Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02767756 2012-02-08
Line Element Lead-through
Technical Area
The invention relates to a line element lead-through that is sealed against
fire and flue gas for passages
in walls and ceilings, the invention especially relates to a line lead-through
of an intumescent foam.
State of the Art
For fire protection purposes, lead-throughs of line elements, e.g. pipes or
cables or the like, through walls
or ceilings must be provided with a so-called barrier or a fitting in order to
prevent flames and especially
smoke and poisonous gases from spreading from room to room or between floors
if there is a fire.
In the fittings of rooms, the lead-throughs and lead-through openings for
cables, pipes and the like are
problematic since they were not installed until after completion of the entire
installation, i.e. retrofit, and
also can only be retrofitted after the routing of the cables and pipes.
In many cases, the wall lead-throughs either remain open or are only closed in
a preliminary manner with
mineral wool or stone wool cut to size. In order to pass the cables and lines
through, these stoppers must
be removed again, whereby after the lines and cables are passed through, the
lead-throughs have to
finally be closed using fire-resistant mortar, stone wool or mineral wool
inserts.
However, it is often necessary that lines must be routed long after the
installation is complete. This is the
case, above all, when new rooms are produced in older buildings. For this
purpose, drywall is often used.
However, even during remodeling and/or renovation of public buildings,
schools, hospitals, office
buildings and special buildings, drywalls are created more and more
frequently. The firewalls are often
such drywalls. The drywalls consist of sandwich-type plasterboard and are
hollow or filled with mineral
wool. Therefore, it is possible to route installations, especially
distribution of cables, in these walls.
In addition to the classic cable lead-throughs, cables are frequently threaded
out from these walls. For
smaller individual cables, no complicated fire protection measures must be
taken. Sealing with plaster or
sealing compound is sufficient. Thicker cables, small cable bundles, empty
pipes or several individual
cables would have to be sealed depending on the configuration, with the
approved fire protection system.
The rules on how all of this must be designed are different, so the skilled
tradesman is uncertain during
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the installation of how the line lead-through must be sealed. In addition, to
date it was necessary to close
the line lead-throughs so that they are sealed against fire and flue gas
immediately after installation of the
cables. During production of lead-throughs in fire-resistant components that
are only equipped with lines
much later, the problem resulted that up to the time the openings are equipped
they have to be sealed so
that they are fire-tight and sealed against flue gas. Equipping the openings
required several work steps
for leading the lines through and sealing the spaces that developed again so
they are sealed against fire
and flue gas. To date, this has not been possible using simple means.
The cable boxes that were previously commonly used are complicated, especially
when later fitting them
with cables and/or pipes. The difficulty consists in that the (subsequent)
openings have to be sealed
against flue gas.
EP 0321664 discloses a seal for lead-throughs in walls, ceilings, etc. that is
sealed against flue gas and
fire that consists of a molded element designed as a conical stopper of an
elastically deformable
intumescent material. The stopper is deformable with dimensional stability so
it can be pressed through
the lead-through and can seal it tightly. In the stopper, lead-through holes
can be formed for sealed
holding of pipes and/or lines. However, the lead-through holes must be adapted
to the respective pipe
and/or line diameters, in order to be able to seal tightly. Thus, a
considerable amount of work is required
for subsequent equipping of the stopper with cables or lines, which makes the
system inflexible and
susceptible to errors. When they are equipped with several cables or lines,
the problem also results that
because of its thickness the material does not seal the gussets and gaps that
occur, so these have to
additionally be sealed with special sealing compounds.
An arrangement for a lead-through of a long molded part through a wall that is
sealed against flue gas is
known from EP 2 273 637 A2. The fire protection element consists of a sleeve
of intumescent material or
a plastic sleeve with an inner and/or outer coating of intumescent material.
However, the arrangement
itself is not sealed against flue gas, so it cannot be used if the component
lead-through is not equipped. In
addition, the arrangement has the disadvantage that equipping it with several
long molded parts (line
elements) is impossible because of the less flexible sleeve.
Generally, compliance with the 60% rule for cable seals with official approval
causes great problems,
according to which only up to max. 60% of the opening cross section must be
filled with cables for
openings in firewalls and ceilings. In practice, this is difficult to evaluate
when this limit is reached or
exceeded.
