Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for constructing a fire stop system, a fire stop system thus constructed and a sleeve for use in said method and said fire stop system. Background art

[0002] Fire stopping systems are placed around services that penetrate fire rated building elements. The function of such systems is to seal any gaps that may be present between the services and the building element in the event of a fire, thus preventing the spread of fire from one side of the building element to the other side of the building element. From GB 2388174A and US 2007/151 183 A1 , in one form, fire stop systems comprise a collar which is placed around plastic or other combustible utility pipes at an opening where the pipe leads from one side of the element to the other. The collar comprises a layer(s) or ring of intumescent material which is held in place around the pipes by an outer strap element. The functioning of such fire stop collars is as follows. In case of fire, the plastic utility pipe will melt or soften and the intumescent material surrounding the melting pipe will expand to entirely close off the opening. In this way, the spread of fire from one side of the building element to the adjacent side can be prevented or slowed down.

[0003] Such fire stop collars are however not suitable for use on non-combustible, heat conductive pipelines or utility systems. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is a first aim of the present invention to provide a fire stop system that is suitable for use on heat conductive bodies, such as for example metal utility pipes or cable ducts, electric cables, etc.

[0005] It is a second aim of the present invention to provide a kit of parts for simple construction of such a fire stop system.

[0006] It is a third aim of the present invention to provide a simple construction method for such a fire stop system.

[0007] The invention provides, according to a first aspect, a fire stop system for preventing fire spreading from one room to an adjacent room via a heat conductive body which extends from said one room to said adjacent room via an opening in a wall separating said rooms from each other. The fire stop system comprises a sleeve element and at least one mounting part. By means of the at least one mounting part, the sleeve element is mounted in a position adjacent to the wall and surrounding the heat conductive body at a predetermined gap, in such a way that a cavity is present between the heat conductive body and the sleeve element. The sleeve element has holes (also referred to as openings) which are arranged to allow a discharge of heated air from the cavity and a supply of ambient air into the cavity and thereby creating an air flow for cooling the heat conductive body. [0008] The fire stop system according to the invention functions as follows. In case of fire, the heat on one side of the wall is conducted to the other side by the heat conductive body. The heated body will in turn heat the air in the cavity between the body and the sleeve element. Heated air rises and will be discharged via the holes at the top side of the sleeve element, while cooler, ambient air is drawn into the cavity via the holes at the bottom side of the sleeve element. In this way, an air flow is created which cools the heat conductive body, as a result of which it can be prevented or at least slowed down that the fire spreads from the one room to the other as a result of heat conduction via the heat conductive body.

[0009] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element is made of a material that is heat resistant up to at least 150°C, more preferred up to at least 175°C such as up to 180°C. For thermoplastic polymeric materials, the material may, in use, exceed its glass transition temperature, but preferably does not exceed its melting temperature. For other, possibly non polymeric material or thermoset materials, these materials may be heat resistant up to at least 300° before melting or degeneration.

[0010] The heat stop system is causing a flow of cooling air between the service line and the heat stop element.

[0011] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element is provided from thermoplastic polymer material. In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element is provided from thermoset polymer material. In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element is provided from non-polymeric material, such as metal material, such as steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminium and alike.

[0012] In embodiments according to the invention, said predetermined gap is preferably between 5 and 200 mm, more preferably between 10 and 50 mm. It has been found that a gap of this size can result in a cavity of sufficient volume while ensuring an upwards air flow, and thus benefit the cooling air flow.

[0013] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element has an axial dimension (e.g. height), measured in axial direction of said sleeve element, and a diametric dimension, being a maximum measured perpendicular to said axial direction (e.g. maximum width), said axial dimension preferably being greater than said diametric dimension. This means, in vertical orientation, that the sleeve is higher than it is wide.

[0014] In embodiments according to the invention, the axial dimension of the sleeve element is preferably between 200 mm and 2000 mm, preferably between 500 and 700 mm. It has been found that, in particular in vertical orientation, such a height can benefit the cooling air flow.

[0015] In embodiments according to the invention, the surface area of said air supply and discharge holes together preferably forms 5 to 50%, more preferably 10 to 40%, most preferably preferably 20 to 30%, of the total surface area of the sleeve element.

