GB2418784A - A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket. - Google Patents

A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2418784A
GB2418784A GB0421839A GB0421839A GB2418784A GB 2418784 A GB2418784 A GB 2418784A GB 0421839 A GB0421839 A GB 0421839A GB 0421839 A GB0421839 A GB 0421839A GB 2418784 A GB2418784 A GB 2418784A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cover
fire
foam
sponge
coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0421839A
Other versions
GB0421839D0 (en
Inventor
Derek Alfred Ward
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Environmental Seals Ltd
Original Assignee
Environmental Seals Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Environmental Seals Ltd filed Critical Environmental Seals Ltd
Priority to GB0421839A priority Critical patent/GB2418784A/en
Publication of GB0421839D0 publication Critical patent/GB0421839D0/en
Priority to GB0708671A priority patent/GB2435576B/en
Priority to PCT/GB2005/002619 priority patent/WO2006037939A1/en
Publication of GB2418784A publication Critical patent/GB2418784A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62CFIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C3/00Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places
    • A62C3/16Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02Details
    • H02G3/04Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02Details
    • H02G3/04Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs
    • H02G3/0406Details thereof
    • H02G3/0412Heat or fire protective means

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Fireproofing Substances (AREA)
  • Paints Or Removers (AREA)

Abstract

A cover is made up of a number of walls 1 and a base (2, fig 1) of fire retardant polyurethane foam material which may be glued together with an intumescent adhesive. The cover shaped show that it forms a close fit around whichever conduit it is made for. A number of fixings in the forms of metallic strips 3 with holes 4 allow the conduit and cover assembly to be attached to a surface, using fixing means though the holes 4. This means that a device like a socket will be able to be fixed in position in the cavity of a stud wall.

