Fireproof ventilation duct for building equipment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire-protected ventilation ducts are time-consuming and costly to install, prone to errors, and require extensive space due to the need for separate fire protection panels that surround flange sections, which also complicates thermal expansion during fires.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated ventilation duct module with fire protection panels already integrated, featuring fastening flanges and length compensation elements to allow for easy connection and expansion without mechanical stress on the panels, and an air gap for thermal insulation and vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fire-resistant panels are installed separately after air duct assembly, then fire protection is achieved, but installation time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-resistant panels are integrated directly into the air duct module during manufacturing, combining the fire protection function with the air duct structure. This eliminates the separate installation step required by conventional solutions, reducing installation time while maintaining fire protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-resistant panels are pre-installed on the air duct modules before they are assembled into the ventilation system. This preliminary action allows the panels to be positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site installation and reducing the risk of installation errors.
2Reliability
If fire-resistant panels surround the flange sections, then complete fire protection is achieved, but the required installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange sections are extracted from the fire-resistant panel structure and positioned outside the panel boundaries. This allows the fire-resistant panels to cover only the essential air duct surfaces without extending into the space required for flange connection, reducing the overall installation space while maintaining fire protection coverage where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-resistant panels are applied selectively to specific areas of the air duct module where fire protection is most critical, rather than uniformly covering all surfaces including the flange sections. This localized approach maintains fire protection effectiveness while minimizing the space occupied by the fire-resistant cladding.
3Strength
If rigid fire-resistant panels are used without expansion compensation, then structural integrity is maintained, but thermal expansion during fire causes mechanical stress and panel damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the fire-resistant panels and air duct structure incorporates elements that allow for thermal expansion by changing the mechanical constraints. This enables the panels to accommodate temperature-induced dimensional changes without developing excessive mechanical stress that would compromise their structural integrity or protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-resistant panel assembly incorporates dynamic elements that allow for movement and expansion compensation. Rather than being completely rigidly fixed, the panels can adjust their position and orientation in response to thermal expansion, maintaining structural integrity while accommodating the harmful effects of heat-induced dimensional changes.
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 simple, cost-effective installation with high fire resistance (L90) and compact dimensions, ensuring the fire protection panels remain intact during thermal expansion, while maintaining airtight and insulated connections.
Implementation Method 1
an air gap for thermal insulation
Implementation Method 2
to compensate for any longitudinal expansion of the air duct module sections that occurs in the event of a fire
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A fire-resistant ventilation duct (1) for building services has an air duct module (2) with a rectangular cross-section, which has a first and a second duct end (5, 6), each with an opening for air passage. At each duct end (5, 6) a flange section (7, 8) is provided for connection to a corresponding flange section (7, 8) of another air duct module (2) or a component of a ventilation system. The air duct module (2) is completely encased on the outside with fire-resistant panels (9) that terminate at the flange sections (7, 8) of the air duct module (2) and have mounting flanges (7', 8') at these points. These mounting flanges can be securely connected, by means of fasteners, to a mounting flange of another air duct module (2) that matches the respective mounting flange (7', 8') and extends the first air duct module section (13) to the second flange section (8).To compensate for the length expansion of the air duct module sections (13, 14) that occurs in the event of a fire, the air duct module (2) has at least one length compensation element (15).