Fire-Rated Angle Piece for Head-of-Wall Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for creating fire-rated head-of-wall joints are time-consuming, expensive, and have disadvantages such as the need for multiple crews for installation and potential damage to intumescent materials during shipping and handling.
Innovation Solution
A fire-rated angle piece with a heat-expandable intumescent material strip applied to its surface, which can be installed separately during the framing process, eliminating the need for additional fire block products and simplifying installation by avoiding the need for multiple crews.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to create fire-rated head-of-wall joints by stuffing mineral wool and spraying elastomeric material, then fire resistance is achieved, but installation time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire blocking function and the structural header track into a single integrated component. The header track is manufactured with channels that directly receive and secure fire blocking materials, eliminating the need for separate installation steps and multiple crews. This integration maintains fire resistance while significantly reducing installation time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire blocking materials are pre-positioned within the header track channels during manufacturing or prior to installation. This preliminary action ensures that fire blocking is already in place when the header track is installed, eliminating the need for subsequent spraying or stuffing operations and reducing on-site installation time.
2Reliability
If intumescent materials are applied separately after framing, then fire rating is achieved, but handling and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates intumescent materials directly onto the header track surface during manufacturing. The intumescent coating is applied to specific surfaces of the header track that will contact wallboard or ceiling materials, creating a single-component solution that provides both structural support and fire rating without requiring separate handling or installation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The header track is manufactured as a composite structure combining the metal track material with an intumescent coating layer. This composite construction ensures that the fire-rated properties are inherent to the track itself, eliminating the need for separate fire blocking materials and simplifying installation while maintaining fire rating integrity.
3Reliability
If multiple crews are used for fire block installation, then fire protection is achieved, but project cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the header track installer and fire block installer into a single installation process. The header track is designed with built-in channels and features that allow one crew to simultaneously install both the structural track and the fire blocking materials in a single operation, eliminating the need for multiple specialized crews and reducing project costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The header track is designed as a multi-functional component that provides both structural support and fire protection functions. By making the header track universal enough to handle both structural installation and fire blocking in one process, the patent eliminates the need for separate fire block installation crews while maintaining adequate fire protection.
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 solution provides an efficient and cost-effective method for creating fire-rated wall joints, with improved handling and installation processes that reduce the risk of damage to intumescent materials, while maintaining effective fire resistance.
Implementation Method 1
heat-expandable intumescent material strip
Implementation Method 2
intumescent materials work well for this purpose, because they swell and char when exposed to flames helping to create a barrier to the fire, heat, and/or smoke
Implementation Method 3
fire-retardant materials which substantially block the path of the fire, heat or smoke for at least some period of time
Data Source
AI summary
A fire-rated angle piece and wall assemblies or other assemblies that incorporate the fire-rated angle piece, in which the angle piece can include an intumescent or other fire-resistant material strip. The angle can be attached adjacent to a corner of a framing member, such as metal tracks, headers, header tracks, sill plates, bottom tracks, metal studs, wood studs or wall partitions, and placed between the framing member and a wall board member at a perimeter of a wall assembly to create a fire block arrangement. A fire spray material can be applied over a portion of the angle piece.