WO1996007043A1

WO1996007043A1 - Supports

Info

Publication number: WO1996007043A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002045
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Herbert Hoffman
Original assignee: QUINCEY STEVEN JOHN
Current assignee: QUINCEY STEVEN JOHN
Priority date: 1994-08-31
Filing date: 1995-08-30
Publication date: 1996-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1997-02-28
Also published as: AU3391895A

Abstract

A support (of metal or moulded plastics) for an elongate body (e.g. a pipe) passing through a hole in a wall, comprises an apertured plate (10) fixable to the wall and formed with a sleeve (18) surrounding the aperture and extending into the hole, the pipe passing through the aperture and sleeve and being held spaced from the inner surface of the hole by means (integrally formed lands (14) or a ring, or a ring fittable in the support). Supports are described having two or more apertures (12) with respective sleeves and bearing means, with areas readily broken away to allow formation of further apertures, which are of separable parts allowing fitment to an existing pipe run. Plates are said to be provided with volumes of intumescent material operable to seal the hole against fire, this material acting as the bearing means, or being a layer covering the face of the plate on the wall or as volume between said sleeves(s) and further sleeve(s) formed therearound. Arrangements are described for supporting elongate bodies (e.g. pipes, cables, cable trays...) passing through solid and cavity walls making use of the described supports as well as outer piping-, and intumescent material-sleeves extending between supports at opposite ends of a hole in a wall; as are methods of using the supports and other noted elements.

Description

SUPPORTS

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to supports, more particularly supports for elongate bodies which must securely be held in use spaced from a surface adjacent which they run or one from another.

Embodiments of the invention have especial advantage in supporting pipes and pipework carrying heated and/or cooled fluids and which must be held spaced from the material of any brick, block or plasterwork wall, floor or ceiling they run through.

Further embodiments of the invention provide for the support of pipes, pipework and the like in running through walls or other building structures, and in particular in providing a seal against fire and/or smoke being transmitted along the hole in which the pipe or pipework runs.

BACKGROUND ART There are many situations in which pipework carrying heated and/or cooled fluid must be supported in its run spaced from any wall, floor or ceiling the pipework runs through.

Building regulations presently enforced in the United Kingdom and elsewhere set minimum insulation levels, for example, for central heating pipes which require minimum clearances in passing through or along walls, floors and ceilings.

A particular problem found in the building industry lies in the routing of central heating pipes runs in buildings which requires, under present regulations, that in running through a wall, floor or ceiling any pipe must be insulated from the material of the wall, floor or ceiling. It is common today to drill or cut a hole in a wall or other building structure, through which a central heating pipe is to run, which is of a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the central heating pipe; locate the cental heating pipe within a length of similar piping the outer diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the cut hole; pass the central heating pipe with the outer piping sleeve through the hole; cut the outer piping sleeve such that its length is equal to the thickness of the wall, and then seal the ends of the cut hole with plaster or other suitable filler.

This practice leads to a number of difficulties, not least of which are:-

1. It is difficult to ensure and then later check that the central heating pipe is centred in the outer piping sleeve and not bearing against that sleeve and the wall of the hole through which the central heating pipe is passing,

2. Making good the decoration surrounding the entry and exit points of the hole through which the central heating pipe passes adds to the time and expense of the job, and 3. It is impossible for thorough inspection to be made of the hole and the central heating pipe running therethrough without first destroying any decoration which has been made good by the fitter.

Furthermore building regulations in force in the United Kingdom and elsewhere at the present require that any breach in a wall or other building structure, through which a cable, pipe or the like is to run or pass must be sealed to particular levels against fire or smoke - that is to say to prevent ingress of fire or smoke for a period of up to 30 or 60 minutes.

Objects of the invention include the provision of supports overcoming or alleviating some or all of noted difficulties and which, furthermore, provide protection to a level meeting present fire safety regulations.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention provides a support for an elongate body passing through a hole in a wall or other building structure, the support comprising a plate having an aperture loosely sized to accept the elongate body and a sleeve extending from one face thereof and surrounding the aperture, and bearing means extending inwardly of aperture and/or sleeve, the plate, in use, being fixable to the wall or other building structure with the sleeve extending into the hole therein and with the bearing means bearing against the elongate body and supporting it spaced from the aperture and the material of the wall.

