Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C2/00—Fire prevention or containment
  • A62C2/06—Physical fire-barriers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
  • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
  • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C2/00—Fire prevention or containment
  • A62C2/06—Physical fire-barriers
  • A62C2/065—Physical fire-barriers having as the main closure device materials, whose characteristics undergo an irreversible change under high temperatures, e.g. intumescent
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
  • F24F2221/30—Details or features not otherwise provided for comprising fireproof material

Definitions

• Passive fire resistant system for filling a space or gap confined by construction elements and a ⁇ prefabricated mult ilayered structure of such a system
• the invention is related to a passive fire resistant system for filling a space so that the system resists the spread of a nearby fire through the space.
• the invention is further related to a prefabricated raultilayered structure of such a system for filling spaces or gaps in constructions.
• Passive intends to reveal that the system does .not need, to be triggered by anything else other than a rise in temperature due to a nearby fire.
• Many constructions, offshore constructions and onshore constructions comprise purposely designed spaces or gaps in or between construction elements. These spaces or gaps may be formed between ceilings and walls in onshore constructions and facilitate positioning one construction elements relative to each other.
• the spaces or gaps may have the function of thermally or sound-wise insulating the construction elements from each other. Particularly in steel constructions (both onshore and offshore ⁇ such spaces or gaps may also have been designed to allow for differences in thermal expansion between the construction elements. This applied more in particular to so-called "blast-walls" and floors.
• the spaces and gaps may be relatively large and do sometimes need to be filled by an element that still provides some mechanical stability. Examples can be found between modularly built living units as placed on oil rigs or as used for expanding jails.
• Such spaces or gaps are designed to be kept free from cables and/or pipes etc.
• a space could, however, be formed by a coaming in a steel construction such as an offshore oil rig or onboard of a vessel, or a window-type space in a stone or concrete wall. It is possible that such a space or gap allows in essence for future incorporation of further infrastructurai facilities such as electricity cables, sewage pipes etc.
• further infrastructurai facilities such as electricity cables, sewage pipes etc.
• spaces or gaps are always intended ro be present and are never intended to be used for transit of further infrastructurai facilities.
• all such spaces or gaps referred to above are normally required to be sealed off, so that in case of a nearby fire, the fire is not likely to spread through such spaces or gaps throughout the construction.
• systems are available for sealing such spaces or gaps in the prior art, also referred to as "openings" .
• WO2004/096369 describes a fire resistant material based on an elastomeric foam with a substantially closed-cell structure in which a foam, at least crust-forming fire retardant material and a pH-neutralized graphite material are incorporated.
• this material expands upon exposure to heat in the direction which is not directly exposed to the nearby fire.
• the sealing is lengthened in a direction in which the temperature decreases.
• the material offers longer protection against the effect of fire and/or extreme heat.
• This material is very suitable for relatively small spaces or gaps. -Where the space or gap is large, it cannot offer much mechanical stability .
• WO2005/078884 describes such a system for sealing an opening in a wall, using first and second fire resistant parts for at least temporary fire resistant- sealing of such an opening.
• the first parts are manufactured substantially from a fire resistant rubber and/or fire resistant thermal plastic.
• the second parts are manufactured from a fire resistant material based on an eiastomeric foam.
• the first parts are sleeve shaped and comprise a slit for the purpose of being able to place it around the transport device such as a cable, conduit or tube.
• This system is exclusively dedicated to openings through which a cable, conduit or tube has been fed through. In other words, this system is not suitable for the spaces and gaps for which this disclosure provides a fire resistant system.
• the invention provides a passive fire resistant system for filling a space or gap confined by construction elements, for resisting the spread of a nearby fire through the space or gap.
• the system comprises at least two first layers of a first material which comprises a fire resistant elastomeric foam having a closed-cell structure.
• the system further comprises at least one second layer of a second material sandwiched between the two first layers.
• the second material comprises a polymer and each second layer has surfaces which, as an initial response to a rise in their temperature from room temperature, exhibits a transition into an adhesive. These first and second layers extend parallel to each other.
• the second material is stiffer than the first material.
• the at least one second layer is. adhesively sandwiched between two first layers by adhesive contact of the second layer with each of these first layers.
• At least three layers can as one unit rapidly and conveniently be placed in the space that needs to be filled with the passive fire resistant system. It is even possible to make a multi-layered structure of first and second layers in a size such that by placement of one unit of such a multi-structure the space is directly filled up with the passive fire resistant system.
• each first layer is sandwiched between two second layers of the second material.
• This has the advantage that a number of the outer layers of the passive fire resistant system are always of the second material. Upon increase of the temperature, the outer surfaces of these second layers will exhibit the transition into an adhesive and as such adhere the passive fire resistant system as placed in the space against the inner wall of that .space. This will provide an additional "cage” in which the passive fire resistant system will then be held, providing an additional counter-pressure against expansion of the elastomeric foam. In other words, it further contributes to maintaining the original state of the passive fire resistant system in that space, particularly maintaining the closed state of the cells in the elastomeric foam.
• each first layer is adhesively sandwiched between two second layers of the second material by adhesive contact of the second layers with the first layers.
• the outer layers are already fixed to the main body of layers so that the passive fire resistant system for filling a space can be considered a fully pre ⁇ fabricated unit that significantly reduces the time needed for installing the passive fire resistant system in such a space .
• the adhesive contact is a result of preheating a surface of a second layer, pressing that preheated surface against a surface of the first layer, and then letting the surfaces, which are pressed against each other, cool down.
• such a multi-layered structure can act as a so-called bridge bearing, which can carry loads of 12000 kg per m 2 .
• the polymer is a cross-linkable polymer.
• the second material may then as a result of a further rise in temperature adopt a rubber-like nature, and as such improves it stiffness. Consequently, it remains possible for the second material to continue suppressing expansion of the fire resistant elastomeric foam.
• the second material comprises a vulcanizing agent that is activated at a temperature above 140 °C.
• the second material comprises at least one component that causes the second material to thermally expand in a relatively low predetermined temperature range, of which a lowest temperature is above a temperature at which the transition into an adhesive is exhibited.
• the counter- pressure provided by the second material against the expansion of the fire resistant elastomeric foam can be maintained and even enhanced when the system is exposed to high temperatures.
• the second material will more strongly suppress such expansion of the closed cells, as the second material will expand itself. It follows that the insulating capacity of the system can be maintained for a longer period of time, even under the thermally more severe conditions.
• the at least one component is a thermally expandable graphite.
• That graphite is preferably a pH- neutralized graphite.
• the invention further provides a multi-layered structure for filling a space or gap confined by construction elements, for resisting the spread of a nearby fire through the space or gap and for providing mechanical stability between the construction elements.
• the structure comprises: at least two first layers of a first material which comprises a fire resistant elastomeric foam having a closed-cell structure; and at least one second layer of a second material adhesively sandwiched between two first layers so that the first and second layers extend parallel to each other.
• the second material comprises a polymer and is stiffer than the first material . .
• the multi-layered structure is a prefabricated passive fire resistant system which offers the advantage the layering itself does not have to take place at the construction site.
• This prefabricated multi-layered structure offers immediately the mechanical stability as it does not have to be built up layer by layer. Furthermore, there is no need to wait for a nearby fire, or to deliberately apply heat locally, to ensure that the second layer sandwiched between the first layers will adhesively bond to these first layers.
• the manufacturer of the multi-layered structure will, under carefully controlled circumstances, have ensured that optimal bonding between these layers has already taken place. It is possible to cut the prefabricated multi-layered structure on a construction site, so that it will be locally tailored for fitting in a space or gap of concern. However, it is of course also possible that the manufacturer produces the multi-layered structures in a predescribed dimension, so that even any cutting can be avoided at the construction site.
• Such a multi-layered structure can act as a bridge bearing, and carry a load of 12000 kg per m 2 , and accept a compression of about 40% without failure of the multi-layered structure.
• Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention as positioned within a space or gap confined by construction elements;
• FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention as positioned within a space confined by a coaming situated in a metal construction wall;
• FIG. 3 a third embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention.
• Fig 4 the third embodiment as compressed in a direction perpendicular to the firsr and second layers.
• Fig. 1 shows a. wall 1 built up from brick or concrete stones 2.
• a window-type opening is situated.
• This window-type opening is considered to be an example of a space or gap confined by construction elements. That space or gap is filled with a passive fire resistant system according to the invention.
• the system comprises a number of first layers 3 of a first material which comprises a fire resistant elastomeric foam having a closed-cell structure.
• a fire resistant elastomeric foam having a closed-cell structure.
• An example of such an elastomeric foam is described in WO2004/096369.
• the Applicant sells such a foam under the trademark name Actifoam.
• the phrase "having a closed-cell structure" is understood to mean a cell structure in which at least 60%, but more preferably at least 75% of the cells are closed. This provides good thermal insulation.
• the system further comprises a number of second layers 4 of a second material.
• the first and second layers 3, 4, extend parallel to each other.
• the second material comprises a polymer and each second layer 4 has surfaces which, as an initial response to a rise in their temperature from room temperature, exhibit a transition into an adhesive.
• the second material is stiffer than the first material.
• An example of the second, material is described in WO2009/090247, in which the second material is described as the material of which a device is made, referred to in WO2G09/090247 as device 6. the Applicant sells that material under the trade name ' RISE Ultra.
• the polymer is preferably a cross-linkable polymer.
• the polymer may be an EPDM, or preferably an ethylene acetate polymer (EVA) .
• the second material preferably comprises a vulcanizing agent that is activated at a temperature above about 140°C.
• each first layer 3 is sandwiched between two second layers 4 of the second material.
• Fig. 1 shows a second layer 4 at the very bottom of the space that is filled by the fire resistant system according to the invention, as well as at the top thereof.
• two layers of the second material are positioned vertically between the horizontally positioned layers and the vertical inner wall of the space. These second layers are referred to as second layers 4a.
• the second material may comprise at least one component that causes the second material to thermally expand in a relatively predetermined temperature range, of which the lowest temperature is above the temperature at which the transition into an adhesive is exhibited.
• the first material may comprise at least one component that causes the first material to thermally expand in a relatively high predetermined temperature range, of which the lowest temperature is above a temperature at which the surfaces of the second material exhibit a transition into an adhesive and is about at the temperature at which the vulcanizing agent is activated.
• a component may for both the first material and the second material be a thermally expandable graphite, which can be commercially obtained for expansion within different temperature ranges.
• the graphite is preferably pH-neutralized graphite.
• the first material may further comprise at least one crust-forming fire retardant component, for example, melaminephosphate .
• Each of the first layers has a thickness within the range varying from 1 - 4 cm, preferably within a range varying from 2 - 3 cm, even more preferably is about 2.5 cm. As shown, the thickness is preferably constant along the first layer. It is possible to make first layers for instance with a thickness of 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, etc.
• the second layer has preferably a thickness within the range varying from 1 - 4 mm, preferably from 2 - 3 mm, and even more ' preferable is about 2.5 mm.
• the fire resistant system particularly due to the cell structure in the first material will provide excellent heat insulation and inhibits the transfer of heat from the side exposed to the nearby fire to the side of the wall further away of the nearby fire.
• the side which is more directly exposed to the nearby fire is referred to as the exposed side.
• the side not directly exposed, to the nearby fire, is further down referred to as the "unexposed side".
• the surfaces of the second layer will exhibit a transition into an adhesive and as such become adherent to the surfaces of the first layer.
• the heated gas in the closed cells will cause the pressure in those cells to rise, expansion of those cells, let alone bursting of the cells, will be suppressed by the adhesion of cells to the stiffer second layer.
• the second material is stiffer than the first material, any deformation of the first material close to positions where the second material adheres to the first material will be suppressed. This lack of deformation of cells adhering to the second layer is in effect illustrated in Fig. 4.
• the upper end bottom second layer and the vertically positioned layers 4a may reach a temperature at which the transition into an adhesive occurs. This ensures that the system will be "glued” into the opening.
• regular hose stream test (a 6 bar water hose stream directed at the passive fire resistant system at the exposed side) from a predescribed distance of 6 m, there was not any leakage of water through the passive fire resistant system from the exposed side to the unexposed side.
• Applying a more severe hose stream test from only 4 m distance with full load resulted in removal of the char layer of the fire resistant system.
• the passive fire resistant system could only be removed as a single unit by cutting it ' out of the opening in the wall, as ail layers had clearly laminated to each other, particularly at the exposed side.
• Fig. 2 shows a passive fire resistant system in accordance with the invention as positioned within a so-called coaming 5 made of metal and welded against a metal construction element, such as a metal wail 6.
• the system itself is further as the system described with reference to Fig. 1, although the number of layers applied in the coaming 5 is visibly less than the layers applied in the opening shown in Fig. 1.
• heat input into the passive fire resistant system will now occur via two different routes.
• the temperature reached at positions deeper within the fire resistant system is higher than the temperature reached for the fire resistant system placed in a wall 1 as discussed above in relation to Fig. 1. Consequently, thefirst material will expand into the direction of least resistance, which in this case is toward the unexposed side. Parts of the most upper, most lower and vertical layers 4a which are situated at the unexposed side may only reach a temperature at which the transition into the adhesive occurs. This will assist in a fixing of the passive fire resistant system within the coaming 5, particularly toward the unexposed side. However, the inventor observed that under these circumstances expansion of the system occurred in a direction toward the unexposed side.
• FIG. 3 shows a sandwich structure for filling a space or gap confined by construction elements, for resisting the spread of a nearby fire through the space or gap.
• the structure comprises four first layers 3 of a first material which comprises a fire resistant elastomeric foam having a closed- cell structure; and three second layers 4 of a second material. Each second layer is adhesively sandwiched between two first layers. The first and second layers extend parallel to each other.
• Such a multi-layered sandwich structure may be formed by heating up a layer of the second material to about 100 °C at which surfaces of the second layer turn into a very adhesive. Such layers, preferably about 2.5 mm thick, are then under pressure sandwiched between two first layers. These multi-layers are then cooled down.
• the second material comprises polymer and is stiffer than the first material.
• each second layer is adhesively sandwiched between two first layers 3 by adhesive contact of the second layer 4 with each of these first layers 3.
• a number of first layers 3 are equally adhesively sandwiched between two second layers 4 of the second material.
• Those first layers 3 are adhesively sandwiched between two second layers 4 of the second material by adhesive contact of these second layers 4 with the first layer 3.
• the adhesive contact discussed above may be a result of preheating a surface of a second layer, pressing that preheated surface against a surface of a first layer 3 and then letting these surfaces which are pressed against each other cool down .
• the first layers 3 and the second layers 4 are as those described in relation to Fig. 1 and 2.
• Fig. 4 shows how such a sandwich structure responds to a compression into a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the layers 3, 4.
• the direction of compression is shown by the arrows C.
• the thickness of each first layer 3 is reduced, and the elastomer foam expands in the configuration shown in Fig. 4 somewhat sideways, it is clear that at the contact surfaces between the first layers 3 and the second layers 4, sideway expansion of the first layers 3 is suppressed.
• the structure acts as a so-called "bridge bearing".
• a sandwich structure shown in Fig. 4 a much higher compression force is needed to obtain a compression of say 40%, than the compression force needed for obtaining a compression of 40% in a stacking of four first layers 3 r without the sandwiching of the second layers 4.
• the multi- layered sandwich structure can carry a load of up to 12000 kg per m 2 .
• this prefabricated structure can offer direct mechanical stability where needed. As explained above, the response to exposure to a nearby fire, is aimed, at maintenance of the original state for as long as possible, and for a part of the system, as large as possible. The same applies to the mechanical stability.
• Such a prefabricated multi-layered sandwich structure is preferably applied with second layers at the cop and the bottom as well as sideways oriented in a vertical direction (see for example Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) .
• both the passive fire resistant system as well as the prefabricated multi-layered sandwich structure are applied, with these extra second layers of second, material at the bottom and at the top, as well as sideways in a vertical direction. So far, this has been to deliver an optimal effect.
• the second layers of second material within the multi-layers are thermally insulated, so that the mechanical stability at those positions is maintained.
• the layers at the bottom, top and sides of the system and structure are, particularly at the exposed side, not thermally insulated, and will turn into an adhesive, fixing the system and structure within the spaces or gaps against the construction elements by which these spaces or gaps or confined.
• Parts of the system and structure that are directly exposed to a high- rise in temperature trigger the crust formation of the first material and the thermal expansion of the second material toward the heat source. It forms a relatively thin but effective shield, ensuring that the part of the system and the structure further away from the heat sources and. insulated by the system and structure itself, maintain their original mechanical and thermal insulation properties.
• the invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments discussed above. Alterations and modifications are possible. It is, for instance, possible to design a multi-layered structure, to be prefabricated or to be put together on the construction site, wherein the first layers have a thickness that varies with their position within the structure and wherein the second layers have a thickness that varies with their position within the structure. The contribution of the various layers can then be optimized so that the overall response of the system even further meets the objectives outlined earlier on.

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
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• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• 2009
  • 2009-11-27 EP EP09177341A patent/EP2327453B1/en active Active
  • 2009-11-27 ES ES09177341T patent/ES2398789T3/es active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-05-25 KR KR1020127015780A patent/KR20120120169A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-05-25 US US13/512,200 patent/US20130055667A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-05-25 AU AU2010323409A patent/AU2010323409A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-05-25 WO PCT/EP2010/057128 patent/WO2011063998A1/en active Application Filing
• 2015
  • 2015-08-27 AU AU2015218505A patent/AU2015218505A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2017
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