Firestop Pipe Transition for Metal-to-Plastic Floor Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fire protection solutions for connecting metal and combustible pipes in building constructions lack official test certificates, particularly for direct connections above floor slabs, which are desirable for installation convenience but pose risks in fire compartments.

Innovation Solution

A pipeline system featuring a metal pipe connected to a combustible floor pipe via a T-piece or branch with plastically deformable press connection sections, using shell-shaped fire protection insulation made of mineral wool with a melting point over 1,000°C, allowing for direct connections while preventing fire, smoke, and temperature transfer between fire compartments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If plastic or multi-layer composite pipes are directly connected to metal pipelines above floor slabs, then installation flexibility and convenience are improved, but fire protection reliability deteriorates due to lack of tested solutions and risk of fire transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidfire protection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A metal transition piece serves as an intermediary component between the plastic floor pipe and the metal vertical pipeline. This transition piece is directly integrated with the fire protection insulation system, eliminating the need for separate insulation installations and allowing direct connection above floor slabs while maintaining fire protection integrity with tested certification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fire protection insulation is merged with the transition piece assembly, where the insulation is directly integrated into the connection system rather than being a separate component. This combination allows the plastic pipe to be connected directly to the metal pipeline above the floor slab while maintaining fire resistance through the integrated insulation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional fire protection insulation with minimum length requirements is used, then fire protection reliability is improved, but installation flexibility and space utilization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection insulation is merged with the transition piece assembly, where the insulation is directly integrated into the connection system rather than being a separate component requiring minimum clearance distances. This allows the plastic pipe to be connected directly above the floor slab to the metal pipeline while maintaining fire resistance through the integrated insulation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fire protection solution transitions from a linear insulation approach requiring minimum lengths along the pipe to a three-dimensional integrated insulation system that surrounds the transition piece and connection area, allowing direct connection above floor slabs without compromising fire protection through spatial integration rather than linear distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If metal pipelines are used throughout the entire system, then fire protection reliability is improved, but cost and material versatility deteriorate due to inability to use optimized plastic piping in floor distributions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The piping system is segmented into different material zones: plastic pipes are used for floor distribution where flexibility and cost-effectiveness are needed, while metal pipes are used for vertical runs where fire resistance is critical. The metal transition piece and integrated insulation create a fire-resistant interface between these segments, allowing each material to be used where most beneficial.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different materials are used in different locations based on specific requirements: plastic piping in floor distributions where flexibility and cost are important, metal piping in vertical runs where fire resistance is critical, and metal transition pieces with integrated insulation at connection points to ensure fire protection reliability while allowing material versatility throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If combustible connecting pipes are used for floor distributions, then cost and installation advantage are improved, but fire safety deteriorates due to potential fire transmission through the connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation advantageVSAvoidfire transmission risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A metal transition piece with integrated fire protection insulation serves as an intermediary between the combustible plastic floor pipe and the non-combustible metal vertical pipeline. This intermediary component prevents fire transmission while allowing the use of cost-effective plastic piping in floor distributions, as the transition piece and insulation system maintain fire protection integrity at the connection point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 prevents fire and smoke transmission between compartments for at least 90 minutes, meeting fire resistance class F90, and limits temperature transfer to below 140 Kelvin on average and 180 Kelvin at any point, offering greater installation flexibility and cost savings in insulation lengths.

Implementation Method 1

The metal pipeline, the connection piece and the storey lines are provided with at least one shell-shaped fire protection insulation made of mineral wool with a melting point of over 1,000°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

prevents fire and smoke transmission between compartments for at least 90 minutes, meeting fire resistance class F90, and limits temperature transfer to below 140 Kelvin on average and 180 Kelvin at any point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat resistance: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3232109B1Use of a piping system with protection against fire
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 VIEGA TECHNOLOGY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3232109B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3232109B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3232109B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a piping system comprising at least one metallic pipe (3) for penetrating a building ceiling (1) or building wall and at least one floor pipe (5), which is designed as a plastic pipe or plastic-metal multilayer composite pipe and is connected to a metallic connection piece (4) connected to the metallic pipe (3), wherein the metallic pipe (3), the connection piece (4) and the floor pipe (5) are provided with a jacket-shaped fire protection insulation (9.1, 9.2). In order to connect the combustible floor duct (5) as close as possible to the building ceiling (1) or building wall to the metal, non-combustible pipe (3), the invention provides that the floor duct is connected to the connection piece (4) via an adapter (7, 7'), wherein the adapter (7, 7') has a sleeve-shaped insertion part (7.1, 7.1') and a compression ring (7.2, 7.2'), wherein the insertion part (7.1, 7.1') is inserted into the floor conduit (5) and connected to the connector (4), wherein the distance (A) of the floor conduit (5) press-fitted to the insert (7.1, 7.1') by means of the compression ring (7.2, 7.2') from the central axis (M) of the metal pipe (3) is in a range of 35 mm to 150 mm. The use of such a pipe system in a fire barrier separating a section of a building from another section of the same building is also claimed.