surface 33 and a receding part 38, i.e. a groove or cavity, is present in the second stop surface 34. It is however not excluded that a first intumescent block is provided with two protruding parts 37 or two receding parts 38, and that the second intumescent block is provided with complementary parts. Rather than a single protruding or receding part 37, 38, each stop surface 33, 34 may be provided with a plurality of such parts. As will be understood, the said connection means 37, 38 are arranged such that upon assembly of a first and second intumescent block 30, a protruding part 37 will fit into a receding part 38. In the illustrated embodiments, which are preferred, the thickness of the housing is less than the width of the stop surfaces 33, 34. These stop surfaces 33, 34 have a surface area so as to contribute to a stable assembly of a first and a second device part 3,4 with the intumescent blocks 30 therein. Therefore, the stop surfaces 33, 34 constitute the primary stop surfaces of the device 1. The term "primary stop surface" is used to express that the stability of the assembled device 1 primarily is based on the interaction at the stop surfaces 33, 34, without excluding that there may be further stop surfaces. As shown in Fig. 2, other than the stop surfaces 33, 34, the first and second device parts get mutually supported through stop surfaces in the holding parts 41, 42 of the holder 40. The support surfaces between the housing parts 3, 4 is rather marginal.

[0079] Preferably, the design is made such that the stop surfaces 33, 34 of the two intumescent blocks 30 in the assembly are in contact with each other. The surface area of the stop surfaces 33, 34 is for instance 5000-10,000 mm2, but this will depend on the overall dimensions. This furthermore excludes the area of the protruding or receding part 37, 38, which for instance constitutes 15 to 40% of the surface area of the stop surface 33, 34, when seen in perpendicular projection on the stop surface 33, 34. The combination of the stop surface 33, 34 with the receding or protruding part 37, 38 effectively limits movement of the first device part 3 relative to the second device part 4 in the longitudinal direction L (along the axis) and in directions perpendicular thereto. Furthermore, this implementation was found to facilitate assembly of the first and second device parts 3, 4 with the intumescent blocks therein 30 to the final device. It is observed in this respect, that a connection of the device parts was defined in the housing itself in a first prototype of the device 1. However, the connecting parts in the form of a complementary tongue and groove quickly broke away in a fire test. It is believed that this initial failure may have been due to a combination of long length of the tongue parts compared to their width, as well as the use of a hard and therewith more brittle intumescent material for the housing. Through displacement of the primary stop surfaces and primary connection means from the housing 10 parts to the intumescent blocks 30, this issue was solved. Beyond constituting connection means during assembly, it was understood, that the presence of said connection means, especially a protruding part 37 in combination with a receding part 38, is beneficial for robustness and stability of the device 1 after its installation. Particularly, these connection means 37, 38 turn out potentially relevant during insertion of certain pipes, lines or cables through axial passage. This insertion may lead to forces on the device 1, particularly when a pipe, line or cable turns out not pass the device very easily, for instance due to its thickness or due thereto that there are already one or more cables, lines or pipes within the axial passage. In such case, the connection means 37, 38 prevent that at least one of the first and the second half 3, 4 would undergo a shift in the axial direction relative to the other one. In the illustrated embodiment, the intumescent block 30 is provided with first side surfaces 35 and second side surfaces 36. The first side surfaces 34 are arranged to extend normal to the longitudinal direction L, while the second side surfaces 36 are inclined. The first side surfaces 35 are configured to cooperate with fixation elements 17, such as ridges, defined at the interior surface 18 of the housing 10. Upon assembly of the intumescent block 30 into the housing 10, the first side surfaces 35 will face said fixation elements 17. Preferably, the dimensions are defined such that there is a friction fit between said first side surfaces 35 and said fixation elements 17. Adhesive may be provided to ensure a permanent connection. It is observed that the intumescent block 30 could be provided with extending portions or plates to fit into grooves, in line with the connection mechanism of the sealing structures 21, 22 to the housing part 3,4. However, it was found that the material of a housing 10, which is an intumescent material with comparatively low density and with comparatively high hardness, is better suited for defining fine elements than the intumescent material of the intumescent block 30, which has a comparatively high expansion ratio.