The bearing means may comprise a plurality of lugs or lands formed integrally with the support.

Alternatively, the bearing means may comprise an annular ring member fittable in said aperture or formed integrally on the inner circumferential surface of said aperture and/or sleeve.

The plate may have two or more apertures each for accepting an elongate body, respective sleeves formed to surround each aperture and respective bearing means, said sleeves being placable, in use, in a hole or holes formed in a wall or other building structure through which elongate bodies are to pass. The support may be of a moulded plastics material, and desirably the plate may have one or more areas of reduced thickness the or each of which is readily frangible to enable one or more further apertures to be formed in the plate by a user.

Alternatively, the support may be of metal. The support is desirably further provided with a volume of intu escent material which, when the support is in use, is operable to prevent fire passing therethrough. The face of the plate in use bearing on a wall may be covered by a layer of intumescent material.

The or each said sleeve may be surrounded by a respective further sleeve formed on the face of the plate and the or each volume between a first mentioned and further sleeve desirably contains intumescent material.

Advantageously, the or each said further sleeve extends from the plate by an amount less than that of the or each first mentioned sleeve and intumescent material completely fills the volume extending directly between the or each first mentioned and further sleeves.

Supports embodying the invention may be formed of two or more separate parts which are adapted for placement adjacent the elongate body to wholly surround and support the elongate body. With such a support a metallic or other material sheath may be provided to surround exposed parts of the plate and sleeve or sleeves in use. A support embodying the invention may further including a planar member fixable to a surface of a wall or other building structure to close a hole therein, the planar member having a number of specific areas in which its material is removable and which are bounded by parts for receiving the edges of, and supporting, plates of said supports.

In this case said plate receiving parts desirably comprise two or more walls upstanding from a surface of the planar member adjacent each of the specific areas thereof, the edges of said walls spaced from the planar member being provided with return extensions running in a plane substantially parallel to that of the planar member and in a direction toward said specific areas, the spacing of said return extensions from the planar member being substantially equal to the thickness of the plates of the supports.

Each specific area of the planar member may be provided with three walls respectively on three sides thereof.

Supports embodying the invention may comprise pipe supports.

In a second aspect the invention provides a support arrangement for supporting at least one elongate body passing through a wall or other building structure, which arrangement comprises a pair of supports each as defined above and adapted for fitment on a wall or other building structure at opposite ends of a hole formed therein to support one or more elongate bodies passing through the apertures therein and through the hole, the arrangement providing that the or each elongate body is held in the hole spaced from the wall thereof.

The arrangement may further comprise an insulation element extending through the hole between supports at each end thereof and surrounding the or each elongate body therein. The insulation element may be foamed insulation inserted into or formed in situ in the hole to surround the or each elongate body.

Alternatively the insulation element may comprise a hollow volume of intumescent material extending through the hole between supports at opposite ends thereof and surrounding the or each elongate body therein.

The insulation element may comprise an outer piping sleeve extending through the hole between supports at opposite ends thereof and surrounding the or each elongate body therein.

The volume between the outer piping sleeve and the or each elongate body running through the hole may be filled with intumescent material.

When using supports having sleeves the ends of the outer piping sleeve passing through the hole may be arranged to receive the sleeves of the supports.

The arrangement when used with a cavity wall and using supports with sleeves, may provide that the sleeves are adapted to interfit with a hollow metal element for engaging and extending between sleeves of the opposed supports and the volume between the hollow metal element and the or each elongate member is filled with an intumescent material.

If used with a cavity wall making use supports with first mentioned and further sleeves, the hollow metal element is preferably adapted to interfit and engage with said further sleeves on opposed pairs of support means.

