Block for fire and smoker along a barrier penetrating member

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire and smoke block for use in a barrier penetrating member such as for example, a pipe which fits through a building floor or ceiling or wall.

[0002] It has long been known by those skilled in the art that fire and smoke will move very rapidly between different areas in a building even when those areas are separated by barrier such as walls, ceilings and floors. Typically these barriers are penetrated by things such as pipes, ducts, wires, etc. and the fire and smoke will travel along the outside of the penetrating member where it fits through a passage in the barrier. Accordingly it is important to provide some type of a fire and smoke block at the passage between the barrier and the penetrating member.

[0003] The present invention relates to a fire and smoke block for use with a barrier penetrating member which is very easy to install and which is very efficient in operation.

[0004] More particularly the fire and smoke block of the present invention comprises a rigid collar which is fittable over and lockable on the penetrating member and collar backing means which is made from intumescent material that expands and seals the passage around the barrier penetrating member when subject to fire heat.

[0005] The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which;

[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one end of a pipe extending out of a passage through a building floor to receive a fire and smoke block according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the barrier and pipe of FIG. 1 when fully assembled with fire and smoke blocks to either side of the barrier according to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 under fire conditions.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fire and smoke block slightly modified from that shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a duct fitted through a floor fitted with a fire and smoke block according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a building barrier 1. This barrier could be a wall, a floor or a ceiling, i.e. any type of partition separating one area of the building from another.

[0013] Barrier 1 includes a passage 3 which receives a barrier penetrating member which in the example shown in FIG. 1, is in the form of a pipe 5. Passage 3 allows pipe 5 to extend completely through the barrier from one building area to the next.

[0014] Passage 3 provides a very easy flow path for smoke and fire between building areas. It is therefore very important to seal the passage off as a fire and smoke flow area. This is achieved using a fire and smoke block made in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention as seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings the fire and smoke block comprises a collar 7 and a collar backing 17 which fit over the pipe on each side of barrier 1.

[0016] Collar 7 is in the form of a rigid non-combustible plate-like member made from materials such as lightweight spring steel or the like. This plate-like member has different regions comprising a main flat body portion 9 surrounding a center opening 12 which is bordered by tongue portions 13 of the plate. Surrounding the main body portion 9 is a peripheral skirt 11 which is angled or flared relative to the main body of the plate. The flaring of the peripheral skirt adds substantially to the strength of the collar making it very resistant to any bending forces applied to the collar. In addition, skirt 11 acts as a trap or cover for the collar backing 17. This collar backing is made from an intumescent material which expands when subjected to heat such as that generated by fire. Various different intumescent materials are well known to those skilled in this particular art. They can have many different constitutions of different types of materials. However, a common trait of all intumescent materials is that they expand extremely significantly and very rapidly when subjected to excessive heat. Furthermore, they will withstand direct fire for extended lengths of time.

[0017] By way of example only, some intumescent materials have the capacity to expand 35 fold in a very short period of time when subjected to the types of heat generated by flames from a fire.

[0018] Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that both of the intumescent collar backings 17 are fitted over pipe 5 to each side of the barrier 1 and then the two collars are pushed on the pipe to trap the collar backings in the FIG. 2 position.

[0019] The tongues 15 on each side of the collars act as collar locks. More particularly the diameter of opening 12 in each collar is slightly less that the outside diameter of pipe 5. However, because the collar is made from a springy material and because the tongue-like portions have some flex, each of the collars can be pushed one way onto the pipe. However, the tongues of the collars resist sliding in the opposite direction and therefore once the collars are pushed to the FIG. 2 position they will hold that position. This in turn holds the intumescent collar backing directly over the mouth of passage 3 to either side of the barrier.

[0020] The clamp like gripping action of the tongue is generally sufficient to not only hold the collars in position but in addition sufficient to support the weight of the pipe itself as a suspension system for the pipe passing through the barrier. However, in some instances it may be desirable to add additional grip between the collar and the pipe. In the FIG. 1 though 3 setup this additional grip is provided by means of a weld 15 which fits over any one of the tongues 13 and which can then be welded to the pipe assuming the pipe itself has a metal construction.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a slightly modified collar 7A again having gripping tongues, i.e. tongues 13A, which clamp onto the pipe. However, in the FIG. 4 arrangement a screw member 14 goes through one of the tongues to bite onto the pipe body to further secure the gripping action between the collar and the pipe.

[0022] Other methods of securely attaching the collar to the pipe could include for instance, a totally separate ring in which case the collar itself would be devoid of any gripping members to be provided on the separate ring. This gripping members could again be tongues formed on the ring with a set of screw passing through the ring. However, the design shown in the drawing is a very desirable one in that no separate parts are necessarily required to attach the collar to the pipe.

[0023] As will be appreciated from the description above the installation of the pipe and the fire and smoke block is done in a very time efficient manner. This is an obvious advantage during the building setup. Furthermore, the actual operation of the fire and smoke block is also extremely efficient as described having reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that once a fire breaks out and attempts to pass through barrier 1 along the barrier passage 3 the intumescent collar backing 17 expands very quickly to the form 17A as shown in FIG. 3. In this form the intumescent material completely blocks off the barrier passage preventing not only the fire but additionally any smoke from the fire from passing through the barrier along passage 3.

[0024] As earlier noted the expansion factor of the intumescent material is very significant. Accordingly, only a small amount of the material provided for example in the convoluted cross-sectional shaping of the backing shown in the drawings is required to produce the much increased form 17A of the expanded intumescent material.

[0025] The description above relates to the penetrating member as being a pipe. The same concept of using a fire and smoke block is also usable with other penetrating members such as for example ducts or even cables fitting through a building barrier such as a wall or a floor.

[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 in fact show a fire and smoke block generally indicated at 25 used with a duct 23 in a passage 22 of a barrier 21. In this case the block comprises an L-shaped collar 27 secured by fastening screws to the duct. A backing or lining of intumescent material 29 attaches to the collar. The intumescent material has small hook shaped ends which lock onto the collar to keep the collar and the intumescent material together with one another.

[0027] Once again, if fire and/or smoke attempted to move through passage 22 the intumescent lining 29 of collar 27 would expand to completely block off the passage preventing the fire and smoke from getting through the barrier along the side of the duct.

[0028] Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.