Fireproof panel

• US 4,936,064 A
• Filed: 02/16/1989
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Backer ROD Manufacturing and Supply Company
• Original Assignee: Backer Rod Mfg. & Supply Co.
• Inventors: Gibb, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/311,965
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 52/232, 52/1, 52/474, 52/486, 52/506, 52/512, 52/741, 52/404, 52/220, 52/221, 110/331-336, 110/233, 428/264-268, 428/272-275, 428/494, 428/500, 428/921, 264/333, 106/89-99, 106/111, 106/116, 106/DIG. 2, 156/71
• US Class Current: 52/232
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/04 to form a firebreak device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 106/02 Perlite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/921 Fire or flameproofing

Abstract

A fireproof panel for closing structural openings within building structures such as those between rooms, floors, ceilings, and the like through which essential-service hardware such as ducts, pipes, electrical conduit, and the like penetrates, or for providing support for such hardware. The panel comprises a solid matrix of refractory material having reinforcement material embedded therein. Preferably, the reinforcement material is embedded immediately beneath essentially all of at least one of the panel'"'"'s front and back exterior surfaces. A preferred reinforcement material is a fiberglass material, preferably embedded immediately beneath both the front and back exterior surfaces of the panel. The reinforcement material inhibits fracture of the panel to thereby provide a greater workability in panel installation. The panel can be flat or shaped in accord with its intended function, and openings therethrough to accommodate penetrating hardware can be readily made.

Claims

1. A fireproof member adapted for closing a structural opening through a wall of a building comprising:

a rigid panel having front and back exterior surfaces, said panel being manufactured of a solid matrix of refractory material in the form of a single, integral unit extending continuously from said front exterior surface to said back exterior surface; and

a layer of woven reinforcement material embedded within said panel immediately beneath said front and back exterior surfaces.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement material is a fiberglass material.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fiberglass material is from about 1.6 ounces to about 8 ounces per square yard density.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1 and wherein essentially all of at least one of the front and back exterior surfaces has laminated thereto reinforcement material.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reinforcement material is a woven fiberglass material.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fiberglass material is from about 1.6 ounces to about 8 ounces per square yard density.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front and back exterior surfaces of the panel are parallel with each other.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein the panel has a single plane.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein the panel has a plurality of planes.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front and back exterior surfaces of the panel are not parallel with each other.

11. A method for closing a structural opening through a building structure component within a building structure and through which essential-service hardware items penetrate in extending from place to place within the building structure, said method comprising:

(a) providing two rigid fireproof panels each having front and back exterior surfaces, each of said panels comprising a solid matrix of refractory material and further comprising at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panels between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof, each of said panels being of a size which is larger than the structural opening to be closed to thereby provide peripheries which overlap the opening on all sides when the panels are in place to close the opening;

(b) spacing and cutting an appropriate number of holes through each panel to correspond with the number, size and site of penetrating hardware items when each panel is in place to close the opening;

(c) placing one panel over the opening on one side of the building structure component such that the penetrating hardware items extend through the holes in the panel, and fastening the overlapping periphery of the panel to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(d) placing the other panel over the opening on the other side of the building structure component such that the penetrating hardware items extend through the holes in the panel, and fastening the overlapping periphery of the panel to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(e) packing along the length of the hardware items within the opening a non-combustible filler; and

(f) packing a fireproof sealant at the interface between each panel and the penetrating hardware items to thereby entirely close the holes in the panels through which the items penetrate.

12. A method for closing a structural opening through a building structure component within a building structure and through which essential-service hardware items penetrate in extending from place to place within the building structure, said method comprising:

(a) providing two rigid fireproof panels each having front and back exterior surfaces, each of said panels comprising a solid matrix of refractory material and further comprising at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panels between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof, each of said panels being of a size which is essentially identical to the size of the opening to be closed when the panels are in place to close the opening;

(b) spacing and cutting an appropriate number of holes through each panel to correspond with the number, size and site of penetrating hardware items when each panel is in place to close the opening;

(c) insetting a distance essentially equal to the thickness of a panel from each side of the building structure component and fastening at least two oppositely disposed stop means within the opening for prohibiting panel movement there beyond;

(d) placing one panel within the opening on one side of the building structure component such that the penetrating hardware items extend through the holes in the panel, and fastening the edge of the panel to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(e) placing the other panel within the opening on the other side of the building structure component such that the penetrating hardware items extend through the holes in the panel, and fastening the edge of the panel to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(f) packing along the length of the hardware items within the structural opening a non-combustible filler; and

(g) packing a fireproof sealant at the interface between each panel and the penetrating hardware items to thereby entirely close the holes in the panels through which the items penetrate.

13. A method for closing a structural opening through a building structure component within a building structure and through which essential-service hardware items penetrate in extending from place to place within the building structure, said method comprising:

(a) providing two rigid fireproof panels each having front and back exterior surfaces, each of said panels comprising a solid matrix of refractory material and further comprising at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panels between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof, each of said panels being of a size which is larger than the structural opening to be closed to thereby provide peripheries which overlap the opening on all sides when the panels are in place to close the opening;

(b) placing the panels over the respective opening on each side of the building structure component and fastening the overlapping periphery of each panel to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(c) spacing and cutting an appropriate number of holes through the panels to correspond with the number, size and site of penetrating hardware items when said hardware items are in place;

(d) placing the penetrating hardware items in the holes of the panels;

(e) packing along the length of the hardware items within the opening a non-combustible filler; and

(f) packing a fireproof sealant at the interface between each panel and the penetrating hardware items to thereby entirely close the holes in the panels through which the items penetrate.

14. A method for closing a structural opening through a building structure component within a building structure and through which essential-service hardware items penetrate in extending from place to place within the building structure, said method comprising:

(a) providing two rigid fireproof panels each having front and back exterior surfaces, each of said panels comprising a solid matrix of refractory material and further comprising at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panels between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof, each of said panels being of a size which is essentially identical to the size of the opening to be closed;

(b) insetting a distance essentially equal to the thickness of a panel from each side of the building structure component and fastening at least two oppositely disposed stop means within the opening for prohibiting panel movement there beyond;

(c) placing the panels within the opening on each side of the building component and fastening the respective edges of the panels to the building structure component adjacent thereto;

(d) spacing and cutting an appropriate number of holes through the panels to correspond with the number, size and site of penetrating hardware items when said hardware items are in place;

(e) placing the hardware items in the holes of the panels;

(f) packing along the length of the hardware items within the structural opening a non-combustible filler; and

(g) packing a fireproof sealant at the interface between each panel and the penetrating hardware items to thereby entirely close the holes in the panels through which the items penetrate.

15. A fireproof building structure comprising:

a wall having first and second sides and an opening therethrough;

at least one essential-service hardware item extending through said opening; and

a rigid fireproof panel comprising a solid matrix of refractory material fixedly secured to at least one of said first and second sides of said wall in order to close said opening to thereby prevent the passage of fire therethrough, said panel being larger than said opening in said wall in an amount sufficient to enable said panel to completely cover said opening, said panel further comprising front and back exterior surfaces, at least one hole therethrough sized to receive said hardware item, and at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panel between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof.

16. The building structure of claim 15 further comprising a non-combustible filler packed along the length of said hardware item within said opening.

17. The building structure of claim 15 further comprising a fireproof sealant positioned within said hole in said panel between said panel and said hardware item.

18. A fireproof building structure comprising:

a wall having first and second sides, and an opening therethrough;

at least one essential-service hardware item extending through said opening; and

a rigid fireproof panel comprising a solid matrix of refractory material fixedly secured within said opening in said wall in order to close said opening to thereby prevent the passage of fire therethrough, said panel being substantially identical in size to said opening in said wall in order to allow said panel to be received within said opening, said panel further comprising front and back exterior surfaces, at least one hole therethrough sized to receive said hardware item, and at least one portion of reinforcement material embedded within said panel between said front and back exterior surfaces thereof.

19. The building structure of claim 18 further comprising a non-combustible filler packing along the length of said hardware item within said opening.

20. The building structure of claim 18 further comprising a fireproof sealant positioned within said hole in said panel between said panel and said hardware item.

21. The building structure of claim 18 further comprising stop means within said opening in said wall for controlling the position of said panel within said opening.

22. A fireproof building structure comprising:

a wall having first and second sides and an opening therethrough;

at least one essential-service hardware item extending through said opening; and

a rigid fireproof panel fixedly attached to said wall in order to close said opening to thereby prevent the passage of fire therethrough, said panel having a size sufficient to completely close said opening, said panel comprising front and back exterior surfaces and being manufactured of a solid matrix of refractory material in the form of a single, integral unit extending continuously from said front exterior surface to said back exterior surface, said panel further comprising at least one hole therethrough sized to receive said hardware item, and a layer of woven reinforcement material embedded within said panel immediately beneath said front and back exterior surfaces.