Continuous Fire Barrier Element for Recessed Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current recessed lighting fixtures face challenges in meeting fire safety standards, as the installation process often requires modifications that compromise the integrity of the fire barrier, and existing solutions do not effectively prevent the spread of flames and heat during a fire.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture system featuring a continuous fire barrier element with a central body and flaps that are integrally formed, including an intumescent material, which can pivot to block openings and provide a barrier chamber, ensuring compliance with fire safety standards like UL 263 by preventing or minimizing the spread of flames and heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a recessed lighting fixture is installed by cutting an opening in the ceiling, then the light fixture can be accommodated and installed, but the fire barrier integrity is compromised and flames and heat can spread
Solution Approach 1:
The fire barrier is divided into multiple segments including a central body and flaps that can move independently. This segmentation allows the barrier to adapt to the opening while maintaining fire protection, resolving the contradiction between installation ease and fire safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire barrier incorporates movable flaps that can pivot between blocking and open configurations. This dynamic capability allows the barrier to maintain fire protection during normal conditions while permitting access during installation or maintenance, thus resolving the contradiction between fire safety and installation ease.
2Reliability
If the fire barrier is made continuous to prevent fire spread, then fire safety is improved, but the complexity of the light fixture system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire barrier elements (central body and flaps) are integrally formed as a single continuous structure. This merging provides continuous fire protection while the unified design actually reduces complexity compared to assembling multiple separate components, thus resolving the contradiction between fire safety and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous fire barrier serves multiple functions: it blocks fire and heat spread, provides structural support, and allows for controlled access through movable flaps. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive fire safety protection in a single integrated system.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing fire barrier solutions are used, then installation is simple, but they do not effectively prevent the spread of flames and heat during a fire
Solution Approach 1:
The fire barrier is pre-configured with flaps in specific orientations and includes pre-applied intumescent materials. This preliminary preparation ensures that when installed, the barrier immediately provides effective fire protection without requiring additional field modifications, thus resolving the contradiction between installation simplicity and fire protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire barrier incorporates intumescent materials that chemically expand when exposed to heat, creating an insulating char layer. This composite material approach provides superior fire protection effectiveness while maintaining reasonable installation simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
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 light fixture system effectively meets fire safety standards by using a continuous fire barrier element that can pivot to block openings and expand to prevent the spread of flames and heat, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The continuous fire barrier element may include an intumescent material
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a light fixture system having a fixture housing with a base and sidewall that form a housing interior, and a continuous fire barrier element disposed within the housing interior. The continuous fire barrier element may include a central body and at least one flap extending from the central body. The at least one flap may be movable relative to the central body.