Description

24 1 8784
FIREPROOFED COVERS FOR CONDUIT FITTINGS
This invention relates to fireproofed covers for conduit fittings for receiving electrical cabling.
Electrical services which pass through fire walls or ceilings present potential fire hazards should PVC sleeved electrical cables be subjected to . ..
excessive heat caused by, for example, a fire occurring in a room or ceiling area through which the electrical services pass. Overheating of conduit fittings such as dry lining boxes through which electric cables pass and within which electrical connections are made, for example, for wall mounted sockets, can cause self ignition of the cables; also, conduit...... ..
fittings subjected to excessive heat can rapidly deform thereby enabling. . - high temperature gases and flames to reach the cables and cause fires to occur. Fire damage to conduit fittings also enables fire and smoke to pass from one room of a building to another thereby aiding the spread of fire within that building. These problems are of increased concern in the context of timber framed properties.
The use of fibrous pads coated with intumescent material adhered to one internal wall of a conduit fitting is known from our patent GB 2247977B. The presence of such pads within a conduit fitting inhibits the spread of fire and smoke by intumescing completely to fill the fitting interior when subjected to temperature increases occasioned by fire. For timber framed properties particularly, there is an additional need to provide acoustic sound-proofing properties for conduit fittings.
Flexible expandable seals are known which comprise a preformed flexible cellular foam or sponge which has been impregnated with fire- retardant material. When subjected to temperatures of the order of 300 400 C such seals lose integrity thereby allowing flames to pass between the walls or other members between which the seal is positioned.
Expandable seals are also known which comprise layers of sponge and intumescent sheets. The sponge content of these seals deteriorates at temperatures around 200 C while the sheets expand. Seal flexibility is therefore substantially lost.
Improved flexible preformed fire-retardant seals are disclosed in our copending Application PCT/GB01/00323. These seals comprise preformed flexible cellular fire-retardant foam or sponge coated firstly with a primer solution including a sealant and secondly with a Plowable coating of a fire-retardant material. These seals offer enhanced fire protection and acoustic properties. . :.
Hitherto such seals have been employed in block form for use within, for example, wall cavities. It has now surprisingly been established that the fire-retardant and acoustic protection properties of the described preformed flexible cellular foam or sponge can be retained even when relatively thin sheets of this material are produced.
It has also been established that sheets of ceramic paper or felt coated with a fluid intumescent have good fire-proofing and sound deadening properties.
Our International Application WO 2004/013528 discloses a cover for a conduit fitting which comprises sheets of preformed flexible cellular fire retardant foam or sponge joined together by an intumescent adhesive to form a cover open on one of its sides and dimensioned to define a reasonably snug fit about the external walls of an open-sided conduit fitting. Each sheet is coated firstly with a primer solution including a sealant and secondly with a Plowable coating of a fire-retardant material.
The primer solution operates to close the open pores of the surface and provides a bond to which the fire-retardant coating can adhere.
Whereas these covers have proved to be extremely successful in providing security against the spread of fire with enhanced sound proofing qualities, it has been found that there is a need to ensure that movement between the cover and the protected conduit fitting is eliminated or, at least, minimised.
According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided a cover for a conduit fitting for location within a wall recess which comprises sheets of preformed flexible cellular fire-retardant foam sponge joined together by an intumescent adhesive to form a cover open on one of its sides and dimensioned to define a reasonably snug fit about the external walls of an open-sided conduit fitting, and means for securing the cover to one or more of the walls which define the recess, each sheet of the cover being coated firstly with a primer solution including a sealant and secondly with a Plowable coating of a fire- retardant material, the - primer solution operating to close the open pores of the said at least one surface and to provide a bond to which the fire-retardant coating can adhere.
The securing means may comprise metallic fixing strips which extend from and generally normal to the base of the cover and protrude from the adjoining upstanding cover wall by a predetermined distance, the protruding end including an aperture through which a pin or screw can pass to secure the cover to the neighbouring edge of a wall in which the cover is positioned.
Preferably, the predetermined distance is equivalent to the thickness of a plasterboard sheet.
One object of this invention is to provide a fireproofed cover for conduit fittings such as dry lining boxes which can readily be positioned between and secured to adjoining plasterboard walls of timber framed properties.
All surfaces of the foam or sponge sheets may be coated.
The primer solution may comprise an aqueous solution of an acrylic copolymer which includes ammonium polyphosphate.
The fire-retardant coating may comprise a chlorinated vinyl copolymer system which includes a quantity of ammonium polyphosphate, zinc borate and/or magnesium and/or calcium carbonates. ... : :::.
The foam or sponge may comprise polyurethane or alternatively a silicone coated with a silane primer. :-
The primer solution may be allowed to dry before the fire-retardant. . material is applied. One or both coatings may be applied by brushing, . . - rolling or spraying.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a fireproofed cover in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a side view of the fireproofed cover shown in Figure 1.
The cover illustrated in the drawings has walls 1 upstanding from a base 2 all cut from one or more sheets of polyurethane foam material impregnated with an aqueous solution of a fire-retardant material.
Extending upwardly from the base 2 are metallic fixing strips 3, the upper ends of which protrude beyond the upper margins of the walls by a predetermined distance, e.g. a distance generally equal to the thickness s of a standard plasterboard sheet. Each strip end includes a hole 4 to enable the fixing strips to be secured to the adjoining edge surface of a plasterboard or other wall surface when the cover and conduit fitting is positioned within a wall recess. The ends of the fixing strip remote from the holes 4 are turned through 90 to lie between the adjoining surface of the walls and the base.
In one example of a cover in accordance with the invention, the walls and base 2 are cut from sheets of polyurethane foam material impregnated with an aqueous solution of a fire-retardant material are coated with a solution of an acrylic copolymer system which includes ammonium polyphosphate. At temperatures in excess of 250 C to 300 C . the ammonium polyphosphate forms phosphoric acid which reacts with the fireretardant coating for the polyurethane sheets. This primer coating has a viscosity similar to that of water and acts to seal the open cells of the polyurethane foam. The primer coating therefore seals the exposed surfaces of the polyurethane sheets whilst retaining the flexibility characteristics of the sheets. The primer coating also provides a bond to which the subsequently applied fire retardant coating can adhere.
The surfaces of the sheets are then coated with one or more coatings of a chlorinated vinyl copolymer system which includes a quantity of ammonium polyphosphate, zinc borate and/or magnesium and/or calcium carbonates. The viscosity of this fire-retardant coating is more akin to an emulsion or paste.
The coatings may be applied by means of a brush, roller or spray.
The primer coating not only seals the open pores of the polyurethane block but also, as mentioned previously, provides a primed surface to which the fire-retardant coating can adhere. The coated sheets retain their flexibility and the bond between the respective coatings is sufficient to prevent cracking or other damage to the surface during handling of the sheets.
In some instances it may be preferable to allow the primer coating to dry before the fire-retardant coating is applied.
Once dried, the sheets are cut to sizes which approximate to the dimensions of the walls of the conduit fitting to be covered. The edges of the sheets are then adhered together using an intumescent adhesive to define an open-sided cover of a shape which matches the fitting to be covered but dimensioned marginally larger to enable the fitting to fit snugly within the cover.
Following assembly, the cover is inserted through an opening in, say, a plasterboard cavity wall to which a wall socket or the like is to be mounted. If necessary, the cover can, because of its inherent flexibility, be folded or screwed up to pass through the opening. Before entry of the cover, the area of internal wall of the opposed plasterboard cavity wall opposite the opening is coated with a layer of intumescent adhesive to retain the cover in place between the opposed cavity wall surfaces.
Openings or slots formed in the appropriate side of the cover enable electrical cabling to enter the cover interior. The required conduit fitting is then located within the cover and the cover is fixed in place by pins or screws passing through the holes 4 onto the adjoining side edges of the plasterboard.
Covers in accordance with the invention have enhanced sound- deadening properties which enable the covers to act as acoustic covers for conduit fittings.
In the event of fire, the intumescent contents of the cover, the adhesive and the pads located within the fitting expand to fill completely all spacings between the fitting and the adjoining wall surfaces and within the fitting itself to prevent the flow of fire or smoke between the adjoining rooms defined by the cavity wall. Fin A
It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of fireretardant seals in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention. . .
- .e .. ..*. ë ë A.- .-

Claims (9)

1 A cover for a conduit fitting for location within a wall recess which comprises sheets of preformed flexible cellular fire-retardant foam sponge joined together by an intumescent adhesive to form a cover open on one of its sides and dimensioned to define a reasonably snug fit about the external walls of an open-sided conduit fitting, and means for securing the cover to one or more of the walls which define the recess, each sheet of the cover being coated firstly with a primer solution including a sealant and secondly with a flowable coating of a fire- retardant material, the primer solution operating to close the open pores of the said at least one surface and to provide a bond to which the fireretardant coating can adhere. .
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises .
. metallic fixing strips which extend from and generally normal to the base of the cover and protrude from the adjoining upstanding cover wall by a predetermined distance, the protruding end including an aperture through which a pin or screw can pass to secure the cover to the neighbouring edge of a wall in which the cover is positioned. .e ë
3. A cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein the predetermined distance is equivalent to the thickness of a plasterboard sheet.
4. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein all surfaces of the foam or sponge sheets are coated firstly with the primer solution including a sealant and secondly with the flowable fire retardant material.
5. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the primer solution comprises an aqueous solution of an acrylic copolymer which includes ammonium polyphosphate.
6. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fireretardant coating comprises a chlorinated vinyl copolymer system which includes a quantity of ammonium polyphosphate, zinc borate and/or magnesium and/or calcium carbonates.
7. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the foam or sponge comprises polyurethane.
8. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the foam or sponge comprises a silicone coated with a silane primer.
9. A fire proofed cover substantially as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings ..
A :e ..
GB0421839A 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket. Withdrawn GB2418784A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421839A GB2418784A (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket.
GB0708671A GB2435576B (en) 2004-10-01 2005-07-05 Fireproofed covers for conduit fittings
PCT/GB2005/002619 WO2006037939A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2005-07-05 Fireproofed covers for conduit fittings

