Structured Fire Protection Element for Pipe Penetrations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection elements for cable and pipe penetrations fail to effectively seal against smoke gases and fires, especially when multiple lines with different diameters are routed through, leading to incomplete sealing, complex installation processes, and insufficient thermal insulation for highly conductive cables.

Innovation Solution

A fire protection element with a flat, elastically deformable body featuring a structured surface with elevations and depressions, allowing for flexible adaptation to various line diameters and bundles, ensuring smoke-tight sealing without the need for precise contour matching or additional insulation measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid fire protection element is used to seal cable penetrations, then fire resistance is improved, but adaptability to different line diameters and bundles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidadaptability to different line diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection element changes its physical state from solid to expanded foam structure when exposed to heat, transforming from a rigid form that cannot adapt to lines into an expanded state that fills all gaps and seals around any configuration of cables or pipes, thereby achieving both fire resistance and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The element combines intumescent materials with binding agents to create a composite structure that maintains structural integrity at room temperature for fire resistance while enabling expansion and deformation when heated, allowing adaptation to various line configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If an elastically deformable sealing insert is used to accommodate multiple lines, then adaptability to different line configurations is improved, but smoke gas tightness deteriorates due to gaps between the bushing and fire protection element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of multiple linesVSAvoidsmoke gas penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection element undergoes a parameter change from a compact state with gaps to an expanded state that completely fills the space around the bushing and lines, eliminating smoke gas pathways while maintaining adaptability to the specific configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a structured surface with elevations and depressions is used to match line contours, then smoke gas tightness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke gas sealingVSAvoidcomplementary surface matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than requiring precise complementary surfaces, the invention uses a structure that changes parameters through expansion, where the elevations and depressions are not precisely matched but instead adapt through material expansion to seal gaps, reducing manufacturing precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If additional sealing materials and work processes are used to seal free spaces, then smoke gas tightness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke gas penetration preventionVSAvoidsealing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection element performs self-sealing by expanding in response to heat, automatically filling gaps and sealing smoke gas pathways without requiring external sealing materials or additional work processes, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining smoke gas tightness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effective smoke and fire tightness for multiple lines, simplifies installation by eliminating the need for precise contour matching and additional sealing materials, and offers enhanced thermal insulation for highly conductive cables, reducing installation complexity and material usage.

Implementation Method 1

at least one surface of the flat shaped body consisting of an elastically deformable material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

consists at least partially of an ash-forming and possibly intumescent mixture of substances... in the event of a fire, the ambient temperature increases significantly, whereupon the intumescent material expands

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntumescence: Intumescent Materials

Implementation Method 3

the surface being provided with elevations and depressions... the structured surfaces of the two flat shaped bodies are complementary to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2570157B1Fire retardant element
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 HILTI AG
  • EP2570157B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2570157B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A fire protection element for smoke- and fire-tight sealing of pipe penetrations is described, comprising at least one flat shaped body made of an elastically deformable material, which consists at least partially of an ash-forming and optionally intumescent mixture, wherein at least one surface of the shaped body is structured. The structured surface is formed by regularly or irregularly arranged protruding elements, which can be point-like or linear. Such a fire protection element can be used to seal a building component penetration subsequently occupied by a pipe or cable in a fire- and smoke-tight manner.