Wood Feedthrough Module for Fire-Safe Cable Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for installing fire protection solutions for cables and pipes in wooden structures often require the use of non-wood materials, leading to issues like dimensional instability, moisture penetration, aesthetic disruptions, and increased labor, while existing solutions do not adequately address the need for universal fire and smoke protection without compromising the integrity of wooden structures.
Innovation Solution
A feedthrough module made from hardwood or softwood with a defined fire behavior, specifically designed for installation in tested wooden structures, featuring a cuboid body with a nominal burn rate of 0.7 mm/min or less, which ensures reliable fire protection and prevents water penetration, using connectors that maintain structural integrity and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-combustible materials such as plasterboard and mortar are used to encapsulate wood material for fire protection, then fire protection performance is improved, but dimensional instability and moisture penetration occur causing aesthetic disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The feedthrough module is constructed entirely from wood material (hardwood, softwood, or mixtures) with controlled density and moisture content, maintaining homogeneity throughout the structure. This eliminates the interface between dissimilar materials (wood and non-wood encapsulation materials) that causes dimensional instability, while achieving fire protection through controlled charring behavior of the uniform wood composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the wood material by controlling density (0.3-0.8 g/cm³) and moisture content (8-15%), and by specifying nominal charring rates (0.7 mm/min or less). These parameter adjustments enable the wood to achieve fire protection performance equivalent to or exceeding traditional non-combustible materials without causing dimensional instability or moisture penetration issues.
2Reliability
If non-wood materials are used for fire protection encapsulation, then fire resistance is improved, but the aesthetic appearance of wooden structures is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The entire feedthrough module is constructed from wood material matching the surrounding wooden structure, eliminating visual discontinuities caused by non-wood encapsulation materials. The homogeneous wood construction maintains the natural aesthetic appearance while providing fire resistance through controlled charring behavior and appropriate dimensional design.
3Reliability
If traditional fire protection methods with encapsulation are used, then fire protection is achieved, but labor and material intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedthrough module is designed as a pre-fabricated, self-contained unit with integrated fire protection functionality. This segmentation consolidates multiple separate installation steps (encapsulation, sealing, insulation installation) into a single modular component, reducing on-site labor and material requirements while maintaining fire protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection properties are built into the feedthrough module during manufacturing through controlled wood density, moisture content, and dimensional design. This preliminary action eliminates the need for additional on-site fire protection measures, reducing both labor and material intensity compared to traditional encapsulation methods that require multiple sequential installation steps.
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 universal fire and smoke protection for wooden structures, avoiding the use of non-wood materials, ensuring dimensional stability, and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of wooden buildings while ensuring reliable fire protection performance.
Implementation Method 1
the feedthrough module has a nominal charring rate of 0.7 mm/min or less, measured with a cone calorimeter according to ISO 5660
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a feedthrough module for cables, cable bundles, cable runs, pipes, pipelines, empty conduits and/or combinations thereof, consisting of hardwood, softwood or mixtures thereof, for installation in a tested and/or approved wooden wall and/or wooden ceiling construction in buildings, wherein the tested and/or approved wooden wall and/or wooden ceiling construction has an identical or lower heat release rate compared to that of the feedthrough module, wherein the feedthrough module has a cuboid body with edge lengths a, b, c, wherein c represents the edge length corresponding to the installation thickness (D) of the feedthrough module, and wherein the feedthrough module has a nominal heat release rate of 0.7 mm/min or less.