U.S. patent application number 14/144918 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for fire resistant barrier.
This patent application is currently assigned to E.Z. Barrier, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is E.Z. Barrier, Inc.. Invention is credited to Happy Moselle.
Application Number | 20140102733 14/144918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30443331 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140102733 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moselle; Happy |
April 17, 2014 |
FIRE RESISTANT BARRIER
Abstract
A fire resistant assembly which may be used to ensure the fire
resistance of a fire barrier such as a wall, comprising a first
layer having a lumen therein, a second layer adjacent the first
layer, and a box having a cavity defined by a wall, an opening in
the wall, and a flange proximate the opening, wherein the box is
disposed between the first layer and the second layer and wherein
the opening is disposed on the lumen of the first layer.
Inventors: |
Moselle; Happy; (Burnsville,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
E.Z. Barrier, Inc. |
Burnsville |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
E.Z. Barrier, Inc.
Burnsville
MN
|
Family ID: |
30443331 |
Appl. No.: |
14/144918 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10199565 |
Jul 19, 2002 |
8629348 |
|
|
14144918 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
169/48 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 8/02 20130101; F21V
25/00 20130101; E04B 9/001 20130101; A62C 2/06 20130101; E04B 9/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
169/48 |
International
Class: |
A62C 2/06 20060101
A62C002/06 |
Claims
1. A fire resistant assembly, comprising: a first layer having a
lumen therein; a second layer adjacent the first layer; and a box
having a cavity defined by a wall, an opening in the wall, and a
flange proximate the opening, wherein the box is disposed between
the first layer and the second layer and wherein the opening is
disposed on the lumen of the first layer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/199,565, filed Jul. 19, 2002,
the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a fire barrier having a recess for
a device. More particularly, the invention relates to a recessed
box installed in a building for use with maintaining a minimum fire
endurance of a building surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Typically, a surface of a building such as a floor or a
ceiling provides a fire barrier. A fire barrier resists the spread
of a fire through it by providing a resistance to flammability, a
resistance to heat transmission, and sufficient structural
integrity to resist decomposing when exposed to heat or flames. The
effectiveness of a fire barrier is often rated by exposure to a
fire of specified and increasing intensity and a rating is a period
of time, typically in hours during which the fire barrier is
effective. When an aperture is made in one of these fire barriers,
the effectiveness of the fire barrier is decreased dramatically.
Often it is nonetheless desirable to create an aperture in a fire
barrier, for example, to install recessed lighting or a floor
drain. To restore the fire barrier and maintain an effective
minimum resistance to fire, a construction worker will typically
build a box of gypsum board and install it around the recessed
fixture proximate the aperture created in the fire barrier. The
construction of this box is a time consuming task and provides no
mechanism to ascertain to what degree the effectiveness of the fire
barrier is restored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention pertains to a prefabricated box
suitable for use with a wide variety of recessed devices. The
prefabricated box may be easily installed and may provide a known
degree of fire endurance.
[0005] An embodiment of the invention pertains to a fire barrier. A
box, comprising a cavity defining a wall, a opening in the wall,
and a flange proximate the opening, may be disposed between a first
and a second layer, the opening of the box covering a lumen of the
first layer. The box may be attached to a first and a second
structural member. A device may be disposed in the lumen of the
first layer and extend into the cavity of the box. There may be a
gap between the device and the wall of the box and between the wall
of the box and the second layer. The box may comprise steel or
other suitable material and the wall of the box may be impervious
to the passage of air. The fire barrier may be rated for 1 hour or
greater fire endurance rating under ASTM E-119 or other comparable
test and certification of the rating may be found with or on the
box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of box 100 for providing fire
resistance according to the invention; and
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of box 100 positioned
inside a fire barrier.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0008] Reference is now made to the figures, in which like element
numbers refer to like elements throughout. FIG. 1 is a perspective
view of box 100, which includes cavity 102 defining a wall 104.
Opening 106 provides access to cavity 102 and flange 108 is
disposed proximate opening 106. It is to be understood that, while
wall 104 is shown in FIG. 1 to be comprised of five flat surfaces
and the opening, any shape defined by a cavity and having an
opening may be suitable. For example, a cylinder open at one end
may be suitable.
[0009] Flange 108 may be comprised of one or more individual pieces
110 and generally defines a flat surface 112 facing away from
cavity 102. Flange 108 is shown as comprising a lip extending a
uniform distance away from the edge of the opening. It is to be
understood however, that many more configurations that may be
suitable are contemplated. For example, flange 108 may have struts
which extend over the opening to provide means for attaching a
device such as a light fixture. In addition, flange 108 may have
wings that extend from the opening to provide additional means for
attaching the box in the fire barrier. Flange 108 may include means
for attaching box 100 to a structural member such as lumens 114 for
receiving nails or screws.
