Retrofit Fire Protection Element for Flat Roof Drains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat roof drains lack effective fire protection measures, posing a risk in the event of a fire, and retrofitting existing installations to meet fire safety standards is complex and costly, often requiring complete replacement.
Innovation Solution
A modular fire protection device integrated into the protective hood of a flat roof drain, which includes a fire protection element that seals the drain gas-tight and smoke-tight during a fire, allowing for retrofitting without dismantling the existing drain, using materials like intumescent materials that expand with heat to create a seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flat roof drains are used without fire protection measures, then the drain structure remains simple and cost-effective, but fire safety is compromised and fire can spread between compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection element is nested within the protective hood of the existing drain structure. The element is received by a receiving structure formed in the protective hood, allowing the fire protection function to be integrated into the existing drain without requiring complete replacement or complex structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection solution is segmented into a separate, modular element that can be independently installed within the protective hood. This segmentation allows the fire protection function to be added without modifying the entire drain structure, maintaining simplicity while improving fire safety.
2Reliability
If existing flat roof drains are retrofitted with fire protection measures through complete replacement, then fire safety requirements are met, but the retrofitting process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving structure is pre-formed in the protective hood during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-receive configuration for the fire protection element. This preliminary preparation simplifies the retrofitting process, as the fire protection element can be directly installed into the pre-configured receiving structure without complex construction work.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular fire protection element is designed to nest within the existing protective hood structure. This nesting approach allows retrofitting by simply installing the element into the existing drain, avoiding the need for complete replacement and reducing both complexity and cost.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a fire protection element is integrated into the protective hood, then fire and smoke spread is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection element is nested within the protective hood's receiving structure, allowing the harmful factor protection function to be integrated into the existing structure with minimal additional complexity. The element fits within the existing geometric framework of the drain.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection element is designed to automatically respond to fire conditions through its material properties (intumescent materials that expand when exposed to heat), providing self-activating protection without requiring additional control systems or complex mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If intumescent materials are used in the fire protection element, then gas-tight sealing is achieved during fire, but the material requires specific thermal activation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The intumescent material undergoes a phase transition when exposed to fire temperatures, expanding and forming a carbonaceous char layer that provides gas-tight sealing. This phase transition is triggered by the thermal conditions of a fire, automatically providing the required sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The intumescent material exhibits thermal expansion when exposed to fire temperatures, increasing in volume and density to form an effective seal. This thermal expansion property is utilized to achieve gas-tight sealing without requiring additional mechanical sealing components.
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
Enables easy, cost-effective retrofitting of flat roof drains to achieve fire protection class R120 without structural interventions, effectively preventing fire and smoke spread between compartments, ensuring compliance with fire safety codes.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one fire protection element (20') is designed in such a way that, in the event of a fire, it can be actuated by the action of heat
Implementation Method 2
using materials like intumescent materials that expand with heat to create a seal
Implementation Method 3
the drain socket (11) and/or the drain pipe (9) can be closed in a substantially gas-tight manner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
Device consists of installation pot, installation flange and protection hood (12). The fire protection element (20') is integrated or inserted into a body (13) that is designed in the protection hood. The body, which is inserted or designed in the protection hood lies opposite to the drain tube of the installation pot, has a cover plate (14). The cover plate partially covers fire protection element opposite the drain tube of the installation pot.