Installation culverts are special openings located in the structural elements of a building. Located in walls, floors and ceilings, they constitute a space that is used, among others, for electrical, ventilation, sanitary and hydraulic installations. How should they be properly secured and how to choose the right solutions?
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How to properly secure installation penetrations?
Proper securing of installation penetrations is one of the most important things that affect the safety of the facility. This includes fire protection regulations regarding the technical conditions that installation penetrations should meet to provide protection against fire, as well as against moisture and noise, tightness, but also other external factors at the points of installation passage.
In order to properly secure the culverts, it is necessary to ensure their tightness. For this purpose, special fireproof seals, elastic seals, assembly foams, bituminous masses, or protective sleeves are used. Each of them is used in specific situations, depending on the scope of protection of a given culvert. Examples include bituminous masses or assembly foams, as well as protective sleeves.
When selecting the appropriate security option, remember that it should provide:
- fire protection, in accordance with applicable fire protection regulations - an example would be special tapes and putties, the role of which is to block the flow of gases in the event of a fire. The products are characterized by a certain durability, provide a certain amount of time of effective action;
- tightness to water and air penetration - to protect against moisture, polyurethane foams, silicone and acrylic masses are used, and in the case of boiler rooms or industrial premises, special sealing sleeves are used;
- noise protection - to ensure the comfort of residents, culverts should also protect against the penetration of noise, for this purpose special acoustic foams with specific sound-absorbing properties are used.
Additionally, in industrial facilities, the culverts must also be protected against the effects of chemical agents. Chemically resistant sealing is characterized by a high degree of protection even in the case of aggressive agents.
Selection of fire protection solutions according to NRO classification
NRO is a classification used to assess building elements that, in the event of a fire, can significantly contribute to the rate of fire spread. The classification includes elements such as walls, roofs, and ceilings. According to the applicable standards, they cannot contribute to the spread of fire or increase the risk of fire.
According to the classification, in the context of installation penetrations, it is noted that they can only be made of materials that provide an appropriate level of protection against fire. Both against its occurrence and spread. The following are primarily used to ensure fire tightness and insulation:
- fire-resistant masses, mainly acrylic or silicone, as well as swelling ones, which are used to fill gaps, e.g. around cables or pipes;
- fire protection sleeves - which are installed around pipes or installation elements, e.g. cables, in the event of a fire, help limit its spread, reducing the risk of fire spreading to other rooms via a culvert;
- fireproof collars - which are installed around pipes; during a fire in the building, the temperature is very high, and under its influence the collars swell, blocking the flow of fire through the penetrations.
When selecting a solution variant, you should pay attention to several factors. For each variant used, manufacturers specify the degree of fire resistance. They are marked as El 30, El 60 or El 120, and this number refers to the time for which a given element provides fire resistance. E means tightness, while l means the insulation of the element. Thanks to this parameter, you can find out how long protection will be provided - how long the possibility of stopping the fire will be maintained and how long the element will maintain insulating properties under high temperature. In the case of penetrations, it is indicated that the fire resistance class is selected in accordance with the level of insulation of a given partition, because full consistency must be maintained.
Insulation for installations is available in various variants, including PUR insulation , polyethylene insulation , and polyurethane insulation .
How to properly protect yourself against smoke and burning droplets?
From the point of view of fire safety, the premises must be suitably protected. In sewage systems, culverts, and in the case of individual water pipes, special elements are used, both in ceiling culverts, which must meet the appropriate technical requirements. The required fire resistance class should provide protection against smoke, as well as burning drops.
The fire resistance class for elements located in the partition and penetration, in the ceilings of the closed room must provide an appropriate level of smoke tightness. Smoke extraction systems and protections that reduce the risk associated with burning droplets are also important.
The essence of separating individual zones is to increase the safety of people and property. In isolation, the key role is played by the selection of materials with properties that support the non-spreading of smoke and fire, especially where installations pass to other rooms. It is reasonable to use protection with appropriate certificates, meeting specific fire protection standards for the cable, elements, etc.