Intumescent firestopping apparatus

Abstract

An intumescent firestopping apparatus used in poke-through applications for selectively sealing an opening through a construction barrier such as a wall, floor or ceiling having cables or other penetrating members extending therethrough. The apparatus effectively seals this barrier responsive to a fire to prevent unwanted transmission of fire through conventional construction barrier areas. The apparatus includes a sleeve with two intumescent pads positioned therein. At least one of the pads has an arcuate curved central section to be biased against the other intumescent pad to define therebetween a confinement area for holding of cables centrally located therein in a dynamically adjustable scaling throat defined therebetween. These pads can be variously mounted with respect to the adjacent wall structures and one or both of the pads can be arched toward the other pad to facilitate defining of the dynamic throat for receiving cables extending therethrough.

1. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough comprising:
 A. a sleeve means securable to the construction barrier at a position extending through the opening defined therein for defining an access corridor means extending completely through the barrier, said sleeve means including;
 (1) an upper wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier; 
 (2) a lower wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier spatially disposed below said upper wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween; 
 (3) a first side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member; 
 (4) a second side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first side wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween; 
   B. a lower intumescent pad means positioned within said access corridor means extending at least partially along said lower wall member; and   C. an upper intumescent pad means extending at least partially along said upper wall member, said upper intumescent pad means including an upper central pad section being flexibly resilient and extending downwardly from said upper wall means toward said lower intumescent pad means therebelow to define a confinement area therebetween capable for holding of penetrating members extending therethrough by exerting force thereon.   
     
     
       2. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said lower intumescent pad means extends along said lower wall member in abutment therewith along the complete length thereof. 
     
     
       3. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said lower intumescent pad means including a lower central pad section, which is flexibly resilient, extending upwardly from said lower wall means toward said upper intumescent pad means thereabove to define a confinement area therebetween for holding of penetrating members extending therethrough by exerting force thereon. 
     
     
       4. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 3  wherein said lower central pad section defines a lower slot means extending longitudinally therein to facilitate flexible resilience of said lower central pad section. 
     
     
       5. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said upper central pad section defines upper slot means extending longitudinally therein to facilitate flexible resilience of said upper central pad section. 
     
     
       6. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  further comprising an upper biasing means positioned between said upper wall member and said upper intumescent pad means to exert downwardly directed bias against said upper intumescent pad means to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to penetrating members extending through the opening for enhancing retaining thereof. 
     
     
       7. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a lower biasing means positioned between said lower wall member and said lower intumescent pad means to exert upwardly directed bias against said lower intumescent pad means to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to penetrating members extending through the opening for enhancing retaining thereof. 
     
     
       8. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve means further includes upper tab means extending downwardly from said upper wall member to facilitate holding of said upper intumescent pad means in position adjacent said upper wall member. 
     
     
       9. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve means further includes lower tab means extending upwardly from said lower wall member to facilitate holding of said lower intumescent pad means in position adjacent said lower wall member. 
     
     
       10. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  further including a first upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member and a second upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first upper restraining support means, said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means being both spaced away from said upper wall member thereadjacent to define an upper restraining space therebetween to retain said upper intumescent pad means therewithin. 
     
     
       11. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively scaling, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 10  wherein said upper central pad section of said upper intumescent pad means is positioned between said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means to facilitate extending downwardly therebetween toward said lower intumescent pad means positioned therebelow. 
     
     
       12. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 3  further including a first lower restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member and a second lower restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first lower restraining support means, said first lower restraining support means and said second lower restraining support means being both spaced away from said lower wall member thereadjacent to define a lower restraining space therebetween to retain said lower intumescent pad means therewithin. 
     
     
       13. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 12  wherein said lower central pad section of said lower intumescent pad means is positioned between said first lower restraining support means and said second lower restraining support means to facilitate extending upwardly therebetween toward said upper intumescent pad means positioned thereabove. 
     
     
       14. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve means includes flat outer sections to facilitate placing of a plurality of sleeve means adjacent one another to facilitate usage with openings in construction barriers which are larger than a single of said sleeve means. 
     
     
       15. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve means is rectangular with said upper wall member and said lower wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and with said first side wall member and said second side wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and perpendicularly with respect to said upper wall member and said lower wall member. 
     
     
       16. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve means is square. 
     
     
       17. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said upper intumescent pad means and said lower intumescent pad means have sufficient intumescent expansion capability to seal said access corridor means completely. 
     
     
       18. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said lower intumescent pad means and said upper intumescent pad means comprises compressible foam material to conform to the opening for sealing thereof. 
     
     
       19. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said upper intumescent pad means and said lower intumescent pad means include foam components. 
     
     
       20. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 19  wherein said foam components are chosen from various foams including polyurethane, silicone and other polymers. 
     
     
       21. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively scaling, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough as defined in  claim 1  wherein said upper intumescent pad means and said lower intumescent pad means includes intumescent components chosen from expandable graphite and sodium silicate. 
     
     
       22. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough comprising:
 A. a sleeve means securable to the construction barrier at a position extending through the opening defined therein for defining an access corridor means extending completely through the barrier, said sleeve means including flat outer sections to facilitate placing of a plurality of sleeve means adjacent one another to facilitate usage with openings in construction barriers which are larger than a single of said sleeve means, said sleeve means including;
 (1) an upper wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier; 
 (2) a lower wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier spatially disposed below said upper wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween; 
 (3) a first side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member; 
 (4) a second side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first side wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween, said sleeve means being rectangular with said upper wall member and said lower wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and with said first side wall member and said second side wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and perpendicularly with respect to said upper wall member and said lower wall member; 
 (5) an upper tab means extending downwardly from said upper wall member; 
 (6) an lower tab means extending upwardly from said lower wall member; 
   B. a lower intumescent pad means positioned within said access corridor means extending at least partially along said lower wall member, said lower intumescent pad means being in abutment with respect to said lower tab means to facilitate attachment thereof with respect to said sleeve means;   C. an upper intumescent pad means extending at least partially along said upper wall member, said upper intumescent pad means including an upper central pad section being flexibly resilient and extending downwardly from said upper wall means toward said lower intumescent pad means therebelow to define a confinement area therebetween capable for holding of penetrating members extending therethrough by exerting force thereon, said upper intumescent pad means being in abutment with respect to said upper tab means to facilitate attachment thereof with respect to said sleeve means, said upper intumescent pad means and said lower intumescent pad means having sufficient intumescent expansion capability to seal said access corridor means completely;   D. a first upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member; and   E. a second upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first upper restraining support means, said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means being both spaced away from said upper wall member to define an upper restraining space therebetween to retain said upper intumescent pad means therewithin, said upper central pad section of said upper intumescent pad means being positioned between said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means to facilitate extending downwardly therebetween toward said lower intumescent pad means positioned therebelow.   
     
     
       23. An intumescent firestopping apparatus for selectively sealing, responsive to fire, of an opening in a construction barrier having penetrating members extending therethrough comprising:
 A. a sleeve means securable to the construction barrier at a position extending through the opening defined therein for defining an access corridor means extending completely through the barrier, said sleeve means including flat outer sections to facilitate placing of a plurality of sleeve means adjacent one another to facilitate usage with openings in construction barriers which are larger than a single of said sleeve means, said sleeve means including;
 (1) an upper wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier; 
 (2) a lower wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier spatially disposed below said upper wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween; 
 (3) a first side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member; 
 (4) a second side wall member capable of extending completely through the barrier and extending from said upper wall member downwardly to said lower wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first side wall member to facilitate defining of said access corridor means therebetween, said sleeve means being rectangular with said upper wall member and said lower wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and with said first side wall member and said second side wall member being oriented parallel with respect to one another and perpendicularly with respect to said upper wall member and said lower wall member; 
 (5) an upper tab means extending downwardly from said upper wall member; 
 (6) an lower tab means extending upwardly from said lower wall member; 
   B. a lower intumescent pad means positioned within said access corridor means extending at least partially along said lower wall member, said lower intumescent pad means being in abutment with respect to said lower tab means to facilitate attachment thereof with respect to said sleeve means, said lower intumescent pad means including a lower central pad section, which is flexibly resilient, extending upwardly from said lower wall means, said lower central pad section defining a lower slot means extending longitudinally therein to facilitate flexible resilience thereof;   C. an upper intumescent pad means extending at least partially along said upper wall member, said upper intumescent pad means including an upper central pad section being flexibly resilient and extending downwardly from said upper wall means toward said lower central pad section of said lower intumescent pad means therebelow to define a confinement area therebetween capable for holding of penetrating members extending therethrough by exerting force thereon, said upper central pad section defining an upper slot means extending longitudinally therein to facilitate flexible resilience of said upper central pad section, said upper intumescent pad means being in abutment with respect to said upper tab means to facilitate attachment thereof with respect to said sleeve means, said upper intumescent pad means and said lower intumescent pad means having sufficient intumescent expansion capability to seal said access corridor means completely;   D. a first upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member;   E. a second upper restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first upper restraining support means, said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means being both spaced away from said upper wall member to define an upper restraining space therebetween to retain said upper intumescent pad means therewithin, said upper central pad section of said upper intumescent pad means being positioned between said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means to facilitate extending downwardly therebetween toward said lower intumescent pad means positioned therebelow;   F. a first lower restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member;   G. a second lower restraining support means positioned extending laterally from said first side wall member and said second side wall member at a position spatially disposed from said first lower restraining support means, said first lower restraining support means and said second lower restraining support means being both spaced away from said lower wall member thereadjacent to define a lower restraining space therebetween to retain said lower intumescent pad means therewithin, said lower central pad section of said lower intumescent pad means being positioned between said first lower restraining support means and said second lower restraining support means to facilitate extending upwardly therebetween toward said upper intumescent pad means positioned thereabove;   H. an upper flat spring means positioned between said first upper restraining support means and said second upper restraining support means and also positioned between said upper wall member and said upper intumescent pad means to exert downwardly directed bias against said upper intumescent pad means to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to penetrating members extending through the opening for enhancing retaining thereof; and   I. a lower flat spring means positioned between said first lower restraining support means and said second lower restraining support means and also positioned between said lower wall member and said lower intumescent pad means to exert upwardly directed bias against said lower intumescent pad means to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to penetrating members extending through the opening for enhancing retaining thereof.   
     
     
       24. A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sleeve defining an access corridor extending longitudinally therethrough between a position adjacent a first opening defined in the sleeve to a position adjacent a second opening defined in the sleeve which is spatially disposed from the first opening and wherein the access corridor is adapted for receiving a penetrating member extending therethrough and positioning of the sleeve extending through a construction barrier,   providing first and second intumescent pads positioned within the access corridor of the sleeve with at least one of the intumescent pads having a flexible pad section, at least one of the first and second intumescent pads being arched and defining a convex surface facing the other pad to facilitate engagement with respect to a penetrating member positioned extending longitudinally through the access corridor of the sleeve positioned between the first and second intumescent pads, the first and second intumescent pads being oppositely positioned from one another within the access corridor of the sleeve and each pad extending from a position adjacent said first opening to a position adjacent said second opening to facilitate sealing against a penetrating member extending through the access corridor of the sleeve between the first opening and the second opening thereof,   locating the first and second intumescent pads within an access corridor defined in a sleeve extending through a construction barrier capable of receiving a penetrating member extending therethrough so that the flexible pad section of the at least one intumescent pad is arched and has an arcuate shape including a convex surface oriented extending in a direction generally longitudinal and parallel with respect to the access corridor defined within the sleeve and also being positioned facing in a direction extending toward the other of the intumescent pads to create a confinement area therebetween for creating a seal against a penetrating member positioned extending through the confinement area located between the first and second intumescent pads positioned within the access corridor of the sleeve in response to heat, each of said first and second intumescent pads extending between said first opening and said second opening and also being positioned in abutment with a portion of said sleeve surrounding and defining said first opening and also being positioned in abutment with a portion of said sleeve surrounding and defining said second opening to maximize sealing longitudinally between said first and second intumescent pads and a penetrating member extending longitudinally therebetween.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of locating the first and second intumescent pads comprises locating the first and second intumescent pads such that one of the intumescent pads is flexed toward the other of the intumescent pad to a point immediately adjacent to the other intumescent pad. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of locating the first and second intumescent pads comprises providing a restraining member to retain at least one of said first or second intumescent pads in a secure position while allowing a portion thereof to flex into an arcuate shape such that an arched concave portion thereof is positioned facing toward the other of the intumescent pads. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of providing first and second intumescent pads comprises providing at least one of the first or second intumescent pads having a plurality of longitudinal slots formed therein to facilitate the flexible resilience of the flexible pad section with each of said longitudinal slots defined therewithin being oriented extending approximately parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of providing first and second intumescent pads comprises providing the first and second intumescent pads wherein the first and second intumescent pads both have flexible pad sections which are positioned facing toward one another and are arched and concave in a direction oriented parallel with respect to the access corridor defined within the sleeve. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of locating the first and second intumescent pads within an access corridor defined within a sleeve comprises locating the first and second intumescent pads to position the flexible pad sections thereof opposite each other to facilitate creating a seal against a penetrating member positioned passing therebetween.