AU2015201058A1 - A spacer for a fire damper installation - Google Patents

Abstract

A SPACER FOR A FIRE DAMPER INSTALLATION A seal (18) for a fire damper (10). The damper (10) is intended to be connected to ducting on either side of a wall to join the ducting, with the damper (10) being located in a wall opening. The seals (18) are used to connect the damper with the surrounding wall. t-

Description

1 A SPACER FOR A FIRE DAMPER INSTALLATION FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to seals for fire dampers. BACKGROUND [0002] In buildings have air-conditioning or ventilation systems, the ductwork provided through the building provides a ready means by which fire and products of combustion in any part of the building can spread throughout the building. To impede this spread of fire and products of combustion, fire dampers must be installed in wall, floor and ceiling penetrations which have been formed to permit the installation of fire-handling systems. [0003] Fire dampers are intended to partly restore the fire resistance of a wall, floor or ceiling through which a penetration has been made. Accordingly, fire dampers must provide an effective barrier to the passage of fire and products of combustion and must be designed and constructed so that they operate under emergency conditions in extreme temperatures. [0004] Fire dampers must be attached to the ductwork in such a manner that any deformation of the ductwork under fire conditions will not dislodge the damper or affects its operation or performance. Furthermore, the space between the fire damper and the opening in the wall must be filled with a compressible, non-combustible material for the full thickness of the wall. This material must be compressible so as to allow the frame of the fire damper to expand as it heats up. [0005] Described in Australian Patent 726578 is a seal for a fire damper. The seal of this patent has a number of disadvantages including being time consuming and difficult to install. Because penetration through building walls is also not neat and tidy, particularly the corners of the opening in the wall, installation of the seal can be difficult. A still further disadvantage is the extra steel employed in a seal which can cause an increase in temperature adjacent the damper.

2 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0006] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0007] There is disclosed herein a fire damper seal, the seal being formed of sheet material and configured to be located between a fire damper and a wall, the seal including: a longitudinally extending base to abut the wall; a first and a second longitudinally extending flange to abut the damper, the flanges being spaced by the base; a first and a second connecting web, each web connecting a respective one of the flanges with the base so that the flanges are spaced from the base in a direction generally transverse of the base; and wherein each of the flanges projects longitudinally beyond the base. [0008] Preferably, the base has longitudinal end portions, with each flange projecting longitudinally beyond each end portion so that there is a gap is located between the end portions of the flanges. [0009] Preferably, the seal is formed of sheet steel, with the sheet having a plurality of folds, each fold providing a corner with a base extending between a pair of corners, each of the connecting webs extending from a pair of the corners, and each flange extending from a respective one of the corners. [0010] Preferably, each web is inclined to the base and a respective one of the flanges by an acute angle. [0011] Preferably, the base is generally planar, and the flanges are planar, with the flanges and base being generally parallel. [0012] There is further disclosed herein, in combination a fire damper and the above seal, wherein the fire damper has a passage having a longitudinal axis, with said seal having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the damper.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0013] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0014] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fire damper and seal attached thereto; and [0015] Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the seal of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0016] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a fire damper 10. The fire damper 10 is intended to be connected to ducting on either side of a wall to join the ducting, with the damper 10 being located in a wall opening. [0017] The damper 10 includes generally upwardly oriented panels 11 located on opposite sides of the damper 10, as well as a top panel 12 and a bottom panel 30. The panels 11, 12 and 13 face the wall surfaces surrounding the opening in the wall. [0018] Attached to the damper 10 by threaded fasteners (not illustrated) are mounting members 13 the fasteners passing through apertures 14 and engaged with the damper 10 to securely attach the damper 10 to the members 13. The members 13 are generally upwardly oriented, parallel and generally co-extensive. The members 13 are attached to the side panels 11. [0019] Also attached to the damper 10 are further mounting members 15 that abut the top and bottom panels 12 and 13, and extend between the members 13. Each of the members 13 and 15 are of an "L" transverse cross-section so as to have a first flange 16 that abuts the fire damper 10, and a second flange 17 that extends generally outwardly away from the fire damper 10 and that engages the wall surface extending outwardly away from the wall opening. [0020] Accordingly the wall is located between the flanges 17.

4 [0021] Extending between each pair of members 13 is a seal 18. Accordingly there is located adjacent each panel 11 a respective seal 18 that engages the panel 13 (and therefore the fire damper 10) and the surface of the wall immediately surrounding the wall opening. The seals 18 also engage the panels 12 and again the adjacent surface of the wall surrounding the opening. [0022] Each seal 18 has a longitudinal axis 19 that is to extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the wall aperture. Accordingly where the wall is generally upwardly oriented, the axes 19 and 20 are generally horizontal. The damper 10 has a longitudinal passage 31, with the axis 20 also being the longitudinal axis of the passage 31. [0023] Each seal 18 includes a longitudinally extending base 21 providing an outwardly facing surface 22 that is to abut the wall surface surrounding the wall opening. In this embodiment, the surface 22 is generally planar. [0024] Each seal 18 also includes a first and a second longitudinally extending flange 23 that are located on opposite sides of the base 21 so as to be spaced by the base 21. [0025] Each flange 23 has an outwardly facing surface 24 that abuts the adjacent panel 11, 12. In this embodiment the surfaces 24 are generally planar, and are generally parallel to the surface 22. [0026] Joining each flange 23 with the base 21 is a connecting web 25. Each web 25 is inclined to its associated flange 23 and base 21 by an acute angle so as to transversely converge away from the base 21. The webs 25 and base 21 are longitudinally parallel. [0027] Accordingly, each flange 23 is spaced from the base 21 by a distance perpendicular to the surface 22. [0028] The base 21 has end portions 26 beyond which each flange 23 longitudinally extends so as to have flange end portions 27 extending beyond the end portions 26 of the base 21. The end portions 27 are spaced by a gap 28. The gap 28 enables the threaded fastener to pass through the slots 14 to engage the damper 10. Preferably each seal 18 is formed of sheet metal that has longitudinally extending corners 29. Preferably the corners 29 are formed by folds in the metal sheet. The corners 29 extend longitudinally parallel to the axes 19 and 20.

5 [0029] Preferably each seal 18 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal folded so as to have the corners 29, and compresses should the damper 10 expand. [0030] The base 21 and connecting webs 25 extend between and abut the flanges 17 adjacent the panel 11, while in respect of the panel 30, the base 21 and webs 25 abut the flanges 17. [0031] Preferably the base 21 and flanges 23 are generally planar and longitudinally parallel. [0032] The above described preferred embodiment has a number of advantages, including simplifying installation of the dampers 10, since the seals 18 are spaced from the corners of the wall opening and aid in better centralising the damper 10 in the wall.

Claims (6)

1. A fire damper seal, the seal being formed of sheet material and configured to be located between a fire damper and a wall, the seal including: a longitudinally extending base to abut the wall; a first and a second longitudinally extending flange to abut the damper, the flanges being spaced by the base; a first and a second connecting web, each web connecting a respective one of the flanges with the base so that the flanges are spaced from the base in a direction generally transverse of the base; and wherein each of the flanges projects longitudinally beyond the base.

2. The fire damper seal of claim 1, wherein the base has longitudinal end portions, with each flange projecting longitudinally beyond each end portion so that there is a gap is located between the end portions of the flanges.

3. The fire damper seal of claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal is formed of sheet steel, with the sheet having a plurality of folds, each fold providing a corner with a base extending between a pair of corners, each of the connecting webs extending from a pair of the corners, and each flange extending from a respective one of the corners.

4. The fire damper seal of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each web is inclined to the base and a respective one of the flanges by an acute angle.

5. The fire damper of any one of claim I to 4, wherein the base is generally planar, and the flanges are planar, with the flanges and base being generally parallel.

6. In combination a fire damper and the seal of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fire damper has a passage having a longitudinal axis, with said seal having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the damper. Jackson International Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON