Fire barrier protected dynamic joint

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a fire barrier system comprising: a) a (dynamic) 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, the elements being moveable with respect to one another, the first and second surfaces being juxtaposed to define a space therebetween, the space having a fixed length and a width which varies from a minimum width to a maximum width as the elements move with respect to each other; and b) a flexible sheet of fire barrier material having a first area attached by a first attachment means at or adjacent the first surface at the first attachment area of the first element, a second area attached by a second attachment means at or adjacent the second surface at the second attachment area of the second element, an unattached intermediate area between the first and the second areas, a width at least the length of the space and a length at least as long as the maximum width of the space, and an intermediate area mass; wherein at least one of the attachment means comprises an adhesive material applied between one of the attachment areas of the sheet and its corresponding attachment area of one of the 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 (preferably, at least equal to 1/2 of the product, more preferably, at least equal to 3/4 of the product, and even more preferably, at least equal to the product) of the mass of the intermediate area times the acceleration due to gravity.
Preferably, the fire barrier system is capable of withstanding a fire test condition.
The attachment means present in the fire barrier system are sufficient to secure the flexible sheet of fire barrier material within the joint under ambient conditions and typical fire conditions for a desired period of time