Prefabricated Duct Flange for Firestopping Wall Penetrations

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for firestopping around air ducts extending through structural panels require staged inspections and separate application of fireproofing materials by skilled personnel and mechanical contractors, complicating the process and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

A modular prefabricated unit with a structural bracket and pre-installed fireproofing seal that simultaneously maintains spacing and provides firestopping between air ducts and structural panels, allowing mechanical contractors to install both components, eliminating the need for staged inspections and reducing the requirement for specialized fireproofing personnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fireproofing materials are applied into the annulus and then the mechanical bracket is placed, then proper fireproofing can be applied and inspected, but the process requires staged inspections and multiple skilled personnel (fireproofing personnel and mechanical contractors)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefireproofing qualityVSAvoidinstallation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical bracket and fireproofing materials into a single integrated assembly. The bracket includes pre-attached fireproofing materials (mineral wool and intumescent coating) that are applied in advance during manufacturing. This merging eliminates the need for separate fireproofing application and inspection stages, allowing mechanical contractors to install the complete assembly in one step while maintaining fireproofing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fireproofing materials are applied to the bracket in advance during manufacturing, before the bracket is installed on-site. The mineral wool is pre-placed in the annulus space and the intumescent coating is pre-applied to the bracket surfaces. This preliminary action transfers the fireproofing work from the installation phase to the manufacturing phase, simplifying the on-site process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If fireproofing is applied and inspected before placing the mechanical bracket, then inspection can be performed, but the annulus becomes hidden by the bracket making subsequent inspection impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefireproofing inspection accuracyVSAvoidinspection accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fireproofing materials are applied to the bracket in advance during manufacturing, before the bracket is installed on-site. The mineral wool is pre-placed in the annulus space and the intumescent coating is pre-applied to the bracket surfaces. This preliminary action transfers the fireproofing work from the installation phase to the manufacturing phase, simplifying the on-site process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the mechanical bracket and fireproofing materials into a single integrated assembly. The bracket includes pre-attached fireproofing materials (mineral wool and intumescent coating) that are applied in advance during manufacturing. This merging eliminates the need for separate fireproofing application and inspection stages, allowing mechanical contractors to install the complete assembly in one step while maintaining fireproofing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate fireproofing personnel and mechanical contractors are involved, then proper fireproofing application and mechanical installation can be ensured, but the process time and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation qualityVSAvoidinstallation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical bracket and fireproofing materials into a single integrated assembly. The bracket includes pre-attached fireproofing materials (mineral wool and intumescent coating) that are applied in advance during manufacturing. This merging eliminates the need for separate fireproofing application and inspection stages, allowing mechanical contractors to install the complete assembly in one step while maintaining fireproofing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fireproofing materials are applied to the bracket in advance during manufacturing, before the bracket is installed on-site. The mineral wool is pre-placed in the annulus space and the intumescent coating is pre-applied to the bracket surfaces. This preliminary action transfers the fireproofing work from the installation phase to the manufacturing phase, simplifying the on-site process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7797893B2Apparatus for reinforcing and firestopping around a duct extending through a structural panel

Publication Date: 2010.09.21 SPECIFIED TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

An angular flange for reinforcing and firestopping in the annulus between a structural panel such as a wall, ceiling or floor and a duct extending therethrough. The prefabricated angular flange includes a first flange leg to be secured to the duct and a second flange leg with a sealing member preferably of flexibly resilient foam which could be intumescent attached to a surface of the second leg such that when the first flange leg is secured to the duct the second flange leg can be urged against the structural panel extending therearound with the sealing member positioned between the structural panel and the second flange leg and sealing the annulus.