Fire barrier protected dynamic joint

A fire barrier system capable of withstanding a fire test condition, fire barrier system comprising:

• a) a joint comprising a first structural element having a first surface and a first attachment area, and a second structural element having a second surface and a second attachment area, said elements being moveable with respect to one another, said first and second surfaces being juxtaposed to define a space therebetween, said space having a fixed length and a width which varies from a minimum width to a maximum width as said elements move with respect to each other, wherein the first attachment area is a portion of the first structural element;
• and
• b) a flexible sheet of fire barrier material comprising a first area directly attached by a first attachment means at or adjacent said first surface at said first attachment area of said first element, a second area directly attached by a second attachment means at or adjacent said second surface at said second attachment area of said second element, an unattached intermediate area between said first and said second areas, a width at least the length of said space and a length at least as long as the maximum width of said space, and an intermediate area mass;
• wherein at least one of said attachment means comprises an adhesive material applied between one of said attachment areas of said sheet and its corresponding attachment area of one of said elements in an amount and of a type which provides an adhesive material bond therebetween having at least one of a tensile or a shear bond strength which in force units is at least equal to 1/4 of the product of the mass of said intermediate area times 1.0 g,
• said fire barrier system being capable of withstanding a fire test condition.

A method for attaching a fire barrier device to a dynamic joint in a structure, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a joint comprising a first structural element having a first surface and a first attachment area, and a second structural element having a second surface and a second attachment area, said elements being moveable with respect to one another, said first and second surfaces being juxtaposed to define a space therebetween, said space having a fixed length and a width which varies from a minimum width to a maximum width as said elements move with respect to each other, wherein the first attachment area is a portion of the first structural element;
• (b) providing a flexible sheet of fire barrier material comprising a first area for direct attachment at or adjacent said first surface at said first attachment area of said first element, a second area for direct attachment at or adjacent said second surface at said second attachment area of said second element, an intermediate area between said first and said second areas of said sheet, a width at least the length of said space, and a length at least as long as the maximum width of said space;
• (c) attaching said first area of said sheet by a first attachment means at or adjacent said first surface at said first attachment area of said first element and said second area of said sheet by a second attachment means at or adjacent said second surface at said second attachment area of said second element, wherein said intermediate area of said flexible sheet is unattached to said joint, and wherein at least one of said attachment means comprises an adhesive material applied between one of said areas of said sheet and its corresponding attachment area of one of said elements in an amount and of a type which provides an adhesive material bond therebetween having at least one of a tensile or a shear bond strength which in force units is at least equal to 1/4 of the product of the mass of said intermediate area times 1.0 g.