Wall gap fire block device, system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371644-B2
Application number	US-201514603785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Sep 21, 2009
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

Fire block devices for application to a wall component. The fire-block device can be a wall component that includes a fire-resistant material strip that expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier. In some applications, the fire-block wall component is positioned to extend lengthwise along and across a gap between wallboard members. The fire-block wall component may have a U-shaped central portion and a pair of side portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion. The fire-resistant material may be positioned on the central portion of the fire-block device. The central portion may be positioned within the gap such that the fire-resistant material expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a fire-rated wall, comprising:
attaching a bottom track to a horizontal floor element;
attaching a header track to a horizontal ceiling element;
positioning a plurality of vertical wall studs vertically between the bottom track and the header track and attaching each of the studs to at least one of the bottom track and the header track;
supporting at least a first wallboard member and a second wallboard member by the plurality of wall studs, the first wallboard member having a first vertical side edge and the second wallboard member having a second vertical side edge, the first vertical side edge and the second vertical side edge face one another to define a vertically-extending deflection gap between the first wallboard member and the second wallboard member;
positioning a fire-block wall component comprising a vertical fire-block support and a fire-resistant material strip at the deflection gap such that the fire-resistant material strip faces an interior surface of the first wallboard member and the second wallboard member and extends lengthwise along and across the deflection gap, the fire-resistant material strip attached to the fire-block support and comprising an intumescent material that expands when exposed to elevated heat to seal the deflection gap; and
securing the fire-block wall component to a front face of the first wallboard member and to a front face of the second wallboard member.

2. A method of assembling a fire-rated wall, comprising:
attaching a bottom track to a horizontal floor element;
attaching a header track to a horizontal ceiling element;
attaching a first wall portion comprising a first wallboard member having a first wallboard surface and a first edge to one of the bottom track and the header track;
attaching a second wall portion comprising a second wallboard member having a second wallboard surface and a second edge to one of the bottom track and the header track, the first edge and the second edge facing one another and defining a deflection gap therebetween; and
positioning a fire-block wall component lengthwise along and across the deflection gap between the first wallboard member and the second wallboard member, the fire-block wall component comprising at least a first layer and a fire-resistant material strip attached to the first layer, the fire-resistant material strip comprising an intumescent material that expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier, the fire-block wall component having a U-shaped central portion and a pair of side portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion, wherein the positioning comprises locating the central portion within the deflection gap between the first edge and the second edge, and locating the pair of side portions on the first wallboard surface and the second wallboard surface, respectively, adjacent the deflection gap, and wherein the fire-resistant material strip is located on the central portion of the fire-block wall component such that the intumescent material seals the deflection gap when expanded.

3. A method of assembling a fire-rated wall, comprising:
attaching a bottom track to a horizontal floor element;
attaching a header track to a horizontal ceiling element;
attaching a first wall portion comprising a first wallboard member having a first wallboard surface and a first edge to one of the bottom track and the header track;
attaching a second wall portion comprising a second wallboard member having a second wallboard surface and a second edge to one of the bottom track and the header track, the first edge and the second edge facing one another and defining a deflection gap therebetween; and
positioning a fire-block wall component lengthwise along and across the deflection gap between the first wallboard member and the second wallboard member, the fire-block wall component comprising at least a first layer and a fire-resistant material strip attached to the first layer, the fire-resistant material strip comprising an intumescent material that expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier, the fire-block wall component having a V-shaped central portion and a pair of side portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion, wherein the positioning comprises locating the central portion within the deflection gap between the first edge and the second edge, and locating the pair of side portions on the first wallboard surface and the second wallboard surface, respectively, adjacent the deflection gap, and wherein the fire-resistant material strip is located on the central portion of the fire-block wall component such that the intumescent material seals the deflection gap when expanded.

Assignees

• California Expanded Metal Products Co

Inventors

• Pilz Donald A
• Poliquin Raymond E

Classifications

• E04B1/943

  elongated · CPC title

• A62C2/065 Primary

  having as the main closure device materials, whose characteristics undergo an irreversible change under high temperatures, e.g. intumescent · CPC title

• E04B1/948 Primary

  Fire-proof sealings or joints (for doors or windows E06B5/164) · CPC title

• E04B2/7457

  with wallboards attached to the outer faces of the posts, parallel to the partition (E04B2/7459 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04B1/946

  Protection against smoke or toxic gases · CPC title