The hollow metal element is preferably of steel and is adapted for screw fitment to said sleeves or further sleeves. The hollow metal element may be of steel mesh.

In a third aspect the invention provides a method of supporting at least one elongate body passing through a hole in a wall or other building structure, comprising the steps of locating and fitting a pair of supports each as defined above at opposite ends of the hole, passing the or each elongate body to be supported through a respective aperture therein and through the hole so that the elongate bodies are located in the hole spaced from the wall thereof.

The method may further comprise placing or forming an insulation element to extend through the hole between the supports at opposed ends thereof.

The method may provide for inserting into or foaming in situ in the hole foamed insulation to surround the or each elongate body therein.

With advantage the method may comprise the further step of locating one or more outer piping sleeves to extend through the hole between supports at opposed ends thereof to surround the or each elongate body therein.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention now made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows face and side views of a first support embodying the invention.

Figure 2 shows face and side views of second support embodying the invention, Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a support arrangement embodying the invention making use of the support of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a partially cut away perspective view of the support arrangement shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 shows face and side views of third support embodying the invention,

Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a support arrangement embodying the invention making use of the support of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth support embodying the invention showing fitment of the support in an aperture in a wall, Figure 8 shows face and sectional side views of a fifth support embodying the invention,

Figure 9 is a sectional side view of a support arrangement making use of the supports of Figure 8 in a brick or blockwork wall.

Figure 10 is a sectional side view of a support arrangement making use of the supports of Figure 8 in a cavity wall,

Figure 11 illustrates a sixth support embodying the invention for^' supporting a cable tray in running through a wall,

Figure 12 illustrates an alternative support arrangement making use of the supports of Figure 8 in a cavity wall, Figures 13 and 14 illustrate another form of support embodying the invention and ways in which it may be used, and

Figure 15 shows at A and B face and edge views of a planar member embodying the invention, for use with above described supports, particularly that illustrated in Figure 1.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The pipe support shown in Figure 1 comprises a plate 10 having a substantially centrally located aperture 12. Three lugs 14 are equi-spaced around the circumferential inner wall of aperture 12 and extend radially inwardly of the aperture. The innermost ends 16 of the lugs 14 may be square cut or concavely curved as shown.

Extending from one face of plate 10 is a sleeve 18 the inner diameter of which is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of aperture 12. Sleeve 18 is concentric with the aperture 12 and surrounds it.

The support shown in Figure 1 may be provided in a variety of different sizes, and in particular with a variety of different spacings between the innermost ends 16 of the lugs 14. In this way a support may be selected such that the innermost ends 16 of its lugs 14 are operable to bear on ones of a range of pipes of different diameters to be passed through aperture 12. When this is done the pipe is carried by the lugs 14 generally centrally of the aperture 12 and held spaced from the inner circumferential wall of aperture 12 and from the inner wall of sleeve 18.

It will be appreciated that two supports each as shown in Figure 1 may be fixed on opposite sides of a wall such that their apertures 12 are substantially concentric with a hole formed in the wall. Once this is done a pipe may be passed through the aperture 12 of each support and along the hole in the wall - the pipe being supported by the lands 14 spaced from the plates 10 and the inner surface of the hole in the wall. A second pipe support is shown in Figure 2 to comprise a plate 10 having two apertures 12 and 12' formed therein. Each aperture 12, 12' is provided with three lugs, 14, 14' which are again equi-spaced around the circumferential inner wall of aperture and extend radially inwardly of it.

Extending from the rear face of the plate 10 and associated with the apertures 12 and 12' are two sleeves 18 and 18' the inner diameter of each of which is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of its associated aperture 12, 12'. Each sleeve 18, 18' is concentric with and surrounds its associated aperture 12, 12'. Again, the support shown in Figure 2 may be provided in a variety of different sizes, and in particular with a variety of different spacings between the innermost ends 16, 16' of the lugs 14, 14'.

The size of the apertures 12 and 12' may differ and the spacing of the innermost ends 16, 16' of the lugs 14, 14' need not be the same.

In this way a support may be selected such that the innermost ends of its lugs 14, 14' are operable to support two pipes which may have a range of different diameters, and the diameters of the pipes supported by the support may differ. In each case the pipe is supported by the lugs 14, 14' generally centrally of the aperture 12, 12' through which it passes and held spaced from the inner circumferential wall of that aperture and the inner wall of the associated sleeve 18, 18'.

A pair of supports 20 and 20', each as shown in Figure 2, is used in a support arrangement for pipes passing through a wall in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figures 3 and 4 show a pair of pipes 22 and 22' which run along a hole 24 drilled or cut through a wall 26 and which have been fitted in the following way.

First, a fitter drills or cuts the hole 24 in the wall. The hole 24 is sized to be slightly greater in extent that the distance between the uppermost (as viewed) part of the sleeve 18 and the lowermost (as viewed) part of the sleeve 18' and to be of lesser extent than the height and width of the plate 10, 10' of the supports 20, 20'.

Pieces of plastics piping the inner diameters of which are substantially equal to the outer diameter of the sleeves 18 and 18' are cut to a length equal to or slightly less than the thickness T of the wall 26 to form a pair of outer piping sleeves 28 and 28'. Ends of the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' are then placed on respective sleeves 18 and 18' and the whole offered up to the hole 24 such that the sleeves 18 and 18' carrying the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' are received in the hole 24.

The second support 20' is then offered up to the other end of the hole 24 so that its sleeves 18 and 18' are received in the free ends of the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' . The plates 10 and 10' are then suitably fixed to the faces of wall 26 and the pipes 22 and 22' run through the apertures 12 and 12' and sleeves 18 and 18' of the support 20, along the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' and through the sleeves 18 and 18' and apertures 12 and 12' of the support 20'.

The pipes 22 and 22' are held in the apertures 12 and 12' by the innermost ends 16 of the lugs 14 and 14' spaced from the inner circumferential wall of the apertures

12 and 12' and therefore from the sleeves 18 and 18' and the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28'.

The outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' may simply be frictionally engaged by the sleeves 18 and 18' or the engagement of these items may be enhanced by applying an adhesive or solvent welding agent to either or both of their meeting surfaces as they are assembled.

The plates 10 and 10' may be suitably fixed to the faces of the wall 26 using screws or clips or by using any suitable adhesive. If a bonding agent is used and the strength of the join between the sleeves 18, 18' and the outer piping sleeves 28 and 28' is sufficient there may be no need to fix the plates 10 to the faces of the wall 26 - they may be held in position by the inherent strength of the assembly.

It will be seen that by making use of the supports and outer piping sleeves in the way described a fitter has readily met and overcome the problem found in routing central heating pipes runs through walls, (and floors or ceilings) and met the present UK building regulation requirement that the pipes must be insulated from the material of the wall.

Furthermore, the support of the pipes 22 and 22' by the lugs 14 and 14' ensures they run spaced from the material of the wall and the outer piping sleeves passing through the hole in the wall.

Again, the visible plates 10 of the supports immediately indicate in any inspection or check that the pipes are centred in the outer piping sleeves (and not bearing against it or the wall of the hole) . Yet again, the plates of the supports cover the ends of the hole 24 and are of relatively pleasant appearance to that little or no "making good" is required.

Various modifications may be made to the described arrangements without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, if desired the outer piping sleeves may be omitted in certain circumstances (say if the wall is of plasterboard and its thickness is not great) .

Other modifications which may be made are illustrated in other Figures of the drawings in which like part have been given like references.

Figure 5 illustrates a support substantially the same as that shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, save that the plate 10 is provided, substantially halfway between the apertures 12 and 12' with a portion 30 of reduced thickness which may - as the arrangement is assembled - be broken away by a fitter to allow access to the hole 24.

One use of this form of support would be to permit an electrical or other (for example telephone or television aerial) cable to be passed through the hole 24 as the pipes 22 and 22' are passed therethrough.

Another use for this form of support would be to allow the fitter to fill the void in the hole 24 with insulation material which may be foamed in situ after the supports have been fitted and the pipes 22 and 22' run through the hole 24 (with or without the use of outer piping sleeves) . Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6 where it will be seen the portion 30 of one support 20 has been broken away (before the support was placed in position) whilst the portion 30 of the other support means 20' is untouched enabling a fitter to insert the nozzle 32 of a foam insulation injector 34 into the hole 24 allowing the hole to be filled with the material.

Figure 7 illustrates another modified form of the support shown in Figure 1 in which the sleeve 18 has been provided with a ring 36 of intumescent material formed therearound on the face of plate 10 as shown. When using such a support the fitter would first cut or drill the hole 24 as described above and then, using a larger drill or cutter, cut into the faces of wall 26 a countersunk portion 38 for receiving the ring 36 on the sleeve part 18. If desired, the ring of intumescent material shown in Figure 7 may be replaced by a layer of such material extending across the surface of the plate 10 surrounding the sleeve 18. In this way an adequate seal is obtained without need to cut a countersink in a wall - an intumescent layer being provided between the wall and the plate 10. Again, the ring of intumescent material may be provided within aperture 12 or sleeve 18. For example, the lands 14 may be located on the inner surface of the sleeve 18 set back from the visible, in use, face of plate 10 and a ring of intumescent material be located between those lands and the visible front face of plate 10, within aperture 12.

In this way the fire regulations met in the United Kingdom and elsewhere - requiring that an intumescent seal be provided between different areas of the building - may readily be met.

A similar arrangement may be used, if desired, to hermetically seal the hole 24 by providing a rubber "0- ring" seal in the position of the ring 36 and making use of a countersink as shown in Figure 7, or by providing such a seal spaced from the sleeve 18 on the face of the plate 10 to bear against the faces of any wall to which it is attached.

A fifth form of support embodying the invention is shown in Figure 8 to comprise a generally circular plate 60 having a generally centrally located aperture 62.

Aperture 62 is surrounded by a sleeve 64 formed on its inner surface with lands 66 which act to support a pipe passed through the aperture 62 in the manner described above with reference to the supports of the earlier Figures.

Formed on the face of the plate 60 from which sleeve 64 extends is a further sleeve 68, which as can be seen, extends from plate 60 rather less than does the sleeve 64. The volume between sleeves 64 and 68 is filled with an intumescent material 70.

The support shown in Figure 8 may be used to support pipework running through solid, brick or blockwork walls, by first drilling or cutting a hole through the wall the diameter of which is equal to the outer diameter of the sleeve 64 of the support. The ends of the hole are then countersunk to the depth and diameter of the further sleeve 68 enabling supports to be offered up to the wall such that their plates 60 rest against the wall at each end of the hole.

A pipe may then be run through the supports and along the hole in the wall being supported generally centrally of the hole in the wall by the lands 66 on the inner surfaces of the sleeves 64.

In the alternative, as shown in Figure 9, the supports of Figure 8 may be used with a solid brick or blockwork wall 72, by drilling or cutting a hole 74 the diameter of which is substantially equal to that of the sleeves 68 of the supports. The supports may then be positioned at opposite ends of the hole with a hollow cylindrical volume 76 of intumescent material running between them, to extend between the support members. In particular the hollow cylindrical volume of intumescent material 76 abuts the annular rings of intumescent material 70 providing intumescent material completely surrounding a pipe 80 as it runs through the hole in the wall.

Figure 10 shows how the supports of Figure 8 may be used to carry pipework through a cavity wall 100 formed of sheets of stud work or plasterboard 100A, 100B. As can be seen from Figure 10 the arrangement is in substance the same as that shown in Figure 9 save that in this arrangement an additional hollow outer sleeve 102, of steel, is provided which extends between the plates 60 of the opposed pair of supports completely enclosing the intumescent material provided by the annular rings 70 and the hollow cylindrical member 76.

The hollow outer sleeve 102 may, if desired, simply be a push fit on the outer sleeves 68 of the supports or be fixed to them either permanently, (e.g. by an adhesive as they are positioned) or by being screw fitted thereon.

The arrangements shown in Figures 1 to 9 are each for supporting pipework for running through a hole in a wall. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention need not be limited in use to such arrangements but may also be used to support other items running through a wall or other building structure which are elongate and should be kept from contact with the material of the wall or structure.

The above described supports may be used to support a wire or cable running through a hole in a wall if made the appropriate size, however, in modern practice it is usual to run a set of wires or cables through a wall, floor or ceiling making use of a cable tray - an elongate, rectangular in section element or box through which cables are routed to pass through the wall. Figure 11 shows at A and B a support similar in respects to that of Figure 9 and which may be used to support a cable tray, and it will be appreciated that the only significant differences between this support and the support of Figure 9 is that the plate 60' and the aperture 62' provided in the plate 60' are rectangular and the aperture is sized to receive the cable tray. The sleeves 64' and 68' are also rectangular, and the volume of intumescent material 70' provided between the sleeves 64' and 68' is of hollow rectangular, rather than annular, form.

Figure 12 shows an alternative form of arrangement of Figure 10 providing security in terms of fire penetration through a cavity wall formed of plasterboard or stud work. Parts of the two Figures which are common are given the same reference numerals. The main difference between the two is that the solid steel outer hollow element 102 used in Figure 11 has been replaced by a hollow cylindrical element 102' of mesh metal.

With this arrangement, should a fire occur, the intumescent material held within the element 102' will expand and form, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 12, a globular mass extending between the inner surfaces of the plasterboard 100A, 100B of the wall further enhancing the fire sealing properties of the arrangement.

Figure 13 shows a further support 120 embodying the invention to comprise two parts 120A and 120B. This form of support is usable with larger diameter pipes or - as illustrated - for use with a pipe 122 already positioned in a hole 124 in a wall 126.

Each part of the support 120 comprises a half flange plate 128 and carrying half a sleeve 132 the inner surface of which is coated with a layer 134 of intumescent material so that when the two parts are joined - such that the edges of the sleeves 132 are brought into contact with one another - a support is formed which is similar to that shown in Figure 8 (save that the bearing means comprise the layers of intumescent material 134) .

To enable fitment of the support 120 shown in Figure 13 the volume of the hole 124 surrounding the pipe 122 is cleared and then each part of the support means 120 is offered up such that the intumescent material in layers 134 is in contact with the surface of the pipe 122 and the outer surface of the sleeves 132 contact the inner surface of the hole. The two halves are pushed fully home into the hole and the completed assembly is held on the wall making use of screws passing through the flange plates 128 of the support.

Figure 14 illustrates the support shown in Figure 14 used in an alternative method. As shown in Figure 14 the support formed by the half sleeves 132 - with the inner coating of intumescent material 134 - is used to surround a length of the pipe extending from the wall 126. In this case the protection afforded by the support may be enhanced by providing that the support is fitted with an outer metal two-part sheath such is shown at 136 to surround the support and be fixed to it (e.g. by the screws holding the support on the wall) .

It will be appreciated that the general arrangements disclosed with reference to Figures 13 and 14 are usable with cable trays and for initially fitting certain elongate bodies in position, e.g. large diameter or particularly stiff or elongate bodies with which would otherwise be difficult to fit the supports shown in the other Figures.

Figure 15 illustrates a plastics planar member usable to carry a support such as is shown in Figure 1 and in particular to support two or more such devices which are to be run through an enlarged aperture or hole in a brick or blockwork wall.

The member 150 shown in Figure 15 is generally flat and three specific area of it designated 152, 154 and 156 are bounded by lines 158 of reduced thickness or of increased fragility enabling the material of the member 150 in those areas to be readily broken out by a user.

Each of the areas, 152, 154 and 156 has dimensions such that it is slightly smaller than the area of the plate 10 of the support shown in Figure 1.

The four corners of the member 150 are provided with apertures 160 by means of which member 150 may be secured (for example by using screws) to a wall or other surface to cover an aperture formed therein.

On face 162 of the member 150, on three sides of each of the areas 152, 154 and 156 are provided upstanding walls 164 the edges of which spaced from member 150 are provided with return extensions 166. The spacing of the walls 164 is such that the edges of the plate 10 of the support of Figure 1 may be received between them, and the height of the walls 164 and the spacing of the return extensions 166 from the surface 162 of member 160 is substantially the same as or slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 10 of the support shown in Figure 1.

It will be appreciated therefore that the three walls 164 surrounding each area 152, 154 and 156 form a pocket into which a plate 10 of the support of Figure 1 may be received and held - with the sleeve 18 of the support extending between the return extensions 166 and away from the member 150. It will be noted that the areas 152, 154 and 156 are positioned offset from the centre line of member 150 and the positioning of these areas is selected such that any pipe to be run through a plate 10 held on the planar member 150 will be at a desired distance from the edge 170 of the planar member - a distance substantially equal to the distance from a wall at which a pipe supported by pipe clips would be held.

In all the described arrangements where the means supporting the pipes spaced from the material of the apertures have been provided as lugs or lands they have been formed on the inner circumferential wall of the apertures provided therein. It will be appreciated that the bearing means may be implemented in other ways - for example as lands running along the inner surface(s) of the sleeve(s) (and possibly into the apertures) of the supports.

The bearing means may be implemented, as in the support of Figures 14 and 15, as a layer of intumescent material coating the inner surface of a sleeve of the support.

It is possible also that the bearing means may be implemented as annular rings (for example, those known in the trade as "smoke seals") in the apertures and/or sleeves. Such rings may be formed integrally with the material of the support means or be provided separately for insertion in position by a fitter when assembling the arrangement on site.

The supports and outer piping sleeves described above are preferably moulded in the piece from any suitable plastics material (for example, nylon) which may or may not be provided with an appropriate filler (for example, glass) . Alternative materials such as wood or metal (steel, aluminium etc..) may of course be used to make these parts if the environment in which they are to be used makes it necessary and or desirable. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It will be seen from the foregoing that the described embodiments of the invention provide means for supporting elongate bodies (such as pipes carrying heated and/or cooled fluid) in their runs spaced from the material of any wall, floor or ceiling the elongate body runs through. And furthermore, provide means for adequately sealing the holes through which the elongate bodies pass from fire and/or smoke.

It will also be readily seen that although generally described with reference to the support of pipes carrying heated and/or fluids embodiments of the invention find application in the chemical and other industries in which pipework - or other elongate bodies - must be securely held in fixed locations and orientations spaced from walls and other building structures through which they run and from one another.

Claims

1. A support for an elongate body passing through a hole in a wall or other building structure, the support comprising a plate having an aperture loosely sized to accept the elongate body and a sleeve extending from one face thereof and surrounding the aperture, and bearing means extending inwardly of aperture and/or sleeve, the plate, in use, being fixable to the wall or other building structure with the sleeve extending into the hole therein and with the bearing means bearing against the elongate body and supporting it spaced from the aperture and of the hole.

2. A support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprises a plurality of lugs or lands formed integrally with the support.

3. A support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprises an annular ring member fittable in said aperture or formed integrally on the inner circumferential surface of said aperture. 4. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plate has two or more apertures each for accepting an elongate body, respective sleeves formed to surround each aperture and respective bearing means, said sleeves being placable, in use, in a hole or holes formed in a wall or other building structure through which elongate bodies are to pass.

5. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when of a moulded plastics material.

6. A support as claimed in Claim 5, and any one of claims l to 4, wherein the plate has one or more areas of reduced thickness the or each of which is readily frangible to enable one or more further apertures to be formed in the plate by a user.

7. A support as claimed in any one of Claims l to 4 when of metal.

8. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, being further provided with a volume of intumescent material which, when the support is in use, is operable to prevent fire passing therethrough.

9. A support as claimed in Claim 8 and any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the face of the plate in use bearing on a wall is covered by a layer of intumescent material.

10. A support as claimed in Claim 8 and any one of claims 1 and 7, wherein the or each said sleeve is surrounded by a respective further sleeve formed on the face of the plate and the or each volume between a first mentioned and further sleeve contains intumescent material.

11. A support as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the or each said further sleeve extends from the plate by an amount less than that of the or each first mentioned sleeve and intumescent material completely fills the volume extending directly between the or each first mentioned and further sleeves. 13. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, formed of two or more separate parts which are adapted for placement adjacent the elongate body to wholly surround and support the elongate body. 14. A support as claimed in Claim 13, further comprising a metallic or other material sheath provided to surround parts of the plate and sleeve or sleeves in use.

15. A support as claimed in any one of Claim l or Claim 11, further including a planar member fixable to a surface of a wall or other building structure to close a hole therein, the planar member having a number of specific areas in which its material is removable and which are bounded by parts for receiving the edges of, and supporting, plates of said supports. 16. A support as claimed in Claim 15, wherein said plate receiving parts comprise two or more walls upstanding from a surface of the planar member adjacent each of the specific areas thereof, the edges of said walls spaced from the planar member being provided with return extensions running in a plane substantially parallel to that of the planar member and in a direction toward said specific areas, the spacing of said return extensions from the planar member being substantially equal to the thickness of the plates of the supports. 17. A support as claimed in Claim 16, wherein each specific area of the planar member is provided with three walls respectively on three sides thereof. 18. A pipe support being a support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A support arrangement for supporting at least one elongate body passing through a wall or other building structure, which arrangement comprises a pair of supports each as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and adapted for fitment on a wall or other building structure at opposite ends of a hole formed therein to support one or more elongate bodies passing through the apertures therein and through the hole, the arrangement providing that the or each elongate body is held in the hole spaced from the wall thereof.

20. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 19, further comprising an insulation element extending through the hole between supports at each end thereof and surrounding the or each elongate therein.

21. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the insulation element comprises foamed insulation inserted into or formed in situ in the hole to surround the or each elongate body.

22. An arrangement system as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the insulation element comprises a hollow volume of intumescent material extending through the hole between supports at opposite ends thereof and surrounding the or each elongate body therein.

23. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the insulation element comprises an outer piping sleeve extending through the hole between supports at opposite ends thereof and surrounding the or each elongate body therein.

24. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the volume between the outer piping sleeve and the or each elongate body running through the hole is filled with intumescent material.

25. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 23 or Claim 24, using supports having sleeves, wherein the ends of the outer piping sleeve passing through the hole are arranged to receive the sleeves of the supports.

26. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 25, for use with a cavity wall and using supports with sleeves, wherein the sleeves are adapted to interfit with a hollow metal element for engaging and extending between sleeves of the opposed supports and the volume between the hollow metal element and the or each elongate member is filled with an intumescent material.

27. A system as claimed in Claim 26, for use with a cavity wall and using supports with first mentioned and further sleeves, wherein the hollow metal element is adapted to interfit and engage with said further sleeves on opposed pairs of support means.

28. A system as claimed in Claim 26 or Claim 27, wherein the hollow metal element is of steel and is adapted for screw fitment to said further sleeves.

29. A system as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said hollow metal element is of steel mesh.

30. A method of supporting at least one elongate body passing through a hole in a wall or other building structure, comprising the steps of locating and fitting a pair of supports each claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 at opposite ends of the hole, passing the or each elongate body to be supported through a respective aperture therein and through the hole so that the elongate bodies are located in the hole spaced from the wall thereof. 31. A method as claimed in Claim 30, further comprising placing or forming an insulation element to extend through the hole between the supports at opposed ends thereof.

32. A method as claimed in Claim 31, further comprising inserting into or foaming in situ in the hole foamed insulation to surround the or each elongate body therein.

33. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30, 31 and 32, comprising the further step of locating one or more outer piping sleeves to extend through the hole between supports at opposed ends thereof to surround the or each elongate body therein.