Single-sided fire-resistant applications for flue gas discharge pipes 

Promat is part of Etex Building Performance and offers a full range of fire-resistant products and systems for fire-resistant construction. It developed unique methods to produce and test its products in real conditions, including in the area of flue gas exhaust (RGA) and combustion air supply (LTV) ducts. Using cuffs and sealants to seal a penetration fireproof.

With all its products, Promat offers a total solution for fire-resistant sealing of different types of penetrations. When it comes to RGA and LTV pipes, Promat offers for aluminum and Safe-PP pipes, for example, the PROMASTOP®-FC3, PROMASTOP®-FC6, PROMASTOP®-UCE and PROMASTOP®-W. For plastic concentric pipes, tested variants are available from Burgerhout and Ubbink. Martin Boot, Technical Development & Application Engineer at Promat: "For these types of pipes, there is no test standard available to determine fire resistance. Therefore, products are often applied that have not been tested in accordance with reality."

To solve this problem, Promat in the past had an equivalence substantiation prepared by Efectis together with Rogafa (Vereniging van Nederlandse Fabrieken van Gasafvoerleidingen) and VFK (Belangenorganisatie van Nederlandse ketelleveranciers). This will meet the wbdbo requirements, assuming a fire resistance of 60 minutes. Boot: "A shaft is a closed space that you cannot enter later. So it is better to make it single-sided fire-resistant. Toward the shaft 60 minutes (entire wbdbo requirement) and from the shaft 0 minutes. In that case, cuffs only need to be placed on the outside of the shaft. This is possible with our products. There is then a condition that no fire can occur in the shaft."

Way of testing

Promat fire sleeves are tested in accordance with EN 1366-3. The test configuration is matched to the pipe material and use. RGA and LTV pipes are capped on the appliance side. After all, that is always where the connection to the central heating appliance is located directly. It is also permissible to test this pipe open (uncapped). On the shaft side, both pipes are open (uncapped) during the fire test. In this way, the connection to the system is simulated. The pressure and flow of hot gases in a vented pipe is different than in an uncapped pipe.

Cuffs and sealant

Promat offers solutions with several types of fire sleeves, so the optimal choice can be made in any situation. Operation is guaranteed, so the choice is up to the installer, says Boot. "The PROMASTOP®-UCE consists of a perforated stainless steel band with links, which you can cut and break to the desired size. When you know the diameter in advance, cuffs with a fixed size are very convenient. For that, there are the PROMASTOP®-FC3 and PROMASTOP®-FC6. So the choice you make as an installer depends on your own preferences and the space you have." What the cuffs have in common is that they contain several layers of intumescent graphite-based material. Due to the high temperatures during a fire, this intumescent filling seals the pipe.

"It goes without saying that you must use our fireproof sealant in conjunction with the cuffs," says Product Manager Sam de Graeve. "After all, it is not allowed to deviate from the tested configuration. The sealant ensures that the space between wall and pipe is sealed all around. PROMASEAL®-A is an acrylic sealant. With the 600 ml package, it comes in a sausage that you put in the sealant gun. We do this with sustainability in mind; it prevents waste and unnecessary packaging material. You don't have a tube left over."

Opinion

Promat offers installers free project advice if required. This starts with the Promat® Selector (selector.promat.com), where you indicate what kind of product and application it is about and after a few clicks you see what the possibilities are. De Graeve: "If you still have questions, you can contact the Technical Department via the button on the website. What we offer is more than just a product or a number of products together. It is the combination and installing it in the right way. So you see that Ubbink offers fire resistant kits that include our PROMATECT®-100 fire resistant board, a fixed diameter cuff and sealant. It's nice to see that even the pipe supplier chooses Promat to offer the best solution."