Intumescent Firestop Element for Floor Passthroughs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passthroughs in building floors pose a risk of fire spread between floors due to openings for electrical wires and plumbing pipes, despite fireproof materials, as they lack effective containment solutions.
Innovation Solution
A firestop element fabricated from a polymer intumescent composition with a rigid annular body and a metal ring, featuring an inner surface with spaced lands and voids to enhance surface area, which expands to fill openings during a fire, ensuring containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If passthroughs are provided for electrical wires and plumbing pipes, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but fire containment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The firestop element is pre-installed in the floor opening before the actual passthrough components are added. The intumescent material is positioned in advance within the annular body, ready to expand and seal the opening when fire occurs, preventing fire spread through the passthrough opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The intumescent material undergoes a parameter change in response to heat - it expands significantly when exposed to fire temperatures. This thermal response transforms the material from a compact state during normal operation to an expanded sealing state during fire, dynamically adapting to contain the fire while maintaining passthrough functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If firestop material is added to seal openings, then fire containment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The firestop element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: the annular body provides structural support and defines the opening, while the intumescent material provides fire sealing. The metal ring reinforces the structure and maintains the annular shape. These elements are merged into one assembly that performs both structural and fire containment functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The firestop element is divided into functional segments: the annular body that defines the opening geometry, the intumescent material that expands to seal the opening, and the metal ring that provides structural reinforcement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If intumescent material is used to seal openings, then fire containment is improved, but response time may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The intumescent material is positioned locally at the critical fire exposure points - the inner surface of the annular body that directly faces the opening. The spaced lands and voids configuration ensures that the material is distributed where heat exposure is most intense, enabling rapid localized expansion response when fire occurs, rather than requiring uniform heating of the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The intumescent material has a porous structure with voids between spaced lands, which allows rapid heat penetration and triggers quick intumescence. The porous configuration increases the surface area exposed to heat, accelerating the thermal response and enabling faster expansion and sealing action when fire exposure occurs.
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 firestop element effectively contains fires by expanding to seal openings quickly, protecting against fire spread while allowing for plumbing and electrical connections between floors, with the metal ring maintaining the structure's integrity during expansion.
Implementation Method 1
A firestop element is fabricated wholly or partly from a polymer intumescent composition. The intumescent polymer composite is rigid and featured to enhance its surface area.
Implementation Method 2
The firestop element can act as a passthrough device... effectively contains fires by expanding to seal openings quickly, protecting against fire spread
Data Source
AI summary
A firestop element can be installed as a passthrough for a floor of a building. The element has a rigid annular body having a first section and a second section. At least a portion of the first section is fabricated of a polymer intumescent composition. This portion has an inner annular surface with a plurality of spaced lands and a void extending between each pair of lands. The second section is a sleeve having a smaller diameter than the first section.