AU2005100434A4 - Fire-proofing device - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: Robert Mann Invention Title: FIRE-PROOFING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- FIRE-PROOFING DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fire-proofing devices and in particular to fire-proofing devices mounted in lateral apertures through hollow-core walls of a building.

Background of the Invention Various fire-proofing devices are known in the art for installation where a lateral aperture is provided in a hollow-core wall. These devices are configured to stop a fire spreading from one side of the wall to the other and to stop fire penetrating into the wall cavity.

Typically, wall cavities incorporate metal studs within them extending between sides of the wall at various intervals to support the sides of the wall. Prior fire-proofing devices are either installed adjacent these studs, or in the case that the lateral wall aperture is remote from a stud, the wall must first be sealed with a stud and a plasterboard arrangement by a plaster fixer before a fire-proofing device is installed.

Fire-proofing devices usually incorporate a fireproof shutter capable of stopping a fire propagating from one side of the fireproof shutter to the other.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fire-protection device is provided for location in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall, the device comprising a fire resistant structure adapted to be mounted in the aperture and to protect the hollow core from exposure to fire conditions, the structure having overlapping portions which may move relative to each other through a range of temperatures including those experienced in a building fire.

Advantageously, the device can be installed in an aperture in a hollow-core wall to protect the hollow-core of the wall from excessive heat or flame propagation.

This device is particularly advantageous since it does not need to be installed adjacent -3studs in the wall avoiding the significant costs associated with having a plaster fixer seal the wall.

In one embodiment, the structure is in the form of a sleeve that is defined by at least one sheet of fire resistant material having two sheet ends, wherein the overlapping portions are provided by the two sheet ends which are configured such that they overlap. Advantageously, this overlapping arrangement means that the sheets may slide relative to each other to a limited extent such that the sleeve, when supported in the wall aperture, may expand and contract to fit the aperture over a range of temperatures.

In another embodiment, each sheet comprises a laterally extending lip at one of the sheet ends and an opposite sheet end, such that in use each opposite end overlaps one lip.

In yet another embodiment, the sleeve comprises four sheets, each having a generally rectangular configuration to form a sleeve of rectangular cross-section. A rectangular sleeve is suitable for a rectangular wall aperture.

Typically, in use each opposite sheet end overlaps the lip of an adjacent sheet.

Optionally, each sheet is made of metal.

In one embodiment, the fire-protection device further comprises insulation material mounted thereon.

In another embodiment, the fire-protection device is provided in combination 2 o with a fire damper.

In one form, a method of installing a fire damper in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall is provided, the method comprising the steps of: locating the abovementioned device in the aperture, such that the sleeve extends around the hollow-core of the wall; (ii) installing a sheet of fire-proof, heat insulating material on the inside surface of the sleeve of the device or on the outside surface of the fire damper; (iii) locating the fire damper within the sleeve of the device such that the heat insulating material is located intermediate the device and the fire damper; and (iv) mounting fire damper retainers to extend between the fire damper and the wall to retain the fire damper in the aperture.

In another form, a method of retrofitting the abovementioned device to an existing fire damper installed in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall is provided, the method comprising the steps of: removing fire damper retainers that extend between the fire damper and the wall and retain the fire damper in the aperture, and removing the fire damper from the aperture; remove any heat insulating material that may have been present between the fire damper and the wall; and implementing steps to above.

Advantageously, the heat insulating material may be compressible and the fire-proof material may be metal.

In yet another form, an installation of the abovementioned fire-protection device is provided, installed in a lateral wall aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an adjustable sleeve of a fire-proofing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a vertical section of the fire-proofing device of Figure 1 mounted in a lateral aperture in hollow-core wall and between the hollow-core wall and a fire-proofing device.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Figures 1 and 2 show a fire-proofing device 2 for location in an aperture 100 that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall 102. The device 2 comprises a metal rectangular sleeve 4 being formed from four metal sheets 6. The width W of the sleeve is equal to the width of the hollow-core wall 102.

Each sheet has a first end 8 configured with a lip 10, the length of which is designated L, and a second opposite end 12. At least a portion of each lip 10 is configured and positioned such that it overlaps the second end 10 of an adjacent sheet by a distance O. Because of this overlapping arrangement, the sheets 6 may slide relative to each other to a limited extent such that the sleeve 4, when supported in the wall aperture 100, may expand and contract to fit the aperture 100 over a range of temperatures.

Figure 2 shows a fire damper 104 installed within the fire-proofing device 2 within the wall aperture 100. A method of installing the fire damper 104 within the aperture 100 is also provided and includes the following steps: Step 1: Locating the device 2 in the aperture 100 adjacent the ends 106 of the sides 108 of the hollow-core wall 102, such that the sleeve 4 extends around the hollow-core 110 of the wall 102.

Step 2: Installing a sheet of fire-proof, heat insulating material 14 on the inside surface 16 of the sleeve 4. The width of the heat insulating material 14 does not extend beyond the width of the sleeve 4.

Step 3: Locating the fire damper 104 within the sleeve 4 such that the heat insulating material 14 is located intermediate the sleeve 4 and the fire damper 104.

Step 4: Mounting four fire damper retaining flanges 112 to extend between the fire damper 104 and respective sides 108 of the wall 102 to retain the fire damper 104 in the aperture 100. The fire damper retaining flanges 112 are made of metal L-section wherein the horizontal side of the L-section is parallel to the top and bottom surfaces 114 of the fire damper 104 and the vertical side of the L-section is parallel to the sides of the wall 108. The vertical sides of the L-section also encapsulate the sleeve 4 and heat insulating material 14 width-wise.

A method of retrofitting the device 2 to an existing fire damper 104 installed in the aperture 100 is also provided and comprises the following additional steps (A and B) preceding the above-mentioned steps (1 to 4).

Step A. Removing the fire damper retaining flanges 112 from the fire damper 104 and removing the fire damper 104 from the wall aperture 100.

Step B. Removing any heat insulating material 14 that may have been present between the fire damper 104 and the wall 102.

Advantageously, the device 2 can be installed in an aperture in a hollow-core wall to protect the hollow-core of the wall from excessive heat or flame propagation.

This device is particularly advantageous since it does not need to be installed adjacent studs 116 in the wall. Accordingly, the significant costs associated with having a plaster fixer seal the wall can be avoided.

-6- The foregoing describes only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and modifications, apparent to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the term "end(s)" has been used it should be appreciated that the term could also refer to the longer edges of respective sheets 6. Further, the sleeve 4 could be configured cylindrically with only one sheet 6 and without a lip 10. The sleeve 4 may also be configured cylindrically with more than one sheet 6 or into a sleeve of triangular section.

In this example, the heat insulating material 14 is compressible Rockwool material and the sheet material is steel. The sheets 6 could also be made of a ceramic material or any other suitable material.

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.

Claims (4)

1. A fire-protection device for location in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall, the device comprising a fire resistant structure adapted to be mounted in the aperture and to protect the hollow core from exposure to fire conditions, the structure having overlapping portions which may move relative to each other through a range of temperatures including those experienced in a building fire.

2. A fire-protection device as defined in Claim 1, wherein the structure is in the form of a sleeve that is defined by at least one sheet of fire resistant material having two sheet ends, wherein the overlapping portions are provided by the two sheet ends which are configured such that they overlap.

3. A fire-protection device as defined in Claim 2, wherein the sleeve comprises four sheets, each having a generally rectangular configuration to form a sleeve of rectangular cross-section, and each sheet comprises a laterally extending lip at one of the sheet ends and an opposite sheet end, such that in use each opposite sheet end overlaps the lip of an adjacent sheet.

4. A method of installing a fire damper in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall, the method comprising the steps of: locating the device of any one of Claims 1 to 3 in the aperture, such that the sleeve extends around the hollow-core of the wall; (ii) installing a sheet of fire-proof, heat insulating material on the inside surface of the sleeve of the device or on the outside surface of the fire damper; (iii) locating the fire damper within the sleeve of the device such that the heat insulating material is located intermediate the device and the fire damper; and (iv) mounting fire damper retainers to extend between the fire damper and the wall to retain the fire damper in the aperture. A method of retrofitting the device of any one of Claims 1 to 3 to an existing fire damper installed in an aperture that extends laterally through a hollow-core wall, the method comprising the steps of: removing fire damper retainers that extend between the fire damper and the wall and retain the fire damper in the aperture, and removing the fire damper from the aperture; remove any heat insulating material that may have been present between the fire damper and the wall; and implementing steps to (iv) of Claim 4. DATED this 2 3 rd Day of May 2005 ROBERT MANN By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK