GB2595221A

GB2595221A - Ceiling tile with integrated leak detection

Info

Publication number: GB2595221A
Application number: GB2007283.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sharma Ankur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-05-17
Filing date: 2020-05-17
Publication date: 2021-11-24
Also published as: GB202007283D0

Abstract

A ceiling tile with integrated leak detection and drip tray is provided. The ceiling tile is a two-part unit including an inner shell 1 made from high density plastic or metal and an outer shell 2 made from typical ceiling tile material (e.g. mineral fibre). The inner shell comprises a drip tray which incorporates a leak detection cable 3 held down by a plurality of clips 4. The drip tray gives the fluid somewhere to collect and a barrier to prevent damage to the ceiling tile, and the integrated leak detection cable 3 alerts a maintenance team to the occurrence of a leak; hence preventing potential costly repairs.

Description

1 Title: Ceiling Tile with Integrated Leak Detection.

2 Abstract Title: Ceiling tiles with integrated leak detection and drip tray 4 Applicants: Ankur Sharma Inventor(s): Ankur Sharma 6 Agent and/or Address for Service: 7 Ankur Sharma 8 135 Wilmington Gardens, Barking, Essex, IG11 9TR, United Kingdom.

11 Description:

12 At joints and connection points for fluid filled systems, such as AC systems, there is a 13 chance of developing a fluid leak over time due to various reasons. These systems are 14 predominately installed, and piped, behind a false, grid type, ceiling. When a leak develops, it not usually noticed until the ceiling tile is discoloured.

17 Further to the above, modern Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems that uses R32 18 refrigerant gas, a gas with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than its predecessor 19 R410a, is currently limited to roughly 34kW due to R32 being flammable after it passes a specific concentration which may become apparent too late during a leak. For this 21 reason, R410a is used in favour of R32 for these big capacity systems, even though there 22 is growing pressure to phase down the use of R32 in line with the F-Gas regulations.

24 As the need for R32 to be used in bigger systems becomes more apparent, by way of cost or otherwise, leak detection can be used as a way to prevent the concertation of the 26 refrigerant gas to become dangerously high.

28 Another common issue that arises is when a roof, or the slab above if the demise is 29 underground, which is hidden behind a false grid ceiling, develops a leak for various reasons. This leak can go unnoticed for an extended period of time causing damage that 31 far exceeds the cost of a discoloured ceiling tile.

33 It is against this background that the invention has been devised.

Where most ceiling tiles are made out of materials which absorb fluids, the proposed 36 unit, outlined in the attached drawings, is a two part unit in which the shell is made from 37 high density plastic or metal, or a combination of the two (1), which acts as a drip tray to 38 collect the fluid should a leak develop, and the outer shell is made from the same 39 material that current ceiling tiles are made from, predominantly mineral fibre (2), and the same colour as the rest of the ceiling tiles in the demise. The drip tray incorporates leak 41 detection cable (3), held down by purpose designed (and widely available) hold down 42 clips (4). The leak detection cable is connected to the buildings alarm and maintenance 43 system, be it the Building Management System (BMS) or otherwise, and signals to head 44 end that there is a leak somewhere in the ceiling void.

46 The proposed ceiling tile, with integrate leak detection, is to be strategically placed below 47 areas where a leak is most likely to develop, such as the connection point between the 48 indoor AC unit (evaporator) and refrigerant pipework or below any flow selector boxes.

49 Of course, the proposed unit is not limited to this application. It can be used in any SO application that requires leak detection and where a ceiling grid is present.

52 Once a leak is detected by the leak detection cable, a signal it sent to the buildings head 53 end raising an audible or visual alarm. Once the leak is rectified and the system integrity 54 is (re)tested, the tray part of the tile can be purged of any waste fluid (safely, by a SS competent person with training, if required) with no noticeable marks left on the tile 56 itself. This mitigates the need of replacement of the tile which costs time and money 57 where complex detection systems, and subsequence maintenance, is already part of the 58 management of the building.

The final products may take different forms to fit different types of ceiling grid (1200x600 61 opposed to just 600x600, for example), nor is it constrained by AC systems exclusively as 62 it can be used for any fluid system that is housed within a ceiling grid, and is therefore 63 not designed exclusively for the aforementioned examples.

There are 4 accompanying drawings to signify the major 4 types of ceiling grid edge 66 details which are: 67 1. Board Type (5): Drawing ME-001 68 2. Tegular Type (6): Drawing ME-002 69 3. Microlook Type (7): Drawing ME-003 4. Vector Type (8): Drawing ME-004 72 Again, the final products may take different forms, and, in this case, the design may be 73 amended incorporate a range of edge details not outlined in the examples above. The 74 above edge details are predominately used and therefore are outlined to illustrate how the system may be integrated.

77 The plastic/metal drip tray (1) is envisaged to be made from 2mm high density 78 polystyrene, again, not exclusively as this is not widely recyclable and this may be 79 replