FIRESTOP PENETRATION DEVICE AND SEALING SYSTEM

Abstract

A penetration device for cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) that pass through an opening arranged to a wall, a ceiling or a floor is disclosed including an insert, which has an intumescent material and heat resistant flexible material layers, where the intumescent material is arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers. The insert includes at least one penetrating opening for a cable, a wire or a pipe elongated through the width direction of the insert. The penetration device further includes a housing, which has an outer casing surrounding the insert, which outer casing is at least partly perforated. The outer casing includes a first end and a second end in the length direction of the housing, which first end and second end have inward bent edges and/or a structural element to make an area of the opening of the first end and the second end smaller.

Claims

1. A penetration device for cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) that pass through an opening arranged to a wall, a ceiling or a floor, the penetration device comprising: an insert, which comprises an intumescent material and heat resistant flexible material layers, wherein the intumescent material is arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers, the insert comprises at least one penetrating opening for a cable, a wire or a pipe elongated through the width direction of the insert; and a housing, which comprises an outer casing surrounding the insert, which outer casing is at least partly perforated, and the outer casing comprises a first end and a second end in the length direction of the housing, which first end comprises inward bent edges and/or a structural element to make an area of the opening of the first end smaller, and which second end comprises inward bent edges and/or a structural element to make an area of the opening of the second end smaller.

2. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible material layers are arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the cable(s), wires(s) or pipe(s).

3. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing comprises openings substantially in the whole circumference of the outer casing.

4. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the intumescent material is in a form of a sheet.

5. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the heat resistant flexible material layers comprise the layers formed from the silicone, silicone rubber and/or PU based fire-resistant material.

6. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a fixing flange at the second end of the outer casing.

7. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the inward bent edges and/or the structural element have arranged at the edge of the first end and the second end by covering at least 50% length of the outer perimeter of said end, preferably the inward bent edges and/or the structural element have arranged to the whole length of the outer perimeter of said end.

8. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the structural element arranged to the second end of the outer casing comprises a cover plate having an opening.

9. The penetration device according to claim 1, further comprising a gasket between the cover plate and the fixing flange.

10. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the heat resistant flexible material layers have colour that differentiate from the colour of the intumescent material.

11. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from two or more interconnected parts.

12. The penetration device according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the heat resistant flexible material layers is greater than the outer diameter of the intumescent material sheet(s) and/or greater than the inner diameter of the outer casing.

13. A sealing system for cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) that pass through an opening arranged to a wall, a ceiling or a floor, comprising: at least two heat resistant flexible material layers; an intumescent material; and a housing, which comprises an outer casing having a first end and a second end in the length direction of the housing, wherein the first end comprises inward bent edges and/or a structural element to make an area of the opening of the first end smaller, and wherein the second end comprises the inward bent edges and/or a structural element to make an area of the opening of the second end smaller, and the outer casing is at least partly perforated.

14. The sealing system according to claim 13, wherein the heat resistant flexible material layers and the intumescent material form an insert arrangeable inside the outer casing of the housing, wherein the insert comprises two separate part, each of the part comprises at least one sheet of intumescent material and at least one heat resistant flexible material layer attached to the sheet of intumescent material.

15. The sealing system according to claim 14, wherein the insert comprises at least one penetrating opening elongated through the width direction of the insert and a cutting arranged between the penetration opening and the outer edge of the sheet materials of the insert.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to appended drawings, in which

[0029] FIG. 1 presents a structure of the penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 presents a penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention as sectional drawing,

[0031] FIG. 3 presents a structure of an intumescent material sheet and a heat resistant flexible material layer according to an embodiment of the invention, and

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention viewed in front of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] A penetration device and a sealing system according to the invention comprise a housing and an insert to be arrangeable inside the housing. A housing of the penetration device according to the present invention comprises an outer casing surrounding the insert. An outer casing of the housing comprises an unclosed first end and an unclosed second end in the length direction of the housing, wherein the outer casing is a hollow sleeve. Therefore, the outer casing of the housing comprises a cavity in the length direction of the housing. A length direction of the housing and the outer casing refers to the length in the longitudinal direction of the mounting line, i.e. a length of the outer casing in the installation direction. The cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) are arranged to go through the outer casing in the length direction of the outer casing. The outer casing may be a straight cylinder in the installation direction, or it may be slightly tapering in the installation direction which may improve tightness of the penetration device.

[0034] According to the invention, an outer casing is at least partly perforated by arranging openings to a material of the outer casing. The perforation of the outer casing guarantees that in the event of fire the intumescent material may firstly expand through the openings of the outer casing and tightening the structure of the penetration device. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the outer casing comprises openings substantially in the whole circumference of the outer casing. The size, the number and the location of the openings in the outer casing may be varied depending on e.g. the size of the penetration device.

[0035] Further, the outer casing has been formed so that the first end comprises inward bent edges and/or at least one structural element to make an area of the opening of the first end smaller, and the second end comprises inward bent edges and/or at least one structural element to make an area of the opening of the second end smaller. The structural element may be a single structural element, or it may comprise two or more separate components. Since the area of the opening of the first end and the second end has been made smaller, the uncontrollable expansion of the intumescent material may be prevented in the event of fire, wherein the expansion of the intumescent material can be guided through the openings in a controlled manner. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first end and the second end of the outer casing comprise the inward bent edges, such as a shoulder, and/or a separate plate having an opening arranged to the first end and second end of the outer casing to make an area of the openings smaller. In an embodiment of the invention, the inward bent edges and/or the structural element(s) have arranged at the edge of the first end and the second end by covering at least 50% length of the outer perimeter of the end, preferably the inward bent edges and/or the structural element(s) have arranged to the whole length of the outer perimeter of the end. Therefore, the area of the opening of the first end and the second end of the outer casing have preferably decreased from the outer edges of the opening towards the centre of the opening by providing expansion of the intumescent material in a controlled manner in the event of fire.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, a first end of the outer casing is the end which is the first in the assembly direction of the penetration device when installing the device, and the second end is the end which is the second in the assembly direction of the penetration device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer casing comprises inward bent edges, such as a shoulder, arranged to the first end of the outer casing. By this structure, the insert can also be tightly assembled inside the outer casing and the moving of the insert during installation work can be eliminated. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second end of the outer casing comprises a structural element, such as a separate plate having an opening, arranged in connection with the second end of the outer casing. Typically, a separate plate having an opening arranged to the second end of the outer casing is a separate cover plate of the penetration device.

[0037] The housing of the penetration device may also comprise a fixing flange at the second end of the outer casing, which provides a structure for attaching the penetration device to the wall, ceiling or floor. According to an embodiment of the invention a separate cover plate having an opening has arranged in connection to the fixing flange. Typically, the cover plate and the fixing flange are attached to the wall, ceiling or floor comprising an opening to which the penetration device has arranged. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner diameter of the opening of the cover plate is smaller than the diameter of the insert, which allows in case of fire that the intumescent material will expand in a controlled way. The opening in the cover plate may also be open in one edge of the cover plate by allowing easy assembly around the cables, wires or pipes.

[0038] A housing of the penetration device may be a one-piece housing, or it may be split in two or more pieces. According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing is constructed from two or more interconnected parts, wherein it provides openable structure and it can be easily assembled. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is constructed from two interconnected parts, wherein two parts of the housing may be hinged structure, or they are otherwise attachable to each other.

[0039] The housing of the penetration device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The suitable material is selected on the basis of the required structural strength. The housing may be made of e.g. steel, stainless steel, aluminium, iron, heat-resistant plastic or composite material. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the fixing flange is the fixed part of the outer casing. Whereas, the cover plate is typically a separate part attached in connection with the fixing flange during installation work. The outer casing and the cover plate may be manufactured from same or different materials. The thickness of the outer casing may also vary depending on the required properties. In some embodiments, the thickness of the outer casing may be e.g. 0.5-3 mm. The outer diameter of the outer casing is preferably dimensioned to be fitted to the penetration opening, to which is arranged.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the invention the penetration device comprises a heat-resistant gasket between the cover plate and the fixing flange of the housing. The gasket has also an opening so that the insert remains visible in the opening. The gasket may be made of any suitable material. In an embodiment according to the invention, the combination of the cover plate and the gasket forms the structural element which has arranged to the second end of the outer casing and delimits the area of the opening of the second end.

