Intumescent Fire Protection Element with Honeycomb Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire-protection elements with intumescent materials fail to maintain a stable insulating crust over time, leading to limited fire protection duration as the crust becomes unstable and burns away.
Innovation Solution
A fire-protection element with a molded part of intumescent material featuring a honeycomb structure and a membrane system that allows for separate routing of lines, along with a frame and cover plate for stabilization, forming a cross-linked stable crust that enhances fire protection by controlling the expansion of intumescent material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a conventional intumescent material is used to seal line passages, then fire protection is provided initially, but the insulating crust becomes unstable and drops off over time, limiting protection duration
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-protection element is divided into multiple passage openings (at least two) within a single molded part, allowing separate routing of different line types (e.g., power and data cables) through distinct channels. This segmentation enables organized cable management while maintaining fire protection across all passages simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-protection element combines intumescent material with a reinforcing inlay to create a composite structure. The reinforcing inlay provides structural stability to the molded part, preventing the insulating crust from becoming unstable and dropping off during fire exposure, thereby extending protection duration.
2Ease of operation
If multiple lines are routed through a fire-protection element, then cable management is achieved, but smoke gas sealing becomes compromised without additional sealing measures
Solution Approach 1:
A membrane is integrated into the fire-protection element to seal the passage openings. This thin film structure maintains smoke gas impermeability while allowing lines to be routed through the molded part. The membrane acts as a barrier that prevents smoke penetration while accommodating the presence of multiple routed lines.
3Adaptability or versatility
If passage openings are provided for line routing, then cable management is improved, but the structural integrity of the molded part may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing inlay is embedded within the molded part of intumescent material to create a composite structure. This reinforcement compensates for the structural weakness introduced by passage openings, maintaining the overall strength and integrity of the molded part while enabling multiple line routing paths.
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 reliable, long-lasting fire protection by forming a stable crust that maintains integrity during a fire, allowing for efficient routing of lines and improved smoke-tight sealing, while reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the expandable-graphite particles are activated by heat at the surface, expand toward the fire and for the time being form an insulating crust
Implementation Method 2
the intumescent material is able to expand into the honeycomb and bond there with intumescent material of adjacent honeycomb structures. Hereby a crosslinked stable crust, which ensures reliable fire protection for a longer time, is formed
Data Source
AI summary
A fire protection element is useful for the separation of openings passing through walls or ceilings, in particular of line passages. The fire protection element has a molded part made from intumescent material with a plurality of through-openings for the passage of lines which extend in particular parallel to each other from a first side to an opposite second side of the fire protection element. In each case, the through-openings for the passage are tightly sealed relative to flue gas by a membrane.