Intumescent grid

Abstract

An intumescent mesh has a flexible grid with a plurality of strands that form a series of openings in the flexible grid, and an intumescent coating applied to the flexible grid. The intumescent coating is made of an expandable graphite and a polymer-based carrier as ingredients and having an activation temperature above which the intumescent coating swells. The grid is sized such that the intumescent coating permits airflow through the flexible grid until the intumescent coating is exposed to temperatures at or above the activation temperature, whereupon the intumescent coating swells to seal the openings and prevent air flow through the flexible grid.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the fire resistance of a surface of a structure, comprising the steps of: installing an intumescent mesh on the surface of the structure, the intumescent mesh comprising a flexible grid of a plurality of strands that form a series of openings in the flexible grid and an intumescent coating applied to the flexible grid, the intumescent coating comprising expandable graphite, ammonium polyphosphate, and an acrylic co-polymer carrier as ingredients and having an activation temperature above which the intumescent coating swells, wherein the grid has a ¼+/− 1/16 inch mesh size and the grid and intumescent coating are sized such that the available airflow area is approximately 40-70% of the area of the flexible grid until the intumescent coating is exposed to temperatures at or above the activation temperature, whereupon the intumescent coating swells to seal the openings and prevent air flow through the flexible grid; the intumescent mesh being affixed to the structure such that substantially all of the mesh covers the surface of the structure and such that, upon exposing the intumescent mesh to a temperature at or above the activation temperature, the intumescent coating swells to seal against and displace any air immediately adjacent to the surface of the structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible grid comprises a wire cloth.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the intumescent mesh is foldable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein affixing the intumescent mesh comprises forming the intumescent mesh into a 90 degree corner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the structure is non-planar and the intumescent mesh conforms to the non-planar surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intumescent coating further comprises expandable graphite, and silica, such that a composition of the intumescent grid comprises between 35-56 w/w % acrylic copolymer, between 3-21 w/w % ammonium polyphosphate, between 3-21 w/w % expandable graphite, and less than 1 w/w % silica, and the flexible grid comprising between 30 and 49 w/w %.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a process of manufacturing an intumescent grid.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an intumescent grid.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in section of an intumescent mesh.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in section of an intumescent mesh after application of a temperature at or above the activation temperature.

(6) FIG. 4A is a side elevation view in section of an intumescent mesh after application of a temperature at or above the activation temperature protecting a structure.

(7) FIG. 5 is a top plan view in section of a square structure being protected by an intumescent mesh.

(8) FIG. 6 is a top plan view in section of a round structure being protected by an intumescent mesh.

(9) FIG. 7 is a side elevation view in section of an intumescent mesh installed as a soffit of a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) An intumescent grid, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 7.

(11) Referring to FIG. 2, intumescent mesh 10 is made from a flexible grid 12 comprising a plurality of strands 14 that form a series of openings 16 in flexible grid 12. Preferably, flexible grid 12 is a wire cloth that has square openings as shown. It will be understood that other styles of flexible grid 12 may be used, as long as the material used and dimensions are adequate for the designated purpose.

(12) Referring to FIG. 3, an intumescent coating 18 is applied to flexible grid 12. Intumescent coating is made using expandable graphite and a polymer-based carrier. In one example, a suitable formula may be as follows: acrylic copolymer (35-56 w/w %), ammonium polyphosphate (3-21 w/w %), expandable graphite (3-21 w/w %), silica (<1 w/w %), and wire mesh (30-49 w/w %). The expandable graphite primarily contributes to the intumescent properties, while the acrylic copolymer is the primary carrier for the expandable graphite. Modifications to this formula may be made, with some components being replaced or removed, and/or other components added as will be recognized by those stilled in the art. Intumescent coating 18 is designed to have an activation temperature above which the intumescent coating swells, as shown in FIG. 4. The activation temperature may be around 600° C. or higher, however this may be customized or selected to be higher or lower than this temperature based on the type of expandable graphite used, as is known in the art and characterized elsewhere.

(13) Intumescent coating 18 is also designed to be sufficiently flexible to avoid palling, flaking, or otherwise falling off flexible grid 12 as grid 12 is manipulated and bent during installation. In addition, intumescent mesh 10 is particularly designed to be used in outdoor applications where intumescent coating 18 will be exposed to the elements without degrading. As such, intumescent coating 18 is preferably designed to withstand temperature extremes that may be encountered, such as low temperatures that may be encountered in cold climates, and the high temperatures that may be encountered in warm climates, and when exposed to direct sunlight without expanding or swelling prematurely. Furthermore, intumescent coating 18 should be designed to withstand exposure to water without degrading.

(14) Intumescent mesh 10 is designed to allow for airflow, such as may be required to allow a structure 20 to remain dry when mesh 10 is attached, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When installed on structure 20, mesh 10 is installed tightly and immediately against structure 20 such that, as coating 18 expands or swells when exposed to high temperatures, coating 18 not only seals openings 16, but also swells and seals against structure 20, and displaces any air adjacent to structure 20, such that no air is present to fuel a fire, as shown in FIG. 4A. By properly designing mesh 10, including the distribution of intumescent coating 18, its expandability, and its size, and by installing it sufficiently close to structure 20, it is possible to seal openings 16 to provide a thermal barrier and stop the passage of heated gases, while also creating a seal against structure 20, such that any air in contact with structure 20 is displaced away from structure 20. Without oxygen, the fire cannot spread to structure 20, regardless of the temperature or amount of heat transferring through the expanded coating 18, such that the fire can be retarded until the intumescent material degrades sufficiently until the seal is broken.

(15) Referring to FIG. 7, intumescent mesh 10 may also be installed as a soffit 22 of a building 24, as shown in FIG. 7. Soffit 22 allows sufficient air to pass through soffit 22, while sealing soffit 22 in the event of a fire. One embodiment was tested and was found to pass the California building codes for soffits, which require any soffit 22 to stop embers and flames from passing through soffit 22.

(16) It has been found that a mesh size of about ¼+/− 1/16 inches, with an adequately thick intumescent coating, allows for suitable fire protection, while still allowing for sufficient airflow. In one example, suitable airflow may be achieved when the openings account for roughly half of the surface area of the mesh, or approximately 40-70% of the area of flexible grid 12. The actual amount will be a balance between the expandability of intumescent coating 18, and the dimensions of mesh 10, including the separation between strands 14, in order to ensure that intumescent coating 18 is able to seal openings 16 and preferably against structure 20 in the event of a fire, while still permitting sufficient air flow to prevent moisture damage behind mesh 10. Some allowance may be made for the possibility that certain openings 16 may be closed during the manufacturing process, which may be minimized by controls in the manufacturing process. When intumescent coating 18 is exposed to temperatures at or above the activation temperature, intumescent coating 18 swells to seal openings 16 and prevent air flow through flexible grid 12.

(17) In one example, referring to FIG. 1, intumescent mesh 10 is manufactured by providing a first roll 26 of flexible grid 12, which passes through a bath 28 filled with liquid intumescent material. After being withdrawn from bath 28, the coated grid 12 passes by a source of air pressure, such as an air knife 30, which applies an air pressure to grid 12 that is sufficiently strong to open any openings 16 of grid 12 that may be closed by the surface tension of liquid intumescent material, while being insufficiently strong to remove a significant portion of the intumescent material from grid 12. Intumescent coating 18 is permitted to cure and harden into a solid before being rolled on a second roll 32. Depending on the necessary thickness of intumescent coating 18, and the viscosity of the intumescent material in bath 28, multiple passes may be required to achieve the desired product. In addition, by passing mesh 10 through bath 28, both sides of grid 12 and all sides of strands 14 are coated.

(18) The dimensions of mesh 10 will vary depending on its intended use. In one example, a roll that is 3-4 feet wide and about 50 feet long may be made that is small and light enough to be handled by a worker. Other dimensions may also be used depending on the intended use and the preferences of the user. Those skilled in the art will be able to make any necessary modifications to the equipment for making and handling the intended size of mesh 10.

(19) In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

(20) The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.