Cable Guide Casing With Intumescent Sealing for Maintainable Firestops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firewall bulkhead solutions do not allow for easy addition or removal of cables or pipework elements without compromising leaktightness, and they either fail to provide both fire stopping and restricted air permeability or require laborious operations with multiple modules and secondary sealants.
Innovation Solution
A firewall device with a casing having flaps and intumescent material sheets and foam blocks that maintain passive fire separation and restricted air permeability, allowing easy installation and removal of elements, and activating fireproof sealing upon temperature increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firewall bulkhead devices are designed to maintain leaktightness, then fire stopping and air permeability control are improved, but cable addition or removal becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into modular components: foam blocks that can be individually removed and repositioned, and flaps with retaining flanges that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows maintenance workers to access and modify cable configurations without compromising the overall leaktightness of the bulkhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam blocks are designed to be removable and repositionable, transforming the sealing system from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic one that can adapt to changing cable arrangements. The flaps can also be moved to accommodate different cable positions while maintaining the seal.
2Reliability
If multiple modules and secondary sealants are used to restore firewall rating, then fire stopping is improved, but installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foam blocks and flaps are integrated into a unified sealing system where the flaps form retaining flanges for the foam blocks. This merging eliminates the need for separate secondary sealants and multiple independent modules, simplifying the overall device while maintaining fire stopping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flaps serve multiple functions: they structurally frame the aperture, provide retaining flanges for foam block attachment, and contribute to the overall fire rating restoration. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional multi-module solutions.
3Reliability
If cable trays are interrupted through the separating element, then fire stopping is restored, but productivity and installation time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The foam blocks are pre-positioned within the casing before cable installation, and the flaps are pre-configured with retaining flanges. This preliminary preparation allows cables to be installed through the foam blocks without requiring post-installation interruptions to cable trays, maintaining both firewall rating and installation productivity.
4Ease of operation
If the bulkhead remains open for maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but air permeability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam blocks provide localized sealing at the aperture where cables pass through, while the flaps provide additional localized sealing when closed. This local quality approach allows the bulkhead to remain open for maintenance while minimizing air permeability at the critical cable penetration points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device maintains passive fire separation and restricted air permeability under normal conditions, enabling easy maintenance, and upon fire, the intumescent material seals the bulkhead, ensuring fire containment and compatibility with gas extinguishing systems.
Implementation Method 1
sheets of intumescent material, covering a first part of the inner face of the casing on the rear face side of the casing and fixed to the casing
Implementation Method 2
upon temperature increase, the intumescent material seals the bulkhead
Implementation Method 3
blocks of caulking foam on the front face side of the casing covering a second part of the inner face of the casing, said foam blocks filling a first space between the wall(s) of the casing and said through elements
Data Source
AI summary
Firewall device for caulking an aperture defined in a separating element and traversed by through elements, notably consisting of cables, pipes or the like, this device being in the form of a casing of rectangular, circular or oval cross section, provided with a first aperture on a first face on which said through elements enter the casing, referred to as the front face of the casing, and a second aperture on a second face, referred to as the rear face of the casing, opposite the first face and forming an exit aperture for said through elements, such that the casing includes flaps constituting a frame for the first aperture of the casing, said device includes sheets of intumescent material covering a first part of the inner face of the casing on the rear face side of the casing, and blocks of caulking foam on the casing front face side covering a second part of the casing inner face, said foam blocks filling a first space between the casing wall(s) and said through elements, and said flaps forming retaining flanges for said foam blocks.