Autoclaved aerated concrete fire sentry encasements

Abstract

A fireproofing method for structural building construction members is disclosed. The method includes encasing a portion of each building construction member with autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) elements profiled to surround exterior profiles of the portion of the each building construction member.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Fireproofing comprising: 
 a plurality of pre-formed, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) elements profiled to surround the exterior profiles of building construction members.    
     
     
         2 . The fireproofing of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 one or more fasteners configured to retain the plurality of AAC elements when assembled with the building construction members.  
 
     
     
         3 . The fireproofing of  claim 2  wherein the one or more fasteners comprise spiral fasteners configured to be driven into one or more AAC elements.  
     
     
         4 . The fireproofing of  claim 1  further comprising mortar.  
     
     
         5 . The fireproofing of  claim 4  wherein the mortar is configured for binding the plurality of AAC elements to the exterior profiles of the building construction members.  
     
     
         6 . The fireproofing of  claim 4  wherein the mortar comprises a fire refractory clay modified thin bed mortar.  
     
     
         7 . The fireproofing of  claim 1  wherein one or more AAC elements are pre-cast to match an exterior profile of a portion of a building construction member.  
     
     
         8 . The fireproofing of  claim 7  wherein two or more AAC elements are pre-cast to match in surrounding, joining relationship the exterior profile of the portion of the building construction member.  
     
     
         9 . The fireproofing of  claim 1  wherein one or more AAC elements are shaped to match an exterior profile of a portion of a building construction member.  
     
     
         10 . The fireproofing of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a spray-applied mixture including aerated concrete.  
 
     
     
         11 . The fireproofing of  claim 10  wherein the spray-applied mixture fills one or more cavities around the exterior profiles of the building construction members not covered by the AAC elements.  
     
     
         12 . A fireproofing method for structural building construction members, the method comprising: 
 encasing at least a portion of each building construction member with autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) elements profiled to surround exterior profiles of the portion of the each building construction member.    
     
     
         13 . The fireproofing method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 spray-applying aerated concrete to fill voids between the AAC elements.  
 
     
     
         14 . The fireproofing method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 spray-applying aerated concrete to encase joints between the AAC elements.  
 
     
     
         15 . The fireproofing method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 mortaring the AAC elements to the portion of the each building construction member.  
 
     
     
         16 . The fireproofing method of  claim 15  wherein mortaring the AAC elements comprises applying a refractory clay modified thin bed mortar suitable for use with autoclaved aerated concrete blocks.  
     
     
         17 . The fireproofing method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 driving fasteners into two or more AAC elements to join the two or more AAC elements.  
 
     
     
         18 . The fireproofing method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 driving fasteners into one or more AAC elements and one or more aerated concrete elements to join elements.  
 
     
     
         19 . The fireproofing method of  claim 18  wherein driving fasteners comprises: 
 driving spiral stainless steel fasteners with a rotary hammer drill.