Fire Insulation Composition for Single-Layer Drop Rod Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire insulation materials often require multiple layers and thick insulation to meet fire and insulation standards, and recent European standards mandate insulation for drop rods over 1.5 meters in length to prevent elongation due to temperature rise during fires, posing challenges in achieving effective fire resistance while maintaining structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A fire insulation material composed of cement (10-30% w/w), aluminium or magnesium hydroxide (60-90% w/w), and optionally cracking-resistant agents like mica or fibres, which can be mixed with water to form a mortar for use in panels, ducts, and drop rods, providing enhanced fire resistance and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If multiple layers and thick insulation material are used to achieve fire resistance standards, then fire resistance duration is improved, but device complexity and material quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite material formulation combining cement (10-30% w/w), aluminium or magnesium hydroxide (60-90% w/w), and cracking resistant agents (2-10% w/w) to achieve fire resistance in a single layer, eliminating the need for multiple layers while maintaining or improving fire protection duration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the insulation material by incorporating specific ratios of cement, metal hydroxides, and cracking resistant agents, which fundamentally alters the material's fire response characteristics to achieve prolonged fire resistance without increasing thickness or layer count
2Duration of action of stationary object
If thick insulation material is used to meet fire standards, then fire resistance is improved, but loss of substance and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite formulation with optimised ratios of cement (10-30% w/w), aluminium or magnesium hydroxide (60-90% w/w), and cracking resistant agents (2-10% w/w) creates a high-performance material that delivers required fire resistance duration with reduced material quantity compared to conventional thick insulation layers
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical composition parameters to include specific metal hydroxide content and cracking resistant agents, the material achieves enhanced fire resistance efficiency, reducing the overall quantity of insulation material needed while maintaining fire protection duration
3Reliability
If insulation material is applied to drop rods to prevent elongation during fire, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material with cement, metal hydroxides, and cracking resistant agents provides reliable fire protection for drop rods through a simplified single-layer application process, maintaining structural integrity during fire without the complexity of multi-layer systems
Solution Approach 2:
The specific compositional parameters (cement 10-30% w/w, aluminium or magnesium hydroxide 60-90% w/w, cracking resistant agents 2-10% w/w) enable the material to reliably prevent drop rod elongation during fire while simplifying the manufacturing and application process
4Reliability
If cracking resistant agents are added to the insulation material, then reliability under thermal stress is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The addition of cracking resistant agents at specific concentrations (2-10% w/w) to the composite material formulation enhances reliability by preventing cracking under thermal stress, while the overall composition remains relatively simple with only three main components
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material incorporating cracking resistant agents alongside cement and metal hydroxides provides improved reliability under thermal stress through a straightforward three-component formulation, avoiding the complexity of multi-component systems
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 material achieves at least one hour of fire resistance, compliant with UK and EU standards, and can be used in various forms such as panels, ducts, and drop rods, effectively protecting against fire while maintaining structural integrity and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
aluminium or magnesium hydroxide, huntite or hydromagnesite, in an amount of between 60-90% w/w
Implementation Method 2
cement, in an amount of between 10-30% w/w
Data Source
AI summary
A fire insulation precursor material formed of cement, in an amount of between 10-30% w/w; and an aluminium or magnesium hydroxide, huntite or hydromagnesite in an amount of between 60-90% w/w. A fire insulation material is provided including the previously mentioned precursor material. Further described are methods of forming a fire insulation material and applications for such material in sheaths, duct coatings, cable trays and other elongate components.