[0016] In embodiments according to the invention, the holes are preferably located on opposite sides and/or towards opposite ends of the sleeve element. The air supply and discharge holes are preferably axially and/or radially distributed over the surface of the sleeve element, preferably both axially and radially. They may be arranged in rows and/or columns and/or circles around the circumference of the sleeve element.

[0017] In embodiments according to the invention, the system further comprises a ring of fire stopping material, such as e.g. an intumescent material, a sealant, mortar or mineral wool mounted inside said sleeve element at a proximal end of said sleeve element, said proximal end being proximal to the wall. This ring of intumescent material can function to seal any gap between the heat conductive body and the wall.

[0018] In embodiments according to the invention, the system further comprises a closing part for closing off a distal end of said sleeve element, said distal end being distal from the wall. In particular in vertical orientation, this closing part can prevent that any dirt or debris falls into the cavity.

[0019] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element may be composed of at least two segments which are fixed to each other at longitudinal edges (i.e. the edges extending in axial direction of the sleeve element). In this way, the sleeve element can be constructed around an existing heat conductive body. Said longitudinal edges may be provided with complementary fixing elements for establishing a snap connection, so that the segments may be easily fixed to each other.

[0020] In embodiments according to the invention, the at least one mounting part may be formed by mounting brackets by means of which the sleeve element, or the segments composing the sleeve element, is/are fixed to the wall.

[0021] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element may comprise at least two segments which are connected to each other by a hinge. In this way, the sleeve element can be constructed around an existing heat conductive body.

[0022] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element and the at least one mounting part may be made of a polymeric material, preferably PE, PP or PVC.

[0023] In embodiments according to the invention, the sleeve element may be a unit which is made of a blank of metal which is bent to surround the heat conductive body. This embodiment provides another simple way of constructing the sleeve element around an existing heat conductive body. In such embodiments, the at least one mounting part may comprise outwardly bent wings of said blank of metal which are fixed to the wall.

[0024] In a second aspect, which may be combined with the other aspects and embodiments described herein, the invention provides a kit of parts, preferably in combination with an instruction manual, for constructing a fire stop system as described herein on the basis of said kit of parts.

[0025] In embodiments, the kit of parts comprises at least two segments for composing said sleeve element, the segments having longitudinal edges in axial direction of said sleeve elements, said longitudinal edges being provided for being fixed to each other.

[0026] In embodiments, the kit comprises at least one element made of fire stopping material, such as e.g. an intumescent material, a sealant, mortar or mineral wool, arranged for being mounted inside said sleeve element at a proximal end of said sleeve element, said proximal end being proximal to the wall. Preferably, each segment holds such an element of intumescent material.

[0027] In embodiments, the kit may comprise mounting brackets for fixing said segments to the wall and/or a closing part for closing off a distal end of said sleeve element, said distal end being distal from the wall.

[0028] In a third aspect, which may be combined with the other aspects and embodiments described herein, the invention provides a method for constructing a fire stop system as described herein. In the method, the cavity between the heat conductive body and the sleeve is left substantially unfilled, such that in the resulting fire stop system, the cavity contains air and is available to conduct the air flow between the holes for cooling the heat conductive body. Substantially unfilled means in this respect that at least 50% by volume of said cavity is unfilled, preferably at least 60%, or even at least 70% or even at least 80% or even at least 90%

Brief description of the drawings

[0029] The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] Figs. 1 and 2 show embodiments of fire stop systems according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a kit of parts for constructing a fire stop system according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a kit of parts for constructing a fire stop system according to the invention.

[0033] Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of a kit of parts for constructing a fire stop system according to the invention.

[0034] Fig. 6 shows a snap connection being part of embodiments of fire stop systems according to the invention. Description of embodiments

[0035] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0037] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0038] Furthermore, the various embodiments, although referred to as "preferred" are to be construed as exemplary manners in which the invention may be implemented rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0039] The term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the elements or steps listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B, rather with respect to the present invention, the only enumerated components of the device are A and B, and further the claim should be interpreted as including equivalents of those components.

[0040] The general construction and operation of fire stop systems according to the invention is first explained by means of Figs. 1 and 2.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a fire stop system 100 constructed around a heat conductive body 1 which extends in vertical direction through a horizontal wall opening 3 (e.g. an opening in a floor/ceiling). The fire stop system comprises a sleeve 10 which is mounted around the heat conductive body 1 in such a way that a predetermined gap is present between the body 1 and the sleeve 10. The sleeve has a plurality of holes via which the cavity 5 that is defined between the sleeve 10 and the body 1 is connected to the ambient air. In case of fire 4 in the room below the floor, the heat conductive body 1 may be heated by the fire and then conduct heat into the room above the floor. The heat conductive body 1 will heat the air that is present in the cavity 5 surrounding the body. Due to convection, the heated air will rise and exit the cavity via the holes in the upper part of the sleeve 10. This results in a vacuum in the cavity 5 which in turn results in ambient air being drawn in via the holes in the lower part of the sleeve 10. This ambient air is cooler than the air exiting the cavity, so an air flow is created which can cool the heat conductive body. This air flow is depicted by means of the arrows in Fig. 1 .

[0042] The sleeve 10 may be fixed to the wall 2 (floor or ceiling) by means of mounting brackets 1 1 or other mounting parts. The mounting parts preferably hold a ring of intumescent material 12 around the heat conductive body 1 at the wall opening to close off any gap between the body 1 and the wall opening 3 in case of fire. The sleeve 10 may also be attached or fixed to the heat conductive body itself, for example by means of a collar containing the intumescent material. At the opposite side of the wall, another fire stop collar with intumescent material may be provided.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a fire stop system 200 according to the invention for use on a heat conductive body 1 which extends horizontally through a vertical wall opening 3. The fire stop system may have basically the same construction as the one shown in Fig. 1 , be it that this construction is applied on both sides of the wall 2. In case of fire (heating of the heat conductive body), the air flow through the sleeve will be oriented differently, as shown by means of the arrows in Fig. 2. [0044] Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a kit of parts 10 for constructing a fire stop system according to Fig. 1 or 2. The kit comprises at least two main sleeve segments 101 , 121 , for example U-shaped segments as shown, which connect to each other along their longitudinal edges 103, 104, 123, 124, for example by means of a snap connection system as shown. Additional segments 130, 140 may be optionally inserted between the main sleeve elements 101 , 121 to increase the diametric dimension (the maximum width) of the sleeve and create a wider gap or larger cavity 5. The additional segments 130, 140 preferably have the same connection system on their longitudinal edges 133, 134, 143, 144, i.e. they are preferably compatible with the main segments. Alternatively, the main sleeve elements and the additional segments are mounted one adjacent to the other without being connected along the longitudinal edges. They are mount upright to the floor by means of mounting elements, e.g. right-angled polymer of steel mounting corners or brackets or alike.

[0045] The sleeve segments 101 , 121 preferably have a series of holes 102, 122, distributed in height direction, such that the sleeve 10 can be used in vertical orientation as in Fig. 1 as well as in horizontal orientation as in Fig. 2. Depending on the orientation in which the sleeve is used, these holes can function as either air supply holes or air discharge holes.

[0046] In alternative embodiments, a kit of parts similar to that of Fig. 2 may for example be composed of four main corner segments, which can be connected directly to each other by means of the same mechanism as shown in Fig. 2, or with intermediate elements 130, 140 in between, depending on the size/diameter of the body 1 to be cooled.

[0047] The embodiment of Fig. 3 comprises a plurality of mounting brackets 1 1 for fixing the sleeve segments 101 , 121 to a wall 2. The mounting brackets preferably comprise a part for holding a ring of intumescent material 12 around the heat conductive body at the wall opening. The mounting brackets 1 1 may be fixed to the wall and to the sleeve segments 101 , 121 by means of conventional fastening means, such as for example bolts. In other embodiments, the mounting parts may be integral parts of the sleeve segments.

[0048] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a kit of parts 20 for constructing a fire stop system according to Fig. 1 or 2. The kit comprises at least two sleeve segments 201 , 221 , for example U- shaped segments as shown, which are connected to each other by a hinge 204 at one pair of longitudinal edges. The other pair of longitudinal edges 203, 223 is provided with a snap connection system, which may be the same as the one of Fig. 3. The sleeve segments 201 , 221 comprise a plurality of holes 202, 222 which, depending on the orientation in which the sleeve is used, function as the air supply or discharge holes. The kit comprises the same mounting brackets as shown in Fig. 3.