[0041] An insert has arranged inside the hollow outer casing of the penetration device according to the present invention. The insert comprises an intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible material layers. The intumescent material has arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers. The heat resistant flexible material is dimensioned in such a way that it tightens the structure at normal conditions, whereas the expansion of the intumescent material starts in the event of fire. The insert comprises at least one opening elongated through the width direction of the insert for a cable, a wire or a pipe. A width direction of the insert is a total width of one on the other layers of the insert. Typically, the width of the insert has dimensioned so that it fulfils the entire cavity of the outer casing. A width direction of the insert corresponds to the length direction of the outer casing, wherein the layers of the insert have arranged perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the outer casing. According to an embodiment of the invention, the insert is dimensioned so that the width of the insert is slightly bigger, e.g. 2-5 mm, than the length of the outer casing, wherein the insert is in compressed state when arranged inside outer casing by providing tight structure also in the length direction of the outer casing.

[0042] The intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible material layers of the insert are designed to withstand fire and heat according to required fire classes. Typically, the materials used in the insert may provide e.g. half-hour or hourly fire-resistance ratings. The perforated outer casing of the housing in combination with the insert provides the desired fire-resistance-rated construction by modifying the materials of the insert. In a preferred embodiment, the intumescent material is in the form of a sheet, which is arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers. The intumescent material may comprise one, two or more layers of the intumescent sheet material. The intumescent material to be arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers may also be in any other applicable form. The intumescent material may be any suitable temperature expansible (heat expansible) intumescent material. A temperature expansible intumescent material refers to the material that expands when exposed to heat. Typically, the expansion of the intumescent material may start about at 150-400° C. depending on the composition of the intumescent material. In some embodiments, the intumescent material expands about 5-30 times of the width of the intumescent material layer in room temperature. The layers of the intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible material have arranged around the cable(s), wires(s) or pipes(s) substantially perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the cable(s), wires(s) or pipe(s). In the present invention, the intumescent material has not arranged in the whole length of the penetration device, but the insert comprises only a thin layer of the intumescent material arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the cable(s), wires(s) or pipe(s). The construction of the insert can be easily adjusted on the basis of the required properties by changing the intumescent material and/or varying the thickness and/or the number of the intumescent material layers. In some embodiments, it is possible to combine two or more different intumescent material layers easily to same insert construction.

[0043] According to the present invention the heat resistant flexible material layers may be formed from any suitable heat resistant material, which burn in a controlled way and/or gasify in the event of fire. The suitable material(s) may be selected on the basis of required fire rating, but the heat load of the penetrating cable, wire or pipe may also be affected to the selection of the materials. The heat resistant flexible material layers are preferably made of material, which may be resistant to temperature even up to 450° C., which means that it maintains its stability up to said temperature. Typically, the heat resistance flexible material layers are formed from material having temperature resistant at 150-450° C. In an embodiment, the durometer shore A hardness of the heat resistant flexible material may be in the range of 10-50 according to ASTM D2240 testing standard. According to an embodiment of the invention, the heat resistant flexible material layers comprise silicone and/or silicone rubber and/or PU based fire-resistant material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat resistant flexible material layers comprise the layers made of silicone and/or silicone rubber wherein the layers have formed from the silicone and/or silicone rubber sheet, or they are casted in the desired form. In an embodiment, the silicone rubber layers are made of heat resistant silicone rubber. The heat resistant silicone or silicone rubber may be resistant to temperature even up to 450° C. or in the range of 150-450° C. In an embodiment, the heat resistant flexible material may be made of PU-based fire-resistant materials having required properties. The heat resistant flexible material layers, such as silicone rubber layers or the like improve the controlled function of the insert in the fire. The heat resistant flexible material layers provide time to intumescent material for firstly expand through the openings in the outer casing of the housing and tightening the structure of the housing. The properties of the insert may be varied by altering the thickness of the heat resistant flexible material layers and/or selection of material(s) to be used. The layer may also be formed on two or more layers connected to each other and it may comprise different materials. According to an embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the heat resistant flexible material layer may be 0.5-10 mm or 0.5-5 mm.

[0044] The insert structure according to the invention provides an easy assembly of the layers of the insert inside the outer casing since the layers of the insert are substantially perpendicularly with respect to the length direction of the cable(s), wires(s) or pipe(s). Multiple cables, wires or pipes may be arranged through the same insert, wherein the intumescent material of the insert is arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to all cables, wires or pipes arranged through the insert. There is no need to arrange separate intumescent material layers around each cable, wire or pipe, but the insert structure according to the invention provides easy installation method.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat resistant flexible material layers and the intumescent material form an insert arrangeable inside the housing, wherein the insert comprises two separate part, each of the part comprises at least one sheet of intumescent material and at least one heat resistant flexible material layer attached to the sheet of intumescent material. In addition, according to an embodiment of the invention the heat resistant flexible material layers have colour that differentiate from the colour of the intumescent material. This provides an easy inspection of the competent installation of the penetration device. In an embodiment, the heat resistant flexible material layers, such as silicone rubber layers are visible at the opening of the cover plate after the installation work and the competent installation can be visually inspected. When using ready-made parts of the insert comprising the intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible layer attached to each other, the inspection of the installation is quick and easy by checking the correct colour visible at the opening of the penetration device.

[0046] If necessary, tightness of the penetration device according to the invention may be improved by arranging a sealant to the construction during the assembly work. Any suitable heat resistant sealant may be used.

[0047] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the outer casing of the penetration device has a cylindrical shape, and the intumescent material sheet(s) and heat resistant flexible material layers have a circular shape.

[0048] An insert comprises at least one penetration opening elongated through the width direction of the insert for a cable, a wire or a pipe. The number of the penetration openings elongated through the width direction of the insert for cables, wires or pipes may vary. The penetration openings may be dimensioned to be matched to the outer diameter of the cable(s), wire(s) and pipe(s). According to an embodiment of the invention, the material sheets of the insert further comprise a cutting arranged between the penetration opening and the outer edge of the sheet and so they can be easily installed around the cable, wire or pipe, also in refurbishment projects. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the intumescent material sheet(s) and the heat resistant flexible material layers comprise a cutting arranged between the penetration opening and the outer edge of the sheet/layer, which cutting is arranged tangentially or otherwise asymmetrically in relation to the opening. The insert according to the invention comprises multiple layers and the tangentially arranged cuttings provide the tight structure of the insert since the cuttings of the different layers are positioned to different points.

[0049] In preferred embodiment according to the invention, the heat resistant flexible material layers, such as silicone rubber layers are dimensioned so that they arranged tightly against the inner surface of the outer casing. In an embodiment of the present invention, the outer diameter of the heat resistant flexible material layers is greater that the outer diameter of the intumescent material sheets and/or greater than the inner diameter of the outer casing. Therefore, the heat resistant flexible material layers are at compressed state inside the outer casing. Further, the penetration openings in the heat resistant flexible material layers are preferably dimensioned so that the penetrating cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) are pressed by the heat resistant flexible material when arranged through the layers. Whereas the penetrating openings in the intumescent material are preferably dimensioned so that they do not hinder the installation of cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s), i.e. the penetrating openings in the intumescent material may be larger as the diameter of penetrating cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s). Therefore, the heat resistant flexible material seals the structure during the assembly and the dimensioning of the openings in the intumescent material layer is not so critical.

[0050] The penetration device according to the invention is assembled by arranging it to the opening in a wall, a ceiling or a floor. Typically, a penetration device according to the present invention is fitted to the opening in the construction, such as a wall, at the time of construction of the wall. A cable, a wire or a pipe is provided in an opening and they are arranged to go through the insert of penetration device according to the invention and the housing of the penetration device is arranged around the insert. A penetration device according to the invention can be used in conjunction with new constructions, but it can also be utilized during refurbishment. A penetration device according to the present invention assures that also the existing structures can be brought up to fire protection requirements. According to an embodiment, the penetration device of the present invention allows for a housing to be split in a half and so to be provided around cables, wires or pipes already laid up through an opening in the construction.

[0051] According to the invention, the cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) are typically arranged to go straight through the penetration device. However, alignment of the cable, wire or pipe is not crucial since the intumescent material will expand in the event of fire. The structure of the penetration device according to the present invention does not require that the cable, wire or pipe has to be centred in the intumescent material.

[0052] A penetration device according to the invention may be arranged at one or both sides of the wall, ceiling or floor. A penetration device arranged to one side of the structure is typically enough in thin structures, if the fire rating permits it. In thicker structures, a penetration device according to the invention can be arranged on both sides of the structure, and if required the space between two penetration devices can be separately tunnelled. The tunnelling can be carried out by simple tube or pipe arranged through the entire fire-rated structure between the penetration devices, wherein the penetration devices are placed at both ends of the tube or pipe.

