Method and apparatus for closing a passageway

Abstract

Abstract A shaped body of intumescent material is positioned in an underfloor access housing in abutting relation with the base of the housing. The body of intumescent material is shaped to extend around the cable inlet opening in the housing base portion, so that a passageway remains for the cables extending from the underlying cable cells to the underfloor access housing outlet opening. When the underlying cable cells and the underside of the access housing are subjected to an elevated temperature, the body of intumescent material foams and expands to substantially fill the access housing and close the opening or passageway between the cable inlet opening and the cable outlet opening to insulate one portion of the access housing from the other and maintain a substantial temperature differential for an extended period of time between the base of the access housing and the closure cap secured to the upper portion of the access housing. In another embodiment a shaped body or bodies of intumescent material are positioned in a duct or cable tray that has cables, tubing and the like therein. When the outer surface of the duct is subjected to elevated temperatures due to a fire the intumescent material foams and expands and insulates the cables and tubing from the outer surface of the duct and thus delays and possibly prevents the thermal destruction of the cables and tubing positioned in the duct. The preferred body of intumescent material contains between 70% - 100% by weight of an intumescing binder, such as sodium silicate or potassium silicate, and between 0 - 30% by weight filler for increasing the viscosity of the foam. Suitable fillers are clay, cellulatable glass and the like. Organic intumescent mixtures may also be employed in the shaped body of intumescent material.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert M Mcmarlin

Bibliographic Details