Fire-barrier systems having male and female coupling ends providing for one-step drop-in installation into straight-line and intersecting expansion-spaces

Abstract

Fire-barriers systems, including pre-assembled intersection and straight-line fire-barriers having either male-coupling ends, female-coupling ends or both types provide for the elimination of on-site cutting and construction for easy, rapid, and safe one-step, drop-in installation and coupling. Both the intersection and straight-line fire-barriers are constructed as single-piece continuous units for use in intersection spaces formed by intersection of expansion-joint-spaces and in straight-line architectural expansion-joint-spaces to prevent migration of gases, flame, and smoke throughout a building. Indirect attachment of the layers to each other and to their solid support brackets provides for no continuous opening throughout the barriers preventing passage of smoke, fire, and gases therethrough. Each style barrier is provided with an optional one-step, one-person, drop-in, reusable, width adjustable installation tool.

1 . A fire-barrier for sealing a dynamic expansion-space between building units, comprising:
 a plurality of layers containing,
 at least one protective blanket ( 6 ) 
 at least one insulation blanket ( 14 ,  24 , and/or  34 ), and 
 at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ), 
   at least two support brackets ( 30 ,  32 ) each to be fastened to an opposing building unit, and   at least one fastener ( 40   a,    50   a,    40   b,  or  50   b ) for attaching at least one of said layers to at least another one of said layers and to at least one support bracket ( 30 ,  32 ) providing that when the layers are all so attached no fastener penetrates all of the layers.   
     
     
         2 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising some of said plurality of layers stacked one on top of each other providing for at least a first stack of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other and some other of said plurality of layers stacked one on top of each other providing for at least a second stack of some of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other, said first stack and said second stack positioned parallel and adjacent to each other so that the long axis of each stack is aligned in the same plane and being lengthwise offset from each other providing for one lengthwise end to have a male projection coupling structure and for the other lengthwise end to have a female receiving coupling structure. 
     
     
         3 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising said plurality of layers being all of the same length. 
     
     
         4 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fire-barrier is structured for sealing a straight-line dynamic expansion-space. 
     
     
         5 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fire-barrier is structured for sealing an intersection dynamic expansion-space. 
     
     
         6 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said brackets are solid, rigid L-brackets. 
     
     
         7 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein one of each of said L-brackets projects from each side of the expansion-space to maintain said layers within said expansion space. 
     
     
         8 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one protective blanket ( 6 ) supports at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ). 
     
     
         9 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ) supports at least one insulation blanket ( 14 ,  24 , and/or  34 ). 
     
     
         10 . A fire-barrier for sealing a dynamic expansion-space between building units, comprising:
 a plurality of layers containing,
 at least one protective blanket ( 6 ) supporting 
 at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ) supporting 
 at least one insulation blanket ( 14 ,  24 , and/or  34 ), 
   said plurality of layers stacked one on top of each other providing for at least a first stack of some of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other and a second stack of some of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other,   said first stack and said second stack positioned parallel and adjacent to each other so that the long axis of each stack is aligned in the same plane, and are lengthwise offset from each other providing for one lengthwise end to have a male projection coupling structure and for the other lengthwise end to have a female receiving coupling structure, and   at least one fastener ( 40   a,    50   a,    40   b,  or  50   b ) for attaching one of said layers to at least another one of said layers and to at least one support bracket ( 30 ,  32 ) providing that when the layers are all so attached no fastener penetrates all of the layers.   
     
     
         11 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising at least two support brackets ( 30 ,  32 ) each to be fastened to an opposing building unit. 
     
     
         12 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one fastener ( 40   a,    50   a,    40   b,  or  50   b ) for attaching one of said layers to at least another one of said layers and to at least one support bracket ( 30 ,  32 ) providing that when the layers are all so attached no fastener penetrates all of the layers. 
     
     
         13 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said fire-barrier is structured for sealing a straight-line dynamic expansion-space. 
     
     
         14 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said fire-barrier is structured for sealing an intersection dynamic expansion-space. 
     
     
         15 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said brackets are solid, rigid L-brackets. 
     
     
         16 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein one of each of said L-brackets projects from each side of the expansion-space to maintain said layers within said expansion space. 
     
     
         17 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said at least one protective blanket ( 6 ) supports at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ). 
     
     
         18 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ) supports at least one insulation blanket ( 14 ,  24 , and/or  34 ). 
     
     
         19 . The fire-barrier, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein intumescent material is applied within the coupling area created when said male projection coupling structure of one of said fire-barriers is coupled with said female receiving coupling structure of another of said fire-barriers. 
     
     
         20 . A fire-barrier for sealing a dynamic expansion-space between building units, comprising:
 a plurality of layers containing,
 at least one protective blanket ( 6 ) supporting 
 at least one fire-resistant support sheet ( 8 ) supporting 
 at least one insulation blanket ( 14 ,  24 , and/or  34 ), 
   at least two support brackets ( 30 ,  32 ) each to be fastened to an opposing building unit, and   at least one fastener ( 40   a,    50   a,    40   b,  or  50   b ) for attaching one of said layers to at least another one of said layers and to at least one support bracket ( 30 ,  32 ) providing that when the layers are all so attached no fastener penetrates all of the layers;   said plurality of layers stacked one on top of each other providing for at least a first stack of some of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other and a second stack of some of said layers positioned parallel and adjacent to each other, said first stack and said second stack positioned parallel and adjacent to each other so that the long axis of each stack is aligned in the same plane and being lengthwise offset from each other provide for one lengthwise end to have a male projection coupling structure and for the other lengthwise end to have a female receiving coupling structure.