Fire Transit Unit with Intumescent Casing for Service Alteration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire and smoke containment transit units exhibit poor insulation characteristics, requiring cumbersome retrofits when altering services, as they rely on thermally non-conducting wraps and steel strapping that necessitate specialized tools and material replacement.
Innovation Solution
A fire and smoke containment services transit unit with a casing made from low thermal conductivity materials, incorporating intumescent material for heat swelling and graphite impregnated foam for friction fit, allowing services to be threaded and altered without deforming the intumescent material, and eliminating the need for removing and replacing wrapping materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermally non-conducting wrap and steel strapping are used to improve insulation characteristics, then insulation performance is improved, but adaptability for future service alterations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transit unit is divided into modular components: a reusable casing with intumescent material for fire protection, and removable service carriers that hold individual services. This segmentation allows the fire protection structure to remain intact while services can be independently added, removed, or replaced without affecting the insulation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Service carriers are nested within the transit unit casing, which contains the intumescent material. This nested structure allows services to be housed within the fire-protected enclosure, enabling service alterations while maintaining the outer fire protection barrier that provides insulation characteristics.
2Temperature
If steel strapping is used to secure wrap material, then insulation characteristics are improved, but ease of operation for service alterations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The securement system is segmented into permanent structural elements (casing, intumescent material) and removable service carriers. This allows the fire protection structure to remain fixed and intact while services can be easily accessed, removed, or replaced by simply detaching service carriers without disturbing the insulated casing.
Solution Approach 2:
The service carriers are designed with dynamic attachment mechanisms that allow for easy insertion and removal. This dynamic design enables services to be altered without requiring specialized tools or affecting the permanent fire protection structure, making operations simple while maintaining insulation characteristics.
3Temperature
If wrap material is permanently fixed to protect against heat, then insulation characteristics are improved, but adaptability for retrofitting services deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the permanent fire protection structure (casing with intumescent material) from the service-holding components (service carriers). This segmentation allows the insulated casing to remain permanently installed and intact, while service carriers can be added, removed, or modified at any time to retrofit new services without compromising the thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The service carriers are pre-configured with mounting mechanisms that interface with the permanent casing structure. This preliminary preparation of the mounting system allows services to be easily retrofitted by simply attaching service carriers to the existing insulated casing, without requiring modification to the fire protection structure.
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 enhanced insulation characteristics and simplifies service alterations by maintaining thermal integrity and allowing for friction fit adjustments without the need for specialized tools or material replacement, offering improved performance and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an intumescent material housed within the internal volume, the intumescent material being responsive to heat so as to swell within the internal volume
Implementation Method 2
first and second pieces of graphite impregnated foam, the first piece of graphite impregnated foam being shaped so as to form a friction fit within the first opening and the second piece of graphite impregnated foam being shaped so as to form a friction fit within the second opening
Implementation Method 3
the casing is constructed from a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 watts per meter per Kelvin
Data Source
AI summary
The fire and smoke containment services transit unit includes a casing constructed from a material such as plastic or timber having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 watts per meter per Kelvin. The casing defines a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end. Intermediate the first and second ends is an internal volume encased by the casing. The internal volume and each of the openings and are sized to allow services such as cables, pipes, etc., to be threaded through the services transit unit. An intumescent material is housed within the internal volume. Prior to exposure to the heat of a fire, the intumescent material maintains a slim profile. When exposed to the heat associated with a building fire, the intumescent material swells and seals the internal volume against the passage of fire, smoke or heated gases through the transit unit.