Fire Retardant Elastomeric Expansion Joint System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building expansion joint systems lack adequate fire resistance and water resistance, often requiring separate installations and compromising structural integrity, especially in large buildings and exterior applications where thermal and seismic movements are significant.
Innovation Solution
A fire and water resistant expansion joint system comprising a core infused with a fire retardant material, combined with elastomer and intumescent layers, designed to accommodate movement while providing both fire and water resistance, and installed in a pre-compressed state to ensure effective sealing and resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monolithic blocks of mineral wool or other inorganic materials are used for fire resistive joints, then fire resistance is improved, but the system lacks resilience and recovery characteristics to maintain adequate coverage throughout thermal cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction combining an elastomeric base material with integrated fire retardant fibers. The elastomeric matrix provides resilience and recovery characteristics while the dispersed fire retardant fibers maintain fire resistance. This composite approach allows the joint system to accommodate thermal movement while preserving fire protective properties throughout cycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire retardant fibers are distributed throughout the elastomeric matrix, creating localized fire-resistant zones within the flexible material. This allows different regions of the joint system to have optimized properties - the elastomeric portions provide flexibility and movement accommodation while the fire retardant fiber-rich zones provide fire resistance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If expansion joint systems are designed to accommodate thermal and seismic movements, then adaptability is improved, but fire resistance deteriorates due to creation of chimney effects
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric composite material combines the flexibility needed for movement accommodation with fire retardant fibers that prevent chimney effects. The elastomeric matrix allows the joint to expand and contract with building movement while the fire retardant fibers maintain integrity and prevent fire propagation through the joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire retardant fibers modify the thermal and combustion parameters of the elastomeric material, raising its fire resistance characteristics while preserving its elastic properties. This allows the material to maintain both movement accommodation capability and fire resistance throughout thermal and seismic cycling.
3Reliability
If separate fire resistant and water resistant systems are installed, then both fire and water resistance are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fire resistance and water resistance functions into a single integrated joint system. The elastomeric composite material provides both fire retardancy through embedded fibers and water resistance through the elastomeric matrix properties, eliminating the need for separate fire-resistant and waterproofing installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric composite joint system performs multiple functions simultaneously - it accommodates movement, provides fire resistance, and offers water resistance. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require separate specialized systems, simplifying both installation and overall system complexity.
4Strength
If invasive anchoring methods are used to secure expansion joints, then strength is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates due to compromise of fire resistive elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical anchoring with a self-adhering elastomeric system that bonds directly to the substrate. The elastomeric material's adhesive properties provide sufficient anchoring strength without requiring invasive fasteners that would compromise the fire-resistive continuity of the joint system.
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 system effectively maintains fire and water resistance characteristics, accommodating thermal and seismic movements, and passing stringent testing standards like UL 2079, while simplifying installation and reducing the need for invasive anchoring.
Implementation Method 1
a fire retardant included in the core in an amount effective to pass testing mandated by UL 2079
Implementation Method 2
accommodate thermal and seismic movements
Implementation Method 3
the elastomeric material provides for waterproofing or water resistance
Implementation Method 4
combined with elastomer and intumescent layers
Implementation Method 5
designed to accommodate movement while providing both fire and water resistance
Data Source
AI summary
An expansion joint system comprises a core; and a fire retardant included in the core in an amount effective to pass testing mandated by UL 2079. The core with the fire retardant is configured to facilitate compression of the expansion joint system when installed between substrates by repeatedly expanding and contracting to accommodate movement of the substrates; and the core with the fire retardant included therein is configured to pass the testing mandated by UL 2079.