Pre-fabricated modular fire-rated conduit assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire-rated shaft designs for buildings fail to adequately address the varying fire protection requirements for mechanical, electrical, and hazardous services across different compartments, leading to potential fire spread and inadequate containment of hazardous materials.
Innovation Solution
A modular fire-rated conduit assembly system comprising multiple exhaust duct modules with an inner duct liner and outer casing, thermal insulation, and a joint connection mechanism that uses flange connectors and insulating materials to form a sealed and fire-resistant conduit system, capable of being configured for different applications and fire ratings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fire-rated shaft designs are used, then fire containment is provided, but the design cannot adequately address varying fire protection requirements for different services across compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit assembly is divided into modular sections with standardized fire-rated components. Each module can be independently configured to meet specific fire rating requirements (1-hour, 2-hour, 3-hour, or 4-hour ratings) while maintaining consistent fire containment performance across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-rated conduit assembly serves multiple functions: it provides fire containment, thermal insulation, mechanical protection, and accommodates various services (electrical conduits, piping, etc.). The standardized design allows a single system to meet diverse fire protection requirements across different building compartments and service types.
2Reliability
If fire dampers are installed at each duct opening, then fire spread is prevented, but the system complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fire containment function is merged into the conduit assembly itself through fire-rated materials and construction. This eliminates the need for separate fire dampers at each opening, as the conduit walls provide continuous fire protection along the entire shaft, simplifying the overall system design.
3Reliability
If through penetration firestops are installed at each fire separation, then fire containment is maintained, but installation time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-rated conduit assembly is pre-fabricated with fire containment properties integrated into the conduit walls before installation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site firestop installations at each penetration point, as the fire protection is already built into the conduit structure itself.
4Reliability
If hazardous piping is enclosed with liquid tight containment, then fuel leakage is prevented, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hazardous piping is nested within the fire-rated conduit assembly, which itself is contained within the shaft enclosure. This nested configuration provides multiple levels of containment (conduit walls, shaft enclosure) without requiring separate external containment structures, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fuel containment reliability.
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 modular system effectively contains and prevents the spread of fire across compartments, ensuring compliance with fire ratings and protecting hazardous materials while maintaining operational integrity of electrical services during fires.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of casing spacers configured to form a thermal insulating cavity between at least a portion of space between said inner duct liner and said outer casing
Data Source
AI summary
A modular fire-rated conduit or duct assembly suitable for applications such as ventilation systems in a multi-floor or multi-room building. According to an embodiment, the modular fire-rated conduit assembly comprises two or more duct or conduit sections, each of the duct sections includes an inner duct liner and an outer casing, and a plurality of casing spacers configured to form a thermal insulating cavity between at least a portion of space between the inner duct liner and the outer casing, and the thermal insulating cavity is configured to receive a thermal material, a first exterior flange connector is attached to one end of each of the inner duct liners, a second exterior flange connector attached to another end of each of the inner duct liners, the first and the second exterior flange connectors are configured to form an assembly junction for coupling respective ends of the duct or conduit sections to form a connected run of the conduit or duct sections, and a joint connection end is formed between the exterior flange connector and the outer casing, and the joint connection end is configured to receive a joint insulating material, and further includes a return configured to receive a connection edge of a joint cover, and the joint cover is configured to encapsulate the joint connection ends of adjacent duct sections modules.