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421839A GB2418784A (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0421839D0 GB0421839D0 (en) 2004-11-03
GB2418784A true GB2418784A (en) 2006-04-05

Family

ID=33427904

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0421839A Withdrawn GB2418784A (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 A fire resistant cover for an electrical conduit or socket.
GB0708671A Expired - Fee Related GB2435576B (en) 2004-10-01 2005-07-05 Fireproofed covers for conduit fittings

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0708671A Expired - Fee Related GB2435576B (en) 2004-10-01 2005-07-05 Fireproofed covers for conduit fittings

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2418784A (en)
WO (1) WO2006037939A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2449088A (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-12 V Cut Ltd Insulation device for electrical outlets
EP3646922A3 (en) * 2018-10-29 2020-07-29 Martin Elze Fire protection construction or fire protection system for wrapping a cable or a line and corresponding uses
GB2582544A (en) * 2019-03-14 2020-09-30 Hoody Speaker Hoods Ltd Covers for electrical appliances

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2583735A (en) 2019-05-07 2020-11-11 Intumescent Systems Ltd Cable trays

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4087624A (en) * 1976-05-17 1978-05-02 Hitchcock Robert A Fire shield for electrical box
US4616104A (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-10-07 Lindsey Travis C Fire resistant electrical junction boxes
US4667840A (en) * 1984-11-16 1987-05-26 Lindsey Travis C Fire-resistant electrical junction boxes and method of manufacture
GB2277871A (en) * 1993-05-14 1994-11-16 Environmental Seals Ltd Fire resistant containers
JP2002209321A (en) * 2001-01-10 2002-07-26 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd Fire preventing and resisting construction of flush-type box
GB2391716A (en) * 2002-08-02 2004-02-11 Environmental Seals Ltd Fire retardant cover for a conduit

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9019975D0 (en) 1990-09-12 1990-10-24 Smiths Industries Plc Display assemblies
US5498466A (en) * 1993-03-12 1996-03-12 International Protective Coatings Corp. Intumescent composite
GB9501391D0 (en) * 1995-01-25 1995-03-15 Environmental Seals Ltd Ventilated covers for electrical fittings
EP0982522A3 (en) * 1998-08-19 2001-05-16 Friatec Aktiengesellschaft Fire stop device
GB2359265B (en) 2000-02-18 2003-09-03 Environmental Seals Ltd Flexible seal

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4087624A (en) * 1976-05-17 1978-05-02 Hitchcock Robert A Fire shield for electrical box
US4616104A (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-10-07 Lindsey Travis C Fire resistant electrical junction boxes
US4667840A (en) * 1984-11-16 1987-05-26 Lindsey Travis C Fire-resistant electrical junction boxes and method of manufacture
GB2277871A (en) * 1993-05-14 1994-11-16 Environmental Seals Ltd Fire resistant containers
JP2002209321A (en) * 2001-01-10 2002-07-26 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd Fire preventing and resisting construction of flush-type box
GB2391716A (en) * 2002-08-02 2004-02-11 Environmental Seals Ltd Fire retardant cover for a conduit

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2449088A (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-12 V Cut Ltd Insulation device for electrical outlets
GB2449088B (en) * 2007-05-09 2012-03-07 V Cut Ltd Insulation device for insertion into a wall requiring insulation
EP3646922A3 (en) * 2018-10-29 2020-07-29 Martin Elze Fire protection construction or fire protection system for wrapping a cable or a line and corresponding uses
GB2582544A (en) * 2019-03-14 2020-09-30 Hoody Speaker Hoods Ltd Covers for electrical appliances
GB2582544B (en) * 2019-03-14 2022-03-30 Hoody Speaker Hoods Ltd Covers for electrical appliances

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006037939A1 (en) 2006-04-13
GB2435576B (en) 2008-11-05
GB0421839D0 (en) 2004-11-03
GB2435576A (en) 2007-08-29
GB0708671D0 (en) 2007-06-20

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)