FIRE PROTECTION STRIP

Abstract

A fire-protection tape (24) to be laid into gaps (12) in walls or ceilings (10) of buildings, having at least two main plies (26a, 26b) composed of an intumescent material, and at least one intermediate ply (30a) composed of a second intumescent material disposed between adjacent main plies (26a, 26b), wherein the second intumescent material has a lower intumescence temperature than the material of the main plies (26a, 26), and wherein the main plies (26a, 26b) have a first longitudinal edge (32a, 32b) on one outer side and a second longitudinal edge (34a, 34b) on the opposite outer side, in each instance.

Claims

1. A fire-protection tape, comprising: at least two main plies comprising an intumescent material, wherein the plies have a first longitudinal edge on one outer side and a second longitudinal edge on an opposite outer side, in each instance; and at least one intermediate ply comprising a second intumescent material disposed between adjacent main plies; wherein the second intumescent material has a lower intumescence temperature than the material of the main plies.

2. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ply extends from the first longitudinal edges all the way to the second longitudinal edges of the main plies.

3. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ply is disposed at the first longitudinal edges of the main plies, and that the second longitudinal edges of the main plies are flexibly connected with one another, without the presence of an intermediate ply.

4. The fire-protection tape according to claim 3, wherein the main plies gape apart at the first longitudinal edges after activation of the intermediate ply.

5. The fire-protection tape according to claim 3, wherein a flexible connector is provided, which flexibly connects the second longitudinal edges of the main plies with one another.

6. The fire-protection tape according to claim 5, wherein the connector extends into the main plies.

7. The fire-protection tape according to claim 5, wherein the main plies are coupled with the connector over their full area.

8. The fire-protection tape according to claim 5, wherein the connector has an intermediate section between the main plies.

9. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein at least three main plies comprising an intumescent material are provided, wherein an intermediate ply is provided only at one of the two longitudinal edges between adjacent main plies, and subsequent intermediate plies are provided only alternately on the first longitudinal edges and the second longitudinal edges.

10. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ply is connected with at least one adjacent main ply with shape fit and/or material fit.

11. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein ribs and/or channels are provided on at least one main ply, transverse to a longitudinal edge, extending away from the longitudinal edge.

12. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein a separating layer is provided between adjacent main plies and/or between the intermediate ply and the main plies assigned to them.

13. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein a textile ply is provided, which sheathes the fire-protection tape on the outside, at least in part.

14. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, which is placed in a gap in a wall or a ceiling of a building.

15. The fire-protection tape according to claim 3, wherein the flexible connector is a connection tape.

16. The fire-protection tape according to claim 3, wherein the connector is a woven fiberglass textile tape.

17. The fire-protection tape according to claim 5, wherein the main plies are coupled with the connector over their full area and are glued on.

18. The fire-protection tape according to claim 5, wherein the connector has a folded intermediate section-between the main plies.

19. The fire-protection tape according to claim 1, wherein a separating film is provided between adjacent main plies and/or between the intermediate ply and the main plies assigned to them.

Description

[0025] Further advantages and characteristics are found in the following description in connection with the attached drawings. These show:

[0026] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a fire-protection tape according to the invention, in the installed state,

[0027] FIG. 2 the fire-protection tape from FIG. 1 in the foamed-up state,

[0028] FIG. 3 a second embodiment of a fire-protection tape according to the invention, after activation of the intermediate ply,

[0029] FIG. 4 a third embodiment of a fire-protection tape according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 5 a variant of the fire-protection tape according to FIG. 4,

[0031] FIG. 6 a fourth embodiment of a fire-protection tape according to the invention, and

[0032] FIG. 7 a fifth embodiment of a fire-protection tape according to the invention.

[0033] In FIG. 1, a ceiling 10 of a building is shown, which has a gap 12 for a line 14. The line 14 is, for example, a sewer pipe composed of polyester or polypropylene, which can additionally have acoustic insulation composed of mineral materials. A ring-shaped slit 16 is present between the line 14 and the ceiling 10. On the top side 18, this slit is closed off by a sealing element 20. On the underside 22 of the ceiling 10, a fire-protection tape 24 is provided, the structure and function of which will be explained below.

[0034] The fire-protection tape 24 has the task of closing off the gap 12 in the event of a fire, in order to prevent or delay entry of smoke or fire, in that the fire-protection tape foams up and closes off the gap 12. For this purpose, it is necessary for the fire-protection tape 24 to not only be able to fill the slit 16, but also the entire gap 12, because the material of the line 14 has a lower melting point and therefore can melt or constrict at the temperatures that occur during a fire (see also FIG. 2). These lines are produced, for example, from polyester, which has a melting temperature between 130 C. to 145 C., or polypropylene, having a melting temperature of 160 C.

[0035] The fire-protection tape 24 is supplied as an endless material, for example on a roll, and laid circumferentially around the line 14, into the gap 12 or the slit 16. In the embodiment shown here, the fire-protection tape 24 fills the slit 16 completely in the radial direction, so that in the installed state of the fire-protection tape 24, a sound-proofing function already exists between the underside 22 and the top side 18. However, it is also possible that when the fire-protection tape 24 is laid in, a slit is present between the fire-protection tape and the line 14.

[0036] The fire-protection tape 24 consists of two main plies 26a, 26b, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the fire-protection tape 24, in other words around the line in the installed state, in the circumference direction. The main plies 26a, 26b consist, in each instance, of a first intumescent material, in other words a material that foams up at high temperatures and thereby increases its volume. The gap 12 can be closed by means of this volume increase, so that smoke and fire cannot enter through the gap 12.

[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the face surface 28, which is exposed to the high temperatures in the event of a fire, is relatively small. In the case of strong heat development, only the material at the face surface 28 would react and foam up at first. However, in the case of the previously known fire-protection tapes, insulation of the material of the main plies 26a, 26b that lies behind the face side, relative to the increasing heat, would take place as the result of foaming, so that a delay in the foaming process would come about.

[0038] Furthermore, shielding of the heat or cooling of the material of the main ply 26a, which lies directly against the ceiling 10, takes place by means of the material of the ceiling 10.

[0039] The intumescence temperature of the intumescent materials usually used for such fire-protection tapes furthermore lies clearly higher than the melting temperature of the material from which the line 14 is produced. Usual temperatures for activation of an intumescent material lie at 200 C.

[0040] The line would therefore melt before the intumescent material foams up, so that a larger cross-section has to be closed. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the line 14 constricts relatively quickly, so that a significantly larger region must be filled by the fire-protection tape 24.

[0041] In order to increase the surface area of the fire-protection tape 24 at the beginning of the foaming process and thereby achieve faster foaming of the entire material of the main plies 26a, 26b and closing of the gap 12, an intermediate ply 30a is provided between the adjacent main plies 26a, 26b, which ply consists of a second intumescent material. This second intumescent material has a clearly lower reaction temperature than the material of the main plies, so that it already foams up at lower temperatures.

[0042] At the beginning of the foaming process, the intermediate ply 30a is therefore activated first and foams up. The main plies 26a, 26b are pressed apart due to the foaming of the intermediate ply 30a, thereby increasing the surface area that is exposed to the elevated temperatures, for one thing. For another thing, the inner main ply 26b is displaced further into the center of the gap 12. When the main plies 26a, 26b subsequently foam up, these do not reciprocally hinder one another and can furthermore close off a significantly greater volume in the gap 12.

[0043] In other words, the intermediate ply ensures that the two main plies 26a, 26b foam up more rapidly and with less hindrance, and can close off the gap 12.

[0044] The intermediate ply 30a consists, for example, of an acrylate dispersion that contains a propellant that is activated at a very low temperature. In addition, the intermediate ply 30a can be configured in such a manner that it not only foams up but also reacts strongly exothermically. In this way, the intermediate ply 30a can additionally increase the temperature, so that it is ensured that the adjacent main plies 26a, 26b are activated and expand more quickly.

[0045] This acrylate dispersion is applied to the first main ply 26a, for example. Before the intermediate ply 30a hardens, the second main ply 26b is laid onto the intermediate ply 30a, so that these are firmly connected with one another after hardening of the intermediate ply 30a. The intermediate ply 30a therefore does not have to have any supporting properties.

[0046] In the embodiment shown here, the intermediate ply 30a extends over the entire width of the main plies 26a, 26b, in other words from a first longitudinal edge 32a, 32b all the way to a second longitudinal edge 34a, 34b. The main plies 26a, 26b are therefore connected with one another over their full area by the intermediate ply 30a. As a result, the second main ply 26a is pushed into the gap 12 in the event of a fire, parallel to and away from the first main ply 26a, as the result of foaming of the intermediate ply 30a.