[0053] A penetration device of the present invention can be attached to a wall, a ceiling or a floor by using any suitable fixing means such screws or the like. A sealing mass can also be used, if required. It is also possible that the fixing flange of the housing is welded to a wall, a ceiling or a floor. A fixing mechanism may also be any kind of an adapter attached to a surface of the wall, ceiling or floor and the housing of the penetration device comprises means applicable to the fixing with the adapter.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the invention, the penetration device or the sealing system may comprise multiple housings arranged next to each other, or inside the one housing may be arranged multiple inserts next to each other for providing multi-cable arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0055] A structure of the penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 presents a structure of the penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention as sectional drawing. Same reference numbers have been used in the Figures for parts corresponding to each other.

[0056] A penetration device 1 according to the invention for cable(s), wire(s) or pipe(s) that pass through an opening arranged to a wall, ceiling or floor comprises an insert and a housing. An insert is formed on an intumescent material and heat flexible material layers. In an embodiment presented in FIG. 1, an insert comprises the intumescent material sheets 2, 2′ and the heat resistant flexible material layers 3, 3′, wherein the intumescent material has arranged between the heat resistant flexible material layers 3, 3′. The layers of the insert comprise at least one penetrating opening 4 for a cable, a wire or a pipe, the opening 4 has arranged to elongate through the width direction of the insert. The width of the insert is the total width of the intumescent material and the heat resistant flexible layers. Further, the penetration device comprises a housing, which comprises an outer casing 5 surrounding the insert. The outer casing 5 has a first end and a second end in the length direction of the housing. The length direction of the housing corresponds with the width direction of the insert. The outer casing has formed in such a way that an area of the opening of the first end and the second end has made smaller. In the embodiments presented in FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoulder 6 has been arranged at the first end of the outer casing and a separate cover plate 7 has been arranged at the second end of the outer casing for delimiting an area of the openings. The inner diameter of the opening in the cover plate 7 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer casing 5. Correspondingly, the opening at the first end of the outer casing is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer casing. Further, the outer casing 5 is at least partly perforated by arranging openings 8, 8′ to a material of the outer casing. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer casing 5 preferably comprises openings 8, 8′ substantially in the whole circumference of the outer casing.

[0057] The housing of the penetration device comprises also a fixing flange 9 at the second end of the outer casing and a cover plate 7 is arranged in contact with the fixing flange 9 of the outer casing. The device may further comprise a gasket 10 between the cover plate 7 and the fixing flange 9. The combination of the cover plate 7 and the gasket 10 delimits the area of the opening of the second end. A penetration device can be attached to a wall, a ceiling or a floor by using any suitable fixing means such screws or the like. In FIG. 1, the fixing flange 9, the cover plate 7 and the gasket 10 comprise ready-made openings for the fixing means for facilitating the assembly work.

[0058] The housing of the penetration device 1 may be formed from two interconnected part as shown in FIG. 1.

[0059] The cross section presented in FIG. 2 shows that the outer diameter of the heat resistant flexible material layers 3, 3′ is greater than the outer diameter of the intumescent material sheet(s) 2, 2′, wherein the heat resistant flexible material layers tighten the structure by pressing against the inner surface of the outer casing 5. From FIG. 2 can also be seen that the diameter of the opening of the first end and the second end have arranged to be smaller as the inner diameter of the outer casing. The first end comprises a shoulder 6 and the second end comprises a cover plate 7 for delimiting an area of the opening.

[0060] FIG. 3 presents a structure of an intumescent material sheet 2 and a heat resistant flexible material layer 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, a heat resistant flexible material layer 3 and an intumescent material sheet 2 have attached to each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, the insert arrangeable inside to the housing comprises two separate part, each of the part comprises at least one sheet of intumescent material and at least one heat resistant flexible material layer attached to the sheet of intumescent material. The intumescent material and the heat flexible material layer of the insert comprise at least one penetrating opening 4 elongated through the width direction of the insert and a cutting 11 arranged between the penetration opening and the outer edge of the sheet materials of the insert. In an embodiment according to the invention, the cutting 11 is arranged tangentially or otherwise asymmetrically in relation to the opening 4.

[0061] FIG. 4 presents a penetration device according to an embodiment of the invention viewed in front of the device. The heat resistant flexible material layer 2 is visible in the opening of the cover plate 7 after the installation work.