Fire damper

Abstract

A fire damper for an air distribution system includes a body defining a flow path and a closure means adapted to close the flow path when a temperature within the flow path exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature. A first flange is fixed to the body and a mounting means comprising a second flange is slidably engageable with and removable from the body. The mounting means comprises securing means for securing the mounting means to the body such that a building element through which the fire damper extends, in use, can be clamped between the first and second flanges. A flexible insulating sleeve configured for use with a fire damper, and a method of installing a fire damper, are also disclosed.

What is claims is: 
     
         1 . A flexible insulating sleeve configured to surround a portion of a body of a fire damper in use, the sleeve comprising a high temperature insulating wool completely encased within a flexible casing. 
     
     
         2 . The flexible insulating sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is formed from a flexible metallic tape. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible insulating sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the metallic tape comprises metalized foil fibreglass fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible insulating sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating sleeve is substantially ring shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible insulating sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the high temperature wool comprises refractory ceramic wool fibre. 
     
     
         6 . A fire damper for an air distribution system, the fire damper comprising:
 a body defining a flow path;   a first flange which is fixed to the body;   a closure means comprising a rotatable plate, wherein the closure means is adapted to rotate the plate to a closed position when a temperature within the flow path exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature, thereby closing the flow path;   a holding means adapted to maintain the rotatable plate in an open position until the flow path exceeds the predetermined maximum temperature; and   a flexible insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  surrounding a portion of the body.   
     
     
         7 . The fire damper of  claim 6  further comprising a mounting means comprising a second flange which is slidably engageable with and removable from the body,
 wherein the mounting means comprises securing means for securing the mounting means to the body such that a building element through which the fire damper extends, in use, can be clamped between the first and second flanges. 
 
     
     
         8 . The fire damper of  claim 7 , wherein the body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . The fire damper of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting means comprises an adjustable ring. 
     
     
         10 . The fire damper of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second flanges are provided with an intumescent material on at least one face that abuts the building element when in use. 
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a fire damper according to  claim 7  in a cavity in a building element, the method comprising the steps of:
 i. inserting the flexible insulating sleeve within the cavity; 
 ii. inserting the body of the fire damper, with the mounting means removed, into the cavity through the insulating sleeve; 
 iii. positioning the first flange of the fire damper to abut a first side of the building element; and 
 iv. installing the mounting means onto the body and adjusting the mounting means such that the second flange abuts a second side of the building element and the building element is clamped between the first and second flanges. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of adjusting the mounting means comprises the step of tightening a hose clamp to clamp at least one tongue of the flange to the body of the fire damper.