[0010] Wall 104 may include punch-outs 116 that permit ready
removal with a hammer or screwdriver for created additional
openings to the cavity. Punch-outs 116 generally comprises one or
more grooves of reduced wall thickness formed in a closed pattern.
Punch-outs 116 may be of several shapes and sizes to allow for the
creation of additional openings adapted to specific tasks.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of box 100 disposed in a
fire barrier 200, which is fire resistant, and having a device 218
disposed therein.
[0012] The term "fire resistant" is herein defined to refer to the
ability of a structure to serve as a barrier to the spread of fire.
To serve as an effective barrier to the spread of fire, a structure
must exhibit the following characteristics. First, it must not pass
flame or hot gas from one side to the other. Second, the structure
must support the imposed design loads without structural failure or
collapse. Third, the structure must resist the transmission of heat
so that the surface not exposed to the fire does not exceed the
temperature of 250.degree. F. Fourth, the structure must withstand
lateral impacts from falling debris. This is definition of the term
"fire resistant" as understood by those of skill in the art.
[0013] Fire barrier 200 is disposed in a building; suitable fire
barriers may comprise a floor and a ceiling, a ceiling and a roof,
or a wall and a wall. The fire barrier depicted in FIG. 2 comprises
a ceiling and the floor above. Fire barrier 200 may be comprised of
a first layer 220 having a lumen 222 therein, a second layer 224,
and box 100 disposed therebetween. Fire barrier 200 may also
comprise structural members 224, such as joists, to which box 100
may be fastened using fasteners 226. Box 100 may also be fastened
using other suitable means such as a high temperature epoxy or spot
welding.
[0014] Lumen 222 generally has a perimeter 228 which may be smaller
than the perimeter 230 of opening 106. Layer 220, therefore, may
extend over flange 108 and perimeter 230. A device 232 may be
disposed in lumen 222 and extend into cavity 102. This device may
be any device installed in a fire barrier. The device may be, for
instance, an electrical device such as a light fixture or a fan, or
it may be a different device, such as a floor drain. If device 232
is an electrical device, it may have wires 234 extending therefrom.
A punch-out of the appropriate size may be removed, providing an
opening 236 though which wires 234 may extend. It may be desirable
to provide an opening 236 that is not substantially larger than the
cross section of the objects extending therethrough in order to
maintain the integrity of the fire barrier. There may be a gap 238
between wall 104 and layer 222 and there may also be a gap 240
between device 232 and wall 104. These gaps may enhance the fire
resistance of fire barrier 200.
[0015] Layers 220 and 222 may comprise materials well known by
those of skill in the art such as gypsum board, plywood, plaster,
or tile. Box 100 may be comprised of steel or other material having
a melting temperature, for example, above 1700.degree. Fahrenheit
such as ceramic. For example, box 100 may be comprised of 24-gauge
stainless steel. This material may be galvanized to resist
corrosion. Wall 100 may have a perimeter wall 242 that has an angle
with the flange of greater than 90 degrees. This may facilitate
stacking of boxes 100. If box 100 comprises joints, these joints
should be sealed by welding or another suitable process to make
wall 104 substantially impermeable to air flow.
[0016] Fire barrier 200 should be capable of an ASTM E-119 fire
resistance rating of at least 1 hour. A fire resistance rating of 1
hour exposes one side of the fire barrier to the following sequence
of temperatures: 1000.degree. F. for 5 minutes, 1400.degree. F. for
15 minutes, 1550.degree. F. for 30 minutes, and 1700.degree. F. for
10 minutes. At no time during this test should the fire barrier
permit flames or hot gases through to the unexposed surface or
allow the unexposed surface to exceed 250.degree. F. This test was
designed to simulate the conditions a real fire might expose a fire
barrier to. Of course, if this test is updated to reflect new
understandings of the conditions of a fire, the fire barrier should
be capable of a comparable rating under the new test.
[0017] Fire barrier 200 may be rated under ASTM E-119 or a
comparable test. The process of rating includes creating a fire
barrier 200 and subjecting it to the test. A rated fire barrier 200
may permit installation of box 100 in fire barriers governed by
regulations. Certification of the rating may be included with box
100. Certification may also be affixed on box 100, either on a
label or permanently impressed into box 100 by stamping, etching or
some similar process.
[0018] Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this
document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will
be understood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respects,
only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts without exceeding
the scope of the invention. The invention's scope is, of course,
defined in the language in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *