Intumescent Cover or Joiner

Abstract

A cover or joiner is configured to cover the respective channels and/or joins between adjacent thermal insulation panels of a structural fire protection system, such as for marine vessel deckheads and bulkheads. The cover or joiner can include an elongate member, such as a strip, that includes intumescent insulation, and optionally can include one or more fastener arrangements, such as use of holes for attaching the cover or joiner to the underlying thermal insulation panels and support framework. The cover or joiner can be insulated with 6 mm thick intumescent insulation material and attached (e.g., screwed) to the framework. A front face of the cover or joiner (front facing away from the panels) can be of metal, such as stainless steel or galvanised steel.

Claims

1. A cover or joiner providing thermal protection for one or more joints between thermal insulation panels of a structural fire protection system, the cover or joiner including a non-combustible substrate supporting an intumescent thermal insulation material, the cover or joiner configured to respectively cover or join one or more joints between panels of non-combustible material of the thermal insulation panel system, the intumescent thermal insulation material expanding on exposure to sufficient heat to provide a thermal seal at the joint between the panels.

2. The cover or joiner of claim 1, wherein the intumescent thermal insulating material includes alkaline earth silicate (AES) mineral fibre insulation.

3. The cover or joiner of claim 1, being a component part for a support structure to support the respective at least one of the panels.

4. The cover or joiner of claim 1, being an elongate member for respectively covering or joining longitudinal joints between adjacent said panels.

5. The cover or joiner of claim 1, being a corner cover or joiner for a plurality of corners of the panels.

6. The cover or joiner of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes steel.

7. The cover or joiner of claim 1, wherein the cover or joiner is not entirely of non-combustible material.

8. The cover or joiner of claim 7, wherein the intumescent material is not classed as a non-combustible material.

9. The cover or joiner of claim 1, wherein the cover or joiner includes a channel portion with the intumescent material therein.

10. A cover or joiner arrangement for a thermal panel system of a structural fire protection system, the cover or joiner arrangement including at least one said respective cover or joiner as recited in claim 1.

11. The cover or joiner arrangement of claim 10, being part of a marine vessel bulkhead and/or deckhead of said thermal insulation panel system.

12. The cover or joiner arrangement of claim 10, the cover or joiner arrangement provided as part of a support structure to support the respective at least one thermal panel.

13. The cover or joiner arrangement system of claim 12, wherein the cover or joiner arrangement is part of a metal framework, such as a steel framework.

14. The cover or joiner arrangement of claim 10, wherein one or more corner intersections of a plurality of the thermal panels is supported by a respective corner connector of the cover or joiner arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] One or more embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0046] FIG. 1A shows a plan view reverse side of a sheet steel tray, without insulation attached, as in FIG. 1C, for a structural fire protection system.

[0047] FIG. 1B1 shows an end view, with insulation attached, and FIG. 1 B2 shows a close-up section from FIG. 1B1 of a known thermal insulation panel of non-combustible materials for a structural fire protection system.

[0048] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the reverse side of a sheet steel tray shown in FIG. 1A.

[0049] FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of the same known thermal insulation panel of non-combustible materials, including a sheet steel tray and insulation material assembled together using steel pins.

[0050] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show components of a steel framework structure for use with or in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 2D standoff bracket (such as for mounting to a bulkhead or deckhead) to which a framework channel of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C is attached.

[0052] FIGS. 3A and 3B show respective cross section and plan views of a cover or joiner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIGS. 4A and 4B show examples of a corner intersection cover plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a thermal insulation panel system for a bulkhead and utilising a number of cover or joiner arrangements according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a combination of a thermal insulation panel system applied to a bulkhead and to a deckhead and utilising a number of joiner arrangements according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIGS. 7A to 7D show portions of an application of a thermal insulation panel system to a bulkhead incorporating a cover or joiner arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] FIGS. 8A to 8E show portions of an application of a thermal panel system to a deckhead incorporating a cover or joiner arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0058] In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

[0059] A thermal insulation panel system includes at least one thermal insulation panel 12 including a sheet steel tray 14 supporting at one face 16 thereon a non-combustible thermal insulating material 18 (see FIG. 1D).

[0060] The face 16 of the sheet metal panel may be embossed or otherwise textured 17. FIG. 1A shows partial embossing/texture but it will be appreciated that most or all of the face of the sheet steel tray 14 can be embossed/textured.

[0061] FIG. 1B1 shows an end view of the thermal insulation panel 12 of non-combustible materials with sheet steel tray 14 and thermal insulation material 18 providing a thickness A, and the sheet steel tray 14 with support edges 24 providing depth B to the tray structure. FIG. 1B2 shows a close-up end portion of FIG. 1B1, as identified in FIG. 1B1.

[0062] The sheet steel tray 14 includes at least one longitudinal steel stiffener 20, which may be spot welded 22 directly to the sheet steel tray 14.

[0063] One or more pins 26 (such as steel pins) can be attached to or otherwise form part the respective stiffener 20. The respective pin/pins may be used to provide positions for fastening the insulation material to the rear face of the sheet steel tray 14. It is preferred that the insulation material is continuous across a rear face of the respective thermal insulation panel.

[0064] One or more retainers 28 can be attached to the pins 26 to retain the insulation material to the rear face 16 of the sheet steel tray 14.

[0065] A support framework arrangement 30 can be attached to a bulkhead 31A or suspended from deckhead 31 B, such as by using a number of stand-off brackets 39 attached to respective bulkhead or deckhead stiffeners (39A, 39B) being part of the bulkhead and deckhead structures of the vessel structure.

[0066] Alternatively, clips 49 (e.g., Erico Caddy clips) with a steel leg 49A, installed onto the flange 39C of a deckhead stiffener 39B can be used to suspend from the deckhead 31B using eyebolts 49B and hanging rods 49C.

[0067] Preferably, an air gap of at least 150mm, preferably at least 200mm, is maintained between the bulkhead and/or deckhead and the reverse (non-fire) side of the panel 12 of the panel system 10.

[0068] The support framework arrangement 30 can include a support channel arrangement 32 including at least one channel 33 (which can have a U profile), and can be insulated, such as with AES mineral fibre insulation material 35, within a section/profile 37 of the respective channel 33.

[0069] One or more brackets 34 can be provided to retain the thermal insulation panel(s) 12 to respective channel 33. Fastener arrangements 36 can be provided to connect brackets, corners etc. to retain together components of the framework, such as by screws or rivets etc.

[0070] Corner joiners 38 can be provided to connect corners of the joiner arrangement and to allow corner intersections of the thermal insulation panels to be covered, such as by cover pieces 40.

[0071] One or more stiffener standoff brackets 39 can be provided to attach to the stiffeners of the vessel bulkhead or deckhead structure. Respective channels 33 can be attached to the stiffener standoff brackets 39.

[0072] At least one cover or joiner 42 embodying the present invention is provided to cover the respective channels and/or joins between adjacent thermal insulation panels 12.

[0073] The or each cover or joiner may include an elongate member 42, such as a strip, that includes intumescent insulation 43, and optionally can include one or more fastener arrangements, such as use of holes 45 for attaching the cover or joiner 42 to the underlying thermal insulation panels and support framework.

[0074] The cover or joiner 42 can be insulated with 6mm thick intumescent insulation material (such as facing the panels) and attached (e.g., screwed) to the framework at nominal spacings. The front face of the cover or joiner (front facing away from the panels) can be of metal, such as steel.

[0075] Clips can be attached to the stiffeners of the vessel deckhead structure 39B, which can be fitted with M6 steel eyebolts with an optional rubber grommet. Suspension rods can be installed between the eyebolts and the steel support framework at nominal centres. The suspending rods provide the required minimum airgap between the reverse side of the structural fire protection system and the deckhead. Additional support brackets can be attached to the vessel structure where required.

[0076] Each intersection of a number of the panels is preferably covered with a intersection cover, such as a plate (e.g., a pressed stainless steel or galvanised steel corner cover 40), which may be retained by a fastener 47. Preferably the intersection cover is insulated with 6-10mm, preferably 9.5mm, thick intumescent insulation 48.

[0077] The respective joiner or cover can be such that sufficient heat causes the intumescent insulation material to expand and seal gaps between the cover or joiner and the front faces of the respective panels at the respective joint.

[0078] The intumescent insulation material may be configured such that expansion (due to sufficient heat) casus s the intumescent insulation material to expand into any gap at the join between two adjacent panels.

[0079] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e., to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.