[0049] A suitable snap connection, of which one of the edges may be provided as part of the connection of longitudinal edges 103, 104, 123, 124, 133, 134, 143, 144, 203 and 223, is shown in figure 6. A first longitudinal edge 601 is provided with a U-shaped grove 61 1 , the U shape being provided in longitudinal direction of the edge. One of the legs (621) of the U-shaped profile is provided with a protrusion 623, inwards the U shape. The other, second longitudinal edge 602 comprises at least one recess 631 , fit for receiving the protrusion 623 of the first longitudinal edge. Then the second edge is pushed into the U-shaped grove, the protrusion will snap into the recess and mechanically blocks the first and the second edge one to the other. It is understood that other, similar snap connections may be provided.

[0050] The parts of the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4 are preferably made of a polymeric material, preferably PE, PP or PVC, for example by 3D printing, extrusion or injection moulding.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of a kit of parts for constructing a fire stop system according to Fig. 1 or 2. The kit comprises a metal blank 30 with complementary parts on either end, such that the blank 30 can be bent around an existing heat conductive body 1 and the ends fixed to each other. Preferably, there are protruding parts 303 at one end and multiple sets of complementary slots, 304, 305, 306 at the other end, such that the size (diameter) of the sleeve can be adapted to the size of the body 1 . The bottom end of the blank is provided with mounting parts 31 1 which can be bent outwards and used to fix the sleeve to the wall, for example by means of bolts. The blank further has holes 302 distributed over its surface to enable the cooling air flow.

[0052] The embodiments of Figs. 3-5 are provided for being mounted around an existing heat conductive body 1 . In alternative embodiments, the fire stop system according to the invention can also be installed in a construction phase of the building prior to installing the heat conductive body, in which case the sleeve can be a unit, i.e. not necessarily composed of multiple segments.

[0053] The embodiments of Figs. 3-5 are arranged for constructing a sleeve element 10 around a heat conductive body with a predetermined gap in between, which is preferably between 5 and 200 mm, more preferably between 10 and 50 mm. The axial dimension of the sleeve element (height in Fig. 1) is preferably between 200 mm and 2000 mm, more preferably between 500 and 700 mm. The surface area of the holes 102, 122; 202, 222; 302 together forms preferably 5 to 50%, more preferably 10 to 30%, of the total surface area of the sleeve element 10.

[0054] The fire stopping material, here intumescent material 12, may be provided in the form of a disc with tearable portions, such that a hole of appropriate size can be made in the middle to accommodate for the body 1 , or a rope or strip of intumescent material which can be cut to the desired length to form the ring 12, or in other ways known to the person skilled in the art. In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the intumescent material 12 is held by the brackets 1 1 ; in the embodiment of Fig. 5, the intumescent material can simply be laid at the bottom of the sleeve or be held in position by means of another element, such as a known fire stop collar.

[0055] In further embodiments, spacers may be used to define the position for the sleeve segments during construction and ensure that a cavity 5 of sufficient volume results. At the bottom end of the sleeve, the intumescent material can perform this function.

[0056] As a mere example, a kit of parts as shown in figure 3, is provided. The kit of parts comprises two U-shaped sleeve segments 101 , 121 , which connect to each other along their longitudinal edges 103 to 124 and 104 to 123, by means of a snap connection system as shown in figure 6. The length of the edges may be 300mm, 400mm or 500mm. The sleeve segments are mount around a copper service line, the service line being coaxial with the axis of the combined. The snap connections along the edges is closed. The inner surface of the sleeves is at a distance of 25mm from the outer surface of the service line. Each of two flanges, being half circle elements are bolted to the lower side of one of the sleeve elements. The combination of sleeve elements and flanges is screwed to the floor through which the service line penetrates. Each sleeve element has a number of circular openings along its surface, matrix-like positions over the surface. The openings each have a diameter of 10mm and are at centre to centre distance of 20mm.

[0057] As an alternative example, a similarly perforated cylindrical sleeve with identical dimensions was installed around an identical service line perforating a floor. The sleeve was mechanically fixed to the floor by mounting brackets.

[0058] When a fire simulation program is applied to the service line at the opposite side of the floor, i.e. the floor side where the embodiment of the present invention is not fixed to, the temperature of the service line 25mm above the top side of the fire stop system of the invention, can be kept less than 180°C above ambient during about 30 minutes for the short length version (300mm), and even longer than 60 minutes for lengths of 400mm and even longer than 120 min for lengths above 500mm.

[0059] It is to be understood that although preferred embodiments and/or materials have been discussed for providing embodiments according to the present invention, various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.