[0047] A second embodiment of a fire-protection tape 24 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the two main plies 26a, 26b are flexibly connected with one another at the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b by a flexible connection means 36, for example a woven fiberglass textile tape. The intermediate ply 30a is provided only in the region of the first longitudinal edges 32a, 32b. No intermediate ply is provided at the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b.

[0048] By means of this structure, the main plies 26a, 26b are pressed apart at the first longitudinal edges 32a, 32b when the intermediate ply 30a is activated, while the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b are held together by the connection means. After activation of the intermediate ply 30a, the main plies 26a, 26b gap apart in V shape, viewed in cross-section. The second main ply 26b is quasi pivoted about the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b, so that it projects into the gap 12, viewed in cross-section.

[0049] The cross-section of the gap 12, through which fire or smoke can pass, is already clearly reduced by the second main ply 26a, which projects at a slant or almost perpendicular into the gap. In this embodiment, significantly more rapid closing of the entire gap 12 is therefore possible as the result of foaming of the second main ply 26b.

[0050] In FIG. 4, a third embodiment of a fire-protection tape 24 according to the invention is shown, which is based essentially on the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. A separating layer 38 is additionally provided between the main plies 26a, 26b, by means of which layer the main plies 26a, 26b are separated from one another in the region of the second longitudinal edge 34a, 34b. This separating layer 38 is a film composed of polyethylene, for example, and ensures that the expansion of the intermediate ply 30a is not hindered by the two main plies 26a, 26b sticking together.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the connection means 36 between the main plies 26a, 26b has a folded intermediate section 40, which also allows the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b to move away from one another during activation of the intermediate ply 30a.

[0052] Independent of the embodiment of the connection means 36, the latter can either be connected with the main plies 26a, 26b over their full area, on the outer side, for example glued onto them. Alternatively, it is also possible that the connection means extends into the main plies 26a, 26b with a section. Production of the fire-protection tape 24 takes place, for example, in that a ply composed of an intumescent material capable of flow or capable of being brushed is cast into a mold. Subsequently, the connection means 36 is laid onto the material. Dependent on how liquid the material is, the connection means 36 can sink into it or remain lying on its surface, and can connect with it with material fit. If the connection means 36 does not sink into the material, further material can be introduced into the mold, so that the connection means 36 is enclosed by it.

[0053] Subsequently, the separating layer 38 is applied to the surface, for example laid on. This can take place in the still damp state of the material, so that the separating layer 38 connects with the material with material fit. Subsequently, the intermediate ply is applied to the separating layer.

[0054] In a final production step, the material is laid together with the connection means 36, in the not yet hardened state of the material, in such a manner that the intermediate ply is situated between two sections of the material, which define the first and the second ply 26a, 26b, in each instance. If the material has not hardened yet, it is significantly more flexible, so that the folding process is significantly easier.

[0055] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. This is based essentially on the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Instead of two main plies 26a, 26b, however, further main plies 26c, 26d are provided here. The main plies 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d are connected with one another by a continuous connection means 36, wherein the connection means 36 runs essentially in accordion-like manner and alternately connects the two first longitudinal edges 32a and 32b or 32c and 32d and the first longitudinal edges 34b and 34c with one another. The main plies 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d can therefore be unfolded in accordion-like manner.

[0056] An intermediate ply 30a, 30b, 30c is provided at the longitudinal edges that are not coupled with one another by way of the connection means 36, in each instance. By means of this arrangement, activation of intermediate plies and thereby an increase in size of the surface area of the fire-protection tape 24 is ensured not only at the first face surface 28, but also, in the event of a fire, at the second face surface 42.

[0057] Also in the case of the principle shown in FIG. 1, the use of multiple main plies 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d with continuous intermediate plies 30a, 30b, 30c that lie between them is possible, as can be seen in the embodiment in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a textile ply 44 is additionally provided, which sheathes the fire-protection tape 24 on the outside, at least in part, wherein the face surface 28 is kept free, so that activation of the intermediate plies 30a, 30b, 30c is not hindered.

[0058] Independent of the embodiments shown, the intermediate ply 30a, 30b, 30c can be disposed between two main plies 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d in any desired manner, wherein it only has to be ensured that the intermediate ply 30a, 30b, 30c is activated as quickly as possible by the increasing temperature.

[0059] In order to achieve more rapid heat introduction into the main plies 26a, 26b, these can also be provided with ribs or channels, which extend from the first longitudinal edges 32a, 32b or the second longitudinal edges 34a, 34b into the respective main ply 26a, 26b, independent of the embodiment of the fire-protection tape 24.