Fire barrier system for building panels

Abstract

An expansion joint for building panels, such as concrete floor slabs, comprises a U-shaped drape of a flexible, fire-resistant, impermeable material such as stainless steel foil. The opposite legs of the U-shaped drape are fastened between respective adjacent slabs and a mat of expandable fire-resistant material inserted within the U-shaped drape between the slabs. The impermeability and flexibility of the drape, coupled with the insulating property of the mat provide an inexpensive, effective fire seal between building panels that can also accommodate seismic displacement.

1 . A fire-barrier expansion joint for insertion between adjacent building panels comprising: 
 a strip of flexible heat-resistant impermeable sheet material shaped to form an elongated trough with a generally U-shaped cross-section, and    an elongated mat of expandable fire-resistant material disposed within said trough.    
   
   
       2 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein the upper edge of each side of said trough is bent outwardly at approximately a right angle to said side.  
   
   
       3 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein said sheet material is stainless steel foil.  
   
   
       4 . The expansion joint of  claim 3  further comprising a layer of insulating material lining said trough.  
   
   
       5 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein said mat comprises a combination of non-combustible fibrous material and heat expandable particles.  
   
   
       6 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein said mat disposed within said trough is under compression.  
   
   
       7 . The expansion joint of  claim 6  wherein said mat under compression seals said trough to said adjacent building panels.  
   
   
       8 . The expansion joint of  claim 6  wherein said mat under compression holds said expansion joint against said adjacent building panels.  
   
   
       9 . The expansion joint of  claim 6  wherein said mat under compression locks said expansion joint to said adjacent building panels.  
   
   
       10 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein said mat disposed within said trough is configured to remain under compression.  
   
   
       11 . The expansion joint of  claim 1  wherein said mat disposed within said trough is configured to remain under compression when the distance between the adjacent building panels varies up to 50% from the distance between the adjacent building panels when said mat was inserted within said trough.  
   
   
       12 . A method for inserting a fire-barrier expansion joint between adjacent building panels comprising: 
 (a) inserting between said adjacent building panels a strip of flexible heat-resistant impermeable sheet material shaped to form an elongated trough with a generally U-shaped cross-section, and    (b) inserting an elongated mat of expandable fire-resistant material within said trough.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting under compression said elongated mat of expandable fire-resistant material within said trough.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting under sufficient compression said elongated mat of expandable fire resistant material within said trough so that said mat remains under compression when the distance between the adjacent building panels varies up to 50% from the distance between the adjacent building panels when said mat was inserted within said trough.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting under sufficient compression said elongated mat of expandable fire resistant material within said trough so that said mat remains under compression when the distance between the adjacent building panels varies up to 50% from the distance between the adjacent building panels when said mat was inserted within said trough and said trough remains sealed to said adjacent building panels.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting under sufficient compression said elongated mat of expandable fire resistant material within said trough so that said mat remains under compression when the distance between the adjacent building panels varies up to 50% from the distance between the adjacent building panels when said mat was inserted within said trough and said mat under compression holds said expansion joint against said adjacent building panels.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting under sufficient compression said elongated mat of expandable fire resistant material within said trough so that said mat remains under compression when the distance between the adjacent building panels varies up to 50% from the distance between the adjacent building panels when said mat was inserted within said trough and said mat under compression locks said expansion joint to said adjacent building panels.