Seal Assembly for Fire-Stopping Small Pipe Penetrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire protection solutions for pipes and lines with diameters between 16 mm and 32 mm are oversized and difficult to install, often requiring wet acrylic density masses that are unclean and have long drying times, failing to meet the legal requirements for approval.
Innovation Solution
A procedure involving a band-shaped fire protection bandage with intumescent material, cut to fit the pipe, combined with a kneading mass ring that seals the opening by closing the ring gap between the pipe and the opening edge, providing a clean, immediate, and resource-efficient solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fire protection bandage (e.g., CFS-B) is used for pipes with diameter 16-32 mm, then fire protection performance is achieved, but the solution is oversized and requires double-layer installation on both sides of the penetration seal
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection system is segmented into two functional components: a fire protection bandage for thermal insulation and an intumescent seal profile for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the bandage can be sized appropriately for the pipe diameter while the seal profile provides the necessary sealing function, eliminating the need for oversized double-layer installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the fire protection bandage and implemented through a separate intumescent seal profile. This allows the bandage to be reduced to the minimum necessary size for fire protection, while the seal profile handles the sealing requirement, simplifying the overall installation process.
2Reliability
If conventional fire protection bandage with acrylic sealants is used, then fire protection performance is achieved, but the installation is messy and requires drying times
Solution Approach 1:
The wet chemical sealing process (acrylic sealants requiring drying) is replaced with a mechanical sealing system using an intumescent seal profile that can be mechanically attached and immediately provides fire-protection-compliant sealing without drying times or messiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal profile incorporates intumescent material that changes its physical parameters (expands) when exposed to fire conditions, providing automatic sealing enhancement when needed most, while maintaining ease of installation in normal conditions.
3Reliability
If conventional fire protection solutions are used for pipes with diameter 16-32 mm, then fire protection performance is achieved, but material usage is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection system applies different material properties to different locations: the fire protection bandage is applied only where thermal insulation is needed (around the pipe), while the intumescent seal profile is applied only at the penetration opening where sealing is required. This eliminates material waste by avoiding application of materials where they are not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the fire protection and sealing functions into separate components, each component can be precisely sized and positioned, minimizing material consumption while maintaining fire protection performance.
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 achieves effective fire protection with minimal material usage and easy installation, meeting fire resistance standards up to EI120 without the need for additional drying times or sealing masses, resulting in significant material savings of approximately 88% compared to conventional solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a band-shaped fire protection bandage (4) which comprises fire-retardant and/or intumescent material
Implementation Method 2
a strip of putty (5), which is molded into a molding compound ring (6) closing the opening (1)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for sealing, in accordance with fire protection requirements, an opening (1) through which a line is fed, in a wall (2) or ceiling, characterized by the steps of: - cutting a strip-type fire protection wrap to a length which corresponds to a single perimeter of the line with or without overlap (10), the fire protection wrap comprising fire-retardant and/or intumescent material; - wrapping the fire protection wrap (4), which has been cut to length, around the line such that a layer of the fire protection wrap (4), optionally with overlap (10), is formed, said layer protruding out of the opening (1) only partly; - applying a kneadable compound (5) annularly to the part of the fire protection wrap (4) protruding from the opening (1), a kneadable-compound ring (6) having an outside diameter somewhat larger than the opening diameter being formed so that the kneadable-compound ring (6) closes the opening and extends beyond the edge (8) of the opening; and - pressing the kneadable-compound ring (6) firmly on the fire protection wrap (4) and on the opening edge (8) in order to seal the line feed-through.