[0080] The device 1 may be provided with a holder 40, which is suitably provided as a combination of a first holding part 41 and a second holding part 42. One such holding part 41 is shown in Fig. 6(a) in a bird's eye perspective and in Fig. 6(b) in a front view. The arrangement of the holder 40 onto the device 1 is clear from Fig 1(a), Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c). In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 40 is embodied as a ring-shaped part, circumferentially extending around the housing 10. The holder 40 is provided with one or more fastener holes 46, through which a fastener may be provided to fasten the holder 40 and therewith the device 1 to a partition. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 40 is provided with a backplane 43, first contact surfaces 44 and second contact surfaces 45. The backplane 43 extends away from the housing 10 and includes said one or more fastener holes 46. This backplane 43 or portions thereof may also be a flange. The first contact surfaces 44 essentially extend parallel to the housing wall 15, and hence are configured to establish contact with the housing wall 15. The second contact surfaces 45 are configured to establish contact between a first housing part 41 and a second housing part 42. As a second contact surface 45 extends between the backplane 43 and a first contact surface 44, the second contact surface 45 furthermore renders the holder more robust. Further connecting elements 48 are present for the same purpose.

[0081] An alternative to a holder 40 is shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 12(a) and Fig. 9. This alternative allows to fasten one half part 4 of the device 1 to a building surface, such as a ceiling or a floor. The other half part 3 of the device 1 may subsequently be mounted onto the half part 4 that has already been fastened. Fig. 9 shows the half part 4 that is configured for facilitating fastening to a building surface. Fig 8 and 12 show the half part 3 that is configured for mounting onto the half part 4. It is not excluded that the features in half part 4 that render it feasible for fastening to a building surface are provided in the other half part 3 as well. Furthermore, there will be features in the half part 4 to be fastened to the building surface, such that the other half part 3 can be mounted thereon. This alternative option may also facilitate installation of the device 1 prior to manufacturing the building part through which the device 1 is to be arranged.

[0082] As shown in Fig. 9, the said half part 4 of the housing 10 comprises fastener receiving areas 51. These are specifically located at a bottom of said half part 4, the half part further comprising side wall portions. Together with side wall portions in the other half part 3 and a top, this creates the housing wall of the housing 10. The number of fastener receiving areas 51 in the illustrated embodiment is four. Generally, a number is chosen that provides sufficient fastening without becoming unhandy. At least two fastener receiving areas 51 is preferred, 3 to 6 seems a practical implementation. A higher number is however by no means excluded, and may provide the advantage that a user may still choose where to apply a fastener and how many, in dependence of the structure and material of the building part into which the fasteners get fixed, such as a ceiling or a floor, but optionally also a wall.

[0083] Such fastener receiving ares 51 may be embodied as holes or as openable areas for drilling a hole. Such openable area for instance comprises an annular edge. This annular edge may be bulgeshaped and / or be provided with larger wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the housing wall 15 may have a reduced thickness at the fastener receiving area 51 than elsewhere. Furthermore, preapplied perforations may be available. In this manner, the fastener receiving areas are visible for a user. Moreover, one or more variations in thickness, as applied, will enable that the housing wall gets removed only at the openable fastener receiving area, and particularly and preferably without any cracks running out of the opened area into the remainder of the housing wall. It is deemed preferable that the fastener receiving areas 51 are openable areas rather than holes. In case that such openable fastener receiving areas are not opened, they will not have any impact on flow of intumescent material, temperature distribution, spread of smoke or whatever else that could otherwise occur through the presence of holes.

[0084] The fastener receiving areas 51 are preferably arranged where there is no intumescent block 30, typically in the first chamber 7 and the third chamber 9. This exposure from the inside of the half part 4 facilitates access of a user to insert a fastener during installation, and particularly without a need to remove the intumescent block or other element from the half part 4 of the housing 10.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 12(a), inserts 60 are arranged against the interior wall 18 of the housing 10. The number of inserts 60 is four in the shown configuration, which is deemed to be a preferred number. However, the number could be increased to eight without need for a redesign of the device 1. A reduced number is not excluded either. The inserts 60 are held against the interior wall 18 by way of fixation elements 17, more specifically ridges, that functions as side rails. Glue may be used to fix the inserts 60 in the device 1. Further features prohibiting removal of an insert 60 out of the ridges may be added. Such features may be additional elements, such as a strip, but it is deemed preferable to arrange specific shapes within the housing wall, creating one or more anchors.

[0086] The inserts 60 are each provided with an extension 61, in which an aperture 62 is present. The other half part 4 will be provided with complementary features, especially a pin or protrusion fitting into the aperture 62. When mounting the first half 3 onto the second half 4, the pin or protrusion will get into the aperture 62, therewith fixing the two halves 3,4 together. Such fixation complements the fixation via the intumescent blocks 30 in each of the two halves 3,4, as discussed before. In further investigations, it was found that the fixation via the intumescent blocks 30 is sufficiently strong when the device 1 is inserted into a through-hole in a building part, such as a wall. When however, the first part 3 will hang down from and on the second part, fixation via the intumescent blocks alone is not sufficient. While other implementations may be feasible for securely hanging the first half 3 onto the second half 4, the use of inserts 60 is deemed beneficial in view of flexibility. In fact, this allows to create different versions of the device 1. The inserts 60 could be generated in the same material as the housing, but alternatively in a different material. The manufacture in the same material simplifies industrial production logistics and ensures most uniform changes of the device under the impact of changes in temperature and / or humidity. Additionally, the presence of intumescent material ensures that the inserts will be flammable. The manufacture in a different material allows optimization of the inserts 60 for their mechanical properties. Options thereto could be engineering polymers, such as polyamides, polyethers, polyimides and copolymers therewith. Further options could be reinforcement with fillers and / or reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, as well as a flame retardant or resistant additives as known per se. Another option is to use metal inserts 61. In again a further option, the second half 4 may be provided with through holes through the housing wall 15 or with predefined hole areas facilitating the drilling of a hole through the housing wall 15 from the outside. This would facilitate fixation of the two halves by means of a fastener such as a screw, bolt, rivet or the like.

[0087] While the fastener receiving areas 51 and the inserts 60 are deemed an alternative to the use of a holder 40, it is not excluded that both options are provided together with a single device. Furthermore, even in case of hanging down the first half 3 of the device 1 from the second half 4 that is mounted to a ceiling (or mounting the first half 3 on top of the second half 4 that is fastened to a floor), holders 40 may be used additionally. In such case, merely holders will be applied on the first half 3. While in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8, the inserts are arranged parallel to side wall portions of the housing wall, thus along the axial direction L, it is not excluded that inserts with means for connecting the first and second half of the housing 10 would be arranged perpendicularly to said axial direction. In such case, the inserts would be arranged and fixed into the housing wall in the same way as the sealing structures 21, 22. It is not even excluded that the connecting means, such as an extension 61 with a hole 62 in combination with a pin or like, would be incorporated into a sealing structure 21, 22. However, provision of separate inserts 60 is deemed preferable so as not to disturb or hinder laying of cables, pipes and / or lines within the axial passage of the device 1.

[0088] While in the illustrated embodiments, the first half 3 and the second half 4 of the housing 10 were essentially identical and of the same shape, this is not strictly required. One of the halves 3, 4 could be arranged with a reduced height of side wall portions (i.e. reduced relative to the height of side wall portions in the other half). A reduction could go so far, that said half would be essentially composed of merely a bottom part with arrangements for connection to the other half. Even in such case that the second part is not much more than a bottom part, it is deemed preferable that a block of intumescent material is attached thereto so as to arrive at an annular shape when combining the blocks of intumescent material in both halves. However, the illustrated embodiments wherein there is a significant height of side wall portions in both halves is deemed preferable. This allows to generate a larger cross-sectional area, and hence a single device can facilitate passing through of a maximum number of cables, lines and pipes as foreseen. Furthermore, it allows providing sealing structures in both halves, which contributes overall to mechanical stability. Moreover, when providing halves with identical height of side wall portions, the halves can be manufactured using the same tools, such as molds, which simplifies production.

[0089] Furthermore, while in the illustrated and preferred embodiments the housing is composed of two halves, it is not excluded that the housing would be composed of more than two halves, even though currently no advantage thereof is envisaged. In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part, which device comprises a housing defining an axial passage channel that is delimited by the housing and extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, at or adjacent to which first and second ends sealing surfaces are provided that are configured to facilitate passing through of said lines, pipes and / or cables, and wherein at least one block of intumescent material arranged within the housing. Herein said housing comprises a bottom, side walls and a top part. Said housing is composed of a first and a second housing part, wherein said first housing part comprises said bottom and wherein said second housing part comprises said top, and wherein said side walls are subdivided between said first and second housing part. Openable fastener receiving areas are specified and defined in said bottom, which openable fastener receiving areas are configured for generating fastener holes and applying a fastener through said hole into a ceiling, floor or other building part. Said first and second housing parts are moreover each provided with connection elements for mutual coupling of the first and second housing part. The device according to this aspect of the invention has the benefit that it may be installed adequately in corner areas, where conventional holders do not fit. Moreover, the device may even be arranged onto a ceiling, floor prior to provision of a wall, through which the device ultimately is to extend. Such order of installation is for instance deemed beneficial in combination with offsite building techniques, and is furthermore more common in at least some anglo-saxon countries, for instance in countries where traditionally cast-in fire collars are used. Any of the embodiments and implementations discussed in the foregoing are deemed to apply as well to this aspect. However, according to this aspect, it is not deemed necessary, though still preferred, that the axial passage channel is subdivided into a plurality of chambers.

[0090] REFERENCE LIST

[0091] I device

[0092] 3,4 two parts, each having U-shaped cross-section

[0093] L longitudinal direction

[0094] M main direction arranged substantially perpendicular to longitudinal direction

[0095] N further direction

[0096] 7 first chamber

[0097] 8 second chamber

[0098] 9 third chamber

[0099] 10 housing

[0100] II first axial end

[0101] 12 second axial end

[0102] 13 continuous opening

[0103] 14 interior space of the device 1 / axial channel

[0104] 15 housing wall

[0105] 17 fixation element

[0106] 18 interior surface

[0107] 20 sealing surface

[0108] 21,22 sealing structures

[0109] 23 elongated element

[0110] 24 base

[0111] 27 tip of elongated element 23

[0112] 30 intumescent block

[0113] 31 inner surface of the intumescent block

[0114] 32 outer surface of the intumescent block

[0115] 33 first stop surface

[0116] 34 second stop surface 35 first side surface

[0117] 36 second side surface

[0118] 37 protruding part

[0119] 38 receding part

[0120] 40 holder

[0121] 41 first part of holder

[0122] 42 second part of holder

[0123] 43 backplane

[0124] 44 first contact surface

[0125] 45 second contact surface

[0126] 46 fastener hole

[0127] 48 connecting element

[0128] 51 fastener receiving area

[0129] 60 insert

[0130] 61 extension of insert

[0131] 62 aperture

[0132] 100 building part

[0133] 120 sealing surface of second embodiment

[0134] 125 membrane

[0135] 126 frame

[0136] 220 sealing surface of third embodiment

[0137] 223 elongated element

[0138] 226 spacing

[0139] 320 sealing surface of fourth embodiment

[0140] 323 elongated element

[0141] 324 reinforcement bar

[0142] L longitudinal direction

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables through a building part, which device comprises a housing having a housing wall, wherein the housing has an axial passage channel that is delimited by the housing wall and extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, a series of sealing surfaces is provided in the axial passage channel, subdividing said axial passage channel into a first, second and a third consecutive chamber, each of which chamber is closed by means of said housing and a first and second one of said sealing surfaces, wherein each sealing surface is provided with a plurality of sealing elements configured and arranged to facilitate passing said lines, pipes and / or cables in between of said sealing elements without creating a gas channel in between of adjacent chambers, wherein at least part of said sealing elements comprise intumescent material; at least one block of intumescent material arranged in the second chamber, wherein said at least one block is configured to demonstrate intumescence so as to fill up the second chamber and constitute a fire stop.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one block of intumescent material extends annularly along an interior of said housing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one block of intumescent material comprises a first block and a second block provided with stop surfaces and connection means for mutual connection of the first and the second block.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a first and a second housing part, wherein said first block of intumescent material is assembled into the first housing part and the second block of intumescent material is assembled into the second housing part, and wherein the stop surfaces and connection means of the first and second block constitute the primary stop surfaces and primary connection means for fastening of the first and second housing part.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second housing part are free of connecting means in the form of pairs of protruding and receding parts.

6. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the intumescent material of said block is provided with a first expansion ratio, and wherein the intumescent material of the sealing elements is provided with a second expansion ratio, wherein said second expansion ratio is lower than the first expansion ratio.

7. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein sealing elements of a sealing surface are elongated, extend in a corresponding main direction and arranged adjacent to one another, wherein preferably the sealing elements are designed as at least one of lamellas, brushes, bristles, strips, tapes, or hose elements.

8. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, particularly claim 7, wherein the sealing elements of a sealing surface are arranged in a first and second sealing structure that are assembled into opposed parts of the housing, and preferably wherein the sealing elements of the at least two sealing structures substantially form a common sealing line.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing is provided with grooves configured for insertion of said sealing structures at predefined positions.

10. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is of a polymer composition comprising an intumescent filler.

11. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is provided with a rectangular cross-section.

12. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the sealing surfaces is arranged in a region of one end of the housing, and wherein preferably at least one sealing surface is arranged in a region of a first end of the housing and another sealing surface is arranged in a region of a second end of the housing, wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sealing surfaces arranged in the region of one end of the housing are provided with a double row of elongated elements, preferably lamellae.

14. Use of the device as claimed in any of the preceding claims for fire protection between a first building space and a second building space mutually separated by a partition, wherein a through- hole is present in said partition extending from the first to the second building space, in which through-hole the said device for routing lines, pipes, and / or cables is present.

15. The use of claim 14, wherein the device is installed into the through-hole such that the first chamber and the third chamber at least partially extend outside the partition into the said first and second building space respectively.

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