Expansion joints are gaps in walls and floors, which occur between individual sections of buildings. Their task is to safely compensate for the expansion and contraction of building materials caused by temperature or vibration. They also enable movement caused by the building sinking into the ground. Depending on their location, they often require sealing to have certified fire resistance.
All construction projects are divided into sections, which are divided into: floor and wall. They help to control the indoor environment, maintain thermal conditions, dampen sound transmission and protect against atmospheric agents, and contain the spread of fire, smoke or fumes.
Walls of buildings and concrete floors expand and contract as a result of temperature changes caused by e.g. seasonal differences. Without expansion joints, the structural elements of the building are exposed to cracking and other mechanical damage under the influence of stress.
In terms of fire protection, expansion joints are one of the weakest links in ceilings and walls. As a rule, the fire resistance of any structure is only as good as its weakest link. Proper fire protection of expansion joints is a real challenge and requires the use of professional fire protection materials such as: fire-retardant compounds, fire-retardant pastes, fire-retardant cords. Improper sealing of the expansion joint or its fireproofing may result in the penetration of smoke, vapors and flames through the fire barrier.
Expansion joints in walls
Wall expansion joints are made as vertical or horizontal separation elements located in places where stress concentration is expected. To ensure free, but at the same time controlled, linear movement of walls, expansion joints are often used at the junction of walls and floors.
Expansion joints in floors
Expansion joints in floors are linear gaps that play an important role in allowing the ceiling to expand and contract freely. They are most often performed when flooding the ceiling or erecting it from ready-made construction elements.
Fire protection of expansion joints
Expansion joints in fire barriers occurring in a building may be a source of fire spreading. In order to maintain the integrity of the interrupted fireproof assembly and prevent the spread of fire, an appropriate fireproof barrier in the form of proper filling of the fireproof expansion joint must be used.
Fire protection of expansion joints is made with the use of appropriately selected fire protection products, such as:
- Fire-retardant paste
- Fire retardant foam
- Fire-protective expansion cords
Flame Cabel A Paste – paste intended for fireproof protection of expansion joints filled with mineral wool boards and expansion joints in walls and floors.
Expansion joints in walls and floors- method of protection with the use of Flame Cabel A Paste:
We usually secure the expansion joints in a repeatable way: place mineral wool boards in the joint and use a spatula to apply the Flame Cabel A Paste fire-resistant paste. It is the most effective method to achieve and ensures permanent fire resistance.
Piro Foam PF 240 – foam intended for fireproof protection of dilatation in building partitions constituting fire partitions with a possible small range of movement of elements.
ZZ 530 Joint Seal – a polyethylene, non-absorbent flexible profile with a round cross-section. It is intended for fire protection of expansion joints, both horizontal and vertical, in walls and ceilings of fire separation. An important feature of this fire protection is allowing the structural elements to work in a relatively wide range, while ensuring a high level of tightness.
FJ203 – has a very wide range of applications in the fire protection of expansion joints, both horizontal and vertical, in walls and floors of fire separation. The FJ203 is a woven rope made of mineral rock fiber with a sheath of flexible glass fibers. Thanks to the high-class materials and the appropriate manufacturing technology, it is very easy to install. Protections made with FJ 203 cords are characterized not only by very good fire protection parameters, but also high durability and ergonomics in use.
Fire protection:
-Expansion joints in walls
-Expansion joints in floors
-Expansion joints in fire partitions