Fire barrier devices

Abstract

A fire barrier device for use in a slab of settable material such as concrete, the fire barrier device being moulded integrally from a heat reactive expandable material and having a main body and a mounting flange for mounting the device to formwork defining one side of the slab during the construction of the slab. The fire barrier device has a reduced diameter region between the main body and mounting flange so that it will be retained within the slab. The main body may also include one or more grooves in its outer surface for cooperation with the material of the slab.

1 . A fire barrier device for use with a pipe passing though a wall, floor or ceiling of a building, said pipe having an outer diameter and said device having a substantially annular main body, said body comprising a wholly rigid self-supporting body and being moulded from a mouldable material containing a heat reactive expandable material, said body having a central axis and a bore moulded with said body and extending along said central axis, at least a portion of said bore having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said pipe.  
     
     
         2 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mouldable material includes a carrier or plasticiser.  
     
     
         3 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said mouldable material includes a fire retardant and a smoke suppressant.  
     
     
         4 . A fire barrier device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein said fire barrier device is injection moulded.  
     
     
         5 . A fire barrier device for use with a services pipe, said fire barrier device being moulded from a material containing a heat reactive expandable material and being wholly rigid and self-supporting, said fire barrier device having: 
 a central axis and first and second ends spaced apart along said central axis,    an axial passage extending along said central axis from said first end to said second end for receipt of said pipe,    a radially extending main heat expandable body centered on said central axis, said main body having a maximum outer diameter,    mounting means at said second end for mounting said fire barrier device, said mounting means comprising one of an annular flange or a plurality of lugs, and    wherein said fire barrier device has a reduced diameter region between said main body and said mounting means, the outer diameter of said reduced diameter region being less than the maximum outer diameter of said main body.    
     
     
         6 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  and including a collar centered on said central axis at said first end of said barrier device, said collar being formed integrally with said main body and defining a portion of said axial passage.  
     
     
         7 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said axial passage is radially enlarged adjacent said mounting means.  
     
     
         8 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said reduced diameter region is defined by an annular wall.  
     
     
         9 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said main body has an outer surface and wherein an annular groove centered on said central axis is formed in said outer surface.  
     
     
         11 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said main body has an outer surface and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said main body is curved.  
     
     
         12 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said main body is of a substantially spherical or part spherical configuration.  
     
     
         13 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said main body is stepped outwardly along said central axis from said second end.  
     
     
         14 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said axial passage has a first portion adjacent said first end of said device and a second portion larger than the first portion at or adjacent said second end of said device, said first portion having an internal diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said services pipe.  
     
     
         15 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 5  in combination with a services pipe and a slab of a settable material, said pipe having an external diameter and said barrier device being encased within said slab and said bore having a portion of internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of said pipe.  
     
     
         16 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said slab of settable material is constructed on formwork defining one side of said slab and wherein said mounting means is adapted to secure said fire barrier device to said formwork.  
     
     
         17 . A fire barrier device for use with a services pipe, said fire barrier device comprising a body moulded from a material containing a heat reactive expandable material, said body being a self-supporting and wholly rigid body, said body having: 
 a central axis and first and second ends spaced apart along said central axis,    an axial bore extending along said central axis from said first end to said second end for receipt of said pipe,    a radially extending main heat expandable portion between said first end and said second end and centered on said central axis, said main heat expandable portion having a maximum transverse dimension in a direction normal to said central axis,    mounting means at said second end for mounting said fire barrier device, and    wherein said fire barrier device has, between said main heat expandable portion and said mounting means, a region of a transverse dimension less than the maximum transverse dimension of said main heat expandable portion.    
     
     
         18 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 17  and including a collar centered on said central axis at said first end of said barrier device, said collar being integrally moulded with said main heat expandable portion, said collar defining a portion of said axial bore.  
     
     
         19 . A fire barrier device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said axial bore is radially enlarged adjacent said mounting means.  
     
     
         20 . The fire barrier device of  claim 17  in combination with a slab of settable material and a said services pipe passing through said slab of settable material, said slab being constructed on formwork which defines a first side of said slab, and said barrier device being encased within said slab with said pipe passing through said axial bore.  
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein said pipe has an external diameter and wherein said axial bore has a first portion at said first end of the body and a second portion larger than the first portion at or adjacent the second end of the body and opening to said first side of said slab, said first portion of said bore having a diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of said pipe for engagement with and support of said pipe.  
     
     
         22 . A fire barrier device in combination with a pipe passing through a slab of a settable material, said pipe having an external diameter and said barrier device being encased within said slab and comprising: 
 a main body moulded from a mouldable material containing a heat reactive expandable material, said main body having first and second opposite ends and an axial bore extending therethrough and receiving said pipe, said main body being a wholly rigid body; and    a collar at said first end of, and moulded integrally with main body, said collar being coaxial with said axial bore and having an internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of said pipe so as to engage and support said pipe.    
     
     
         23 . The combination as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said main body is of substantially annular form and extends radially of said pipe.  
     
     
         24 . The combination as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said main body has a radially outer surface and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said main body is curved.  
     
     
         25 . The combination as claimed in  claim 22  and including mounting means at or adjacent said second end of said main body for mounting said fire barrier device.  
     
     
         26 . The combination as claimed in  claim 25  and including an annular wall coaxial with said axial bore between said mounting means and said main body, said main body extending radially outwardly of said annular wall.  
     
     
         27 . The combination as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said mounting means comprises one of an annular flange or a plurality of lugs.  
     
     
         28 . The combination as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said main body has an outer surface and at least one groove in said outer surface for cooperation with the material of said slab.  
     
     
         29 . In combination, a fire barrier device, a slab formed of a settable material, and a pipe surrounded by said fire barrier device, said slab having a first side and said pipe having an external diameter, said fire barrier device being encased within said slab and being located adjacent to said first side of said slab and comprising: 
 a main body moulded from a mouldable material containing a heat reactive expandable material, said main body having a central axis and being a wholly rigid body, said main body having a maximum transverse dimension at a position along said axis spaced from said first side of said slab,    a passage extending through said barrier device along said axis and moulded integrally with said main body, at least a portion of said passage having a diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of said pipe so as to engage with and support said pipe,    and wherein the transverse dimension of said main body adjacent said one side of said slab is less than said maximum transverse dimension.    
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 29  wherein said main body is of substantially annular form and extends radially of the pipe.  
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 30  wherein said main body has an outer surface and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said main body is curved.  
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 29  wherein said main body is of a substantially spherical or part spherical configuration.  
     
     
         33 . A fire barrier device in combination with a pipe located within a slab of a settable material, said pipe having an external diameter and said barrier device being encased within said slab and having: 
 a central axis and first and second ends spaced apart along said central axis,    a passage extending along said central axis and receiving said pipe, said passage having a portion of an internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of said pipe,    a main body heat expandable body moulded from a mouldable material containing a heat reactive expandable material, said main body being centered on said central axis and extending radially outwardly relative to said central axis, said body having a maximum outer diameter and being wholly rigid;    mounting means at said second end for mounting said fire barrier device, said mounting means comprising one of an annular flange or a plurality of lugs, and    wherein said fire barrier device has a region between said main body and said mounting means of an outer diameter less than the maximum outer diameter of said main body.