Thermal protective barrier

A thermal protective barrier including a panel for installation about an interior space heating unit in combination with a sleeve for installation about a flue component of the interior space heating unit,

• said sleeve comprising:
• a thin, leak proof sleeve formed of a fireproof material and having a cylindrical configuration and a toroidal cross section, said sleeve including an intermediate section and an uppermost section, each said section having an outer face, an opposite inner face, and a lower end and an opposite upper end defining a continuous interior volume therebetween, and containing a non-combustible liquid substantially filling the interior volume of each said section;
• said intermediate section including a liquid inlet port communicating with the interior volume of the intermediate section adjacent its lower end, a first outlet passage extending from its lower end to its upper end, said first outlet passage being closed to the interior volume of said intermediate section, and a second outlet passage opposite said first outlet passage, said second outlet passage communicating with the interior volume of said intermediate section adjacent its upper end;
• said uppermost section including a liquid inlet port at its lower end connected to said second outlet passage of the intermediate section, and a first outlet passage connected to the first outlet passage of said intermediate section, said first outlet passage of the uppermost section extending from its lower end to adjacent its upper end and providing for separate downward flow of said non-combustible liquid from said uppermost section through said intermediate section;
• said panel comprising:
• at least one thin, leak proof panel formed of a fireproof material and having a rectangular parallelepiped configuration including a first face and an opposite second face, two oppositely disposed edge walls consisting of a lowermost edge wall and an uppermost edge wall, and two oppositely disposed end walls defining a continuous interior volume therebetween, and containing a non-combustible liquid substantially filling said interior volume;
• said at least one panel including a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port installed therein, said inlet port communicating with the interior volume immediately adjacent said lowermost edge wall and said outlet port communicating with the interior volume immediately adjacent said uppermost edge wall, with each said port respectively providing for the filling and draining of said non-combustible liquid from said panel, and;
• reinforcement means installed within said at least one panel for strengthening said first face and said second face.