Coupling assembly with intumescent material

A method for allowing utility members to pass through a partition of a structure while preventing transmission of fire and smoke through the partition of the structure, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a coupling assembly including a coupling constructed of plastic having an open first end and an open second end with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface extending therebetween around a longitudinal axis of the assembly;
• and a firestop extension mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the coupling and including a housing constructed of metal having an inner passageway extending therebetween and an intumescent material mounted in the inner passageway wherein a portion of the housing having the intumescent material extends beyond the second end of the coupling in a direction opposite the first end of the coupling;
• (b) mounting the coupling assembly in the partition of the structure which includes:
• (i) securing the coupling of the coupling assembly to a portion of the partition;
• (ii) providing a cover for the open first end of the coupling;
• (iii) placing the cover on the open first end of the coupling;
• (iv) pouring concrete around the coupling assembly and allowing the concrete to harden to form the partition;
• and
• (v) removing the cover;
• (c) extending utility members through the firestop coupling assembly;
• and
• (d) heating the intumescent material mounted in the housing of the firestop extension of the coupling assembly above a preset temperature, wherein when the intumescent material is heated, the intumescent material expands to close the inner passageway of the housing of the firestop extension and sealingly expand around the utility members extending through the coupling assembly such that smoke and fire are unable to move past the intumescent material in the inner passageway of the housing of the firestop extension.

A fluid conduit system for use in a structure for carrying fluid through the structure and to prevent the transmission of fire and smoke through a partition of the structure, the system which comprises:

• (a) at least one fluid carrying conduit for carrying fluid through the structure;
• and
• (b) at least one coupling assembly mounted in the partition of the structure wherein the coupling assembly includes:
• (i) a coupling constructed of plastic having an open first end and an open second end with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface extending therebetween and having an inner passageway around a longitudinal axis of the assembly;
• and
• (ii) a firestop extension mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the coupling and including a housing constructed of metal having an inner passageway and an intumescent material mounted in the inner passageway adjacent one end of the housing spaced apart from the coupling wherein a portion of the housing having the intumescent material extends beyond the second end of the coupling in a direction opposite the first end of the coupling and;
• wherein the fluid carrying conduit extends through the coupling assembly through the partition and wherein when the intumescent material is heated above a predetermined temperature, the intumescent material expands to fill the inner passageway of the housing around the fluid carrying conduit and acts to seal the inner passageway of the housing and the coupling.