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Explanation of the Invention
Therefore, the invention is based on the object of providing a line element
lead-through that is simple in
design, easy to handle and cost-effective for lead-throughs in component parts
like fire protection ceilings
and walls that can be installed in a simple way after creation of the
components and permits a sealing of
the lead-throughs that is fire and flue gas resistant even if the lead-
throughs are not equipped.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the line element
lead-through is characterized by
a molded element of an elastically deformable intumescent material designed as
a sleeve and closed on
at least one side.
Advantageous further developments of the invention can be found in the
subclaims.
In the figures:
FIG. 1 shows a line element lead-through according to a first embodiment
according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the line element lead-through shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a line element lead-through according to
FIG. 1 inserted in a
component opening equipped with a cable;
FIG. 4 shows a line element lead-through according to a second embodiment
according to the
invention;
FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a line element lead-through according to
FIG. 4 inserted in a
component opening and equipped with a cable.
In the sense of the present invention, the following definitions are used:
"elastically deformable" means that the material of which the line element
lead-through consists is
sufficiently elastic so that pressing it together is possible without
problems, i.e. without exerting a great
deal of force, say by hand, and the line element lead-through again assumes
its original shape;
"form fitting" means that the line element lead-through contacts the inner
wall of the component
lead-through directly not only in one spot but over a certain area and forms a
contact surface;
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"intumescent material" means an intumescent foam material that carbonizes at
temperatures
starting at approx. 150 C and/or the effect of flame with multiple increases
in volume; an intumescent
material according to the invention that can be used is described, for
example, in DE 3917518 or
US 3574664;
"ash forming" means that the foam carbonizes without significant intumescence;
"line element" means cables like electrical cables, lines, empty pipes, pipes,
bundles of lines or
pipes and the like;
"seal" means that in a one-piece hollow molded element, the base and/or the
cover surface is
closed;
"opening cross section" means the cross section of the line element lead-
through that can be
equipped with cables.
The line element lead-through according to the invention is advantageously
formed so that it can be slid
manually into a circular or oval passage through the wall. Because of a slight
excess dimension of the
shape designed as a sleeve and the elastically deformable material, after
sliding in, the line element
feed-through contacts the inner wall of the passage with a specified pressure
and seals it. More precisely,
this is achieved when the outer diameter of the line element lead-through is
somewhat larger than that of
the diameter of the component opening. Preferably the outer diameter is 1 to 5
mm larger than the
diameter of the component opening, and greatly preferred 2 to 3 mm.
The elastically deformable material of which this consists also makes possible
sealing against fire and
flue gas after the introduction of at least one line. The cables passed
through compress the pierced wall
of the line element lead-through and thus generate an extensive sealing
against flue gas.
The general construction approval no. Z-19.15-349 prescribes that the entire
permissible cross section of
the installation, related to the respective outer dimensions, must be no more
than 60% of the rough
opening in total, the so-called 60% rule. Accordingly, the line element lead-
through according to the
invention is designed so that the free opening of the truncated cone
corresponds to the opening cross
section and thus 60% of the cross section of the component opening. Thus, the
opening of the truncated
cone can be filled completely with line elements without violating the 60%
rule. Cables and empty pipes
are led through individually or as bundles up to this max. inner diameter.
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According to the invention, the molded element consists of an ash-forming
and/or intumescent foam. This
makes it possible to create the component lead-throughs prophylactically and
in spite of them being filled,
sealing them at temperatures starting from approx. 150 C and/or with the
effective flame against passage
of air and/or smoke and only passing the line elements through when necessary.
Preferably the line element lead-through is designed as one piece.
In a preferred embodiment, the line element lead-through is provided on the
base surface with a flange-
like edging that points radially outward. This prevents, for one thing,
sliding the line element lead-through
too far into the opening, preventing the line element lead-through, for
example, from falling into the hollow
space of drywalls. In addition, the edging additionally seals the component
opening in the case of a fire
whether it is filled with a line element or not.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the molded element of
the line element lead-
through is closed on its cover surface in order to form a seal. In general, it
does not matter whether the
base or the cover surface of the molded element is closed, or both. Both
permit a sealing of the
component passage that is sealed against fire and flue gas. However, a molded
element that is closed on
one side is simpler and less expensive to manufacture without any sacrifice to
its functionality, so this
embodiment is highly preferred whereby it is especially preferred if the
molded element is closed on its
cover surface.
The wall thickness of the molded element should be selected depending on the
size of the component
passage to be sealed and accordingly the size of the line element lead-through
to be used so that, for one
thing, there is no negative effect on the flexibility of the line element lead-
through and, for another, a form-
fitting seal of the component passage is ensured. However, the wall of the
molded element must be at
least thick enough so that the cross section of the free opening to be
equipped is no greater than 60% of
the cross section of the component opening. If the wall thickness is too
great, the line element lead-
through is not form-fit on the component passage and the outer wall of the
component, which means that
sealing against flue gas is no longer ensured.
Preferably the wall thickness d, is 5 to 20 mm, more preferably 8 to 16 mm,
but at least thick enough so
that the 60% rule is not violated. For a hole of 4 cm 0, the area 12.6 cm2
must be filled 7.5 cm2 according
to the 60% rule, this corresponds to a 0 of 3.1 cm. Thus the wall thickness
must be at least 5 mm. For a
hole with 6 cm 0, the wall thickness would thus be 7 mm and for 10 cm 0 it
would be 11 mm.
With a wall thickness of less than 5 mm, the material of the line element lead-
through is not adequate to
create adequate intumescence and an adequately stable ash crust for sealing
the component passage in
CA 02767756 2012-02-08
the case of fire. In addition, during (subsequent) equipping of the line
element lead-through with line
elements, the molded element would be susceptible to cracks so sealing against
flue gas could no longer
be ensured.
The wall thickness d2 of the seal is less than the remaining molded part in
order to make it easier to
pierce it with a line element. However, it must be selected such that after
piercing, the seal lies form-fit on
the line element so that in case of fire an adequate sealing against flue gas
is ensured. Preferably the
wall thickness is 2 to 8 mm, more preferably 3 to 6 mm.
In another embodiment of the invention, the seal has predetermined breaking
points to make it easier to
pierce the seal. The specified breaking points are distinguished in that the
material of the molded element
is thinner at these points than the wall, preferably between 1 and 4 mm, and
more preferably between 2
and 3 mm. In addition, these spots have a specific shape. For example, the
specified breaking points can
be circular, star-shaped or cross-shaped, whereby the geometry of the
specified breaking point is not
restricted. For example, the specified breaking point can also consist of
several individual specified
breaking points, circles of different diameters lying inside each other.
In a preferred embodiment, the molded element is designed as a truncated cone.
Because of this, there is
a certain flexibility when the line element lead-through is not completely
filled, say with only one line
element or a line element with a diameter that is smaller than the opening
diameter of the line element,
without having a negative influence on the sealing against flue gas.
Preferably the seal is designed as a membrane.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the molded element is designed as
a truncated cone.
Because of the shape designed as a truncated cone, a case is achieved in which
the user has a certain
amount of freedom during selection of the line elements so that a line element
lead-through can hold and
seal at least one line element of different thickness/diameter.
In another alternative embodiment, the molded element is designed as a
cylinder. In this way, better
sealing against flue gas can be achieved since the longish element can better
compensate or bridge
unevenness in the walls of the component passage.
The length I of the molded element is preferably 3 to 6 cm, and more
preferably 3.5 to 5 cm, no matter
whether it is designed as a truncated cone or a cylinder.
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On its outside, the cylindrical molded element preferably has at least one
bead running around it radially
that is arranged at a distance from the flange-like edging. When there are
several beads, these are also
arranged at a distance from each other. The (first) bead is arranged at a
distance from the flange-like
edging so that with a sandwich-type plasterboard, a lock is formed directly
behind it that prevents or will
make it more difficult for the line element lead-through to fall out or be
pulled out unintentionally when the
line element is pulled through or if there is a light pull on the line element
lead-through. In Germany, the
thickness of a standard sandwich-type plasterboard panel is 12.5 mm and in the
USA 16 mm, so the
distance of the (first) bead from the flange-like edging is 12.5 mm or 16 mm,
respectively, starting from
the edge of the flange-like edging contacting the component. If thicker walls
are required, generally
two (double panels) or more of the sandwich-type plasterboards are placed
behind each other. In order to
prevent pulling it out unintentionally from the double paneled wall, a second
bead is provided that
according to the invention is arranged at a distance from the first bead so
that the distance of the second
bead with respect to the flange-like edging is the thickness of the paneling,
namely 25 mm or 32 mm,
respectively, starting from the edge of the flange-like edging contacting the
component. If no flange-like
edging is provided, the distances are measured from the front edge of the line
element lead-through.
In axial direction, the bead has a thickness from 4 to 6 mm. The thickness in
radial direction is 2 to 4 mm.
In a preferred embodiment of the cylindrical molded element, the seal in the
molded element is mounted
at a distance from the end that is opposite the opening, i.e. that is located
in the component hole in the
component after introduction of the line element lead-through. The part of the
molded element projecting
beyond the seal then forms a guide, which makes it easier to pass line
elements from the inside of the
drywall.
The molded element is manufactured using mold-foaming with reaction foams
(RIM) according to DE
3917518, e.g. with Fomox fire-resistant foam or with the material HILTI CP
65GN that forms an
insulating layer. Materials that can be used for the purposes of the invention
are known from EP 0061024
Al, EP 0051106 Al, EP 0043952 Al, EP 0158165 Al, EP 0116846A1 and US
3,396,129A as well as EP
1347549 Al. Preferably the molded element consists of polyurethane foam
capable of intumescence as
known from EP 0061024 Al, DE 3025309 Al, DE 3041731 Al, DE 3302416 A and DE
3411 327 Al.
Exemplary embodiments according to the invention will be explained in the
following with the use of the
drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a line element lead-through of a molded element 1 designed as a
truncated cone with a
flange-like edging 2 that points radially outward according to one embodiment
of the invention in which
the base surface of the truncated cone forms the opening 3 and the closed
cover surface of the truncated
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cone forms the seal 4. In this figure, the specified breaking point 5 in the
form of a star can be seen that is
designed on the seal 4.
FIG. 2 shows the truncated cone shape of the molded element 1 with a length I,
wherein the material
thickness d, of the edging 2 is not included, a wall thickness of the molded
element d1, and a wall
thickness d2 of the seal 4. The thinner specified breaking point 5 that is
arranged in the center of the seal
is also indicated opposite the wall thickness d2 of the seal 4.
FIG. 3 shows the barrier of an opening 7 in a component 6 with line element
lead-through according to
FIG. 1 according to the invention, through which a line element 8 in the form
of a cable is passed. From
the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in which the outer diameter of the molded
element 1, in which the
edging 2 is not considered, is slightly larger than the diameter D of the
component opening 7, it is clear
how the excess dimension of the outer diameter of the molded element leads to
a greater contact surface
between the inner wall 9 of the component opening7, whereby good sealing
against flue gas is
achieved, and on the other, a friction fitting self-locking of the line
element lead-through is achieved.
Thus, the line element lead-through can be fastened adequately tightly in the
component opening 7
without additional tools, whereby falling out is prevented and unintended
pulling out is made more difficult.
In addition, it can be seen how the seal 4 seals the line element 8.
FIG. 4 shows a line element lead-through of a molded element I designed as a
cylinder with a flange-like
edging 2, an opening 3, a seal 4 and two beads 11 and 12 according to a second
alternative embodiment
according to the invention.
FIG. 5 shows the barrier of an opening 7 in a component 6 that consists of two
sandwich-type
plasterboards (double paneled drywall) with the line element lead-through
according to the embodiment
according to FIG. 4 when equipped with a line element 8. It can be seen from
this that the second bead
12 engages behind the second plasterboard panel and thus forms a lock against
unintentional pulling out
of the line element lead-through. Because of the elastically deformable
material of which the molded
element 1 consists, the first bead 11 is compressed, whereby additionally a
clamping of the line element
lead-through with the inner wall 7 of the component opening 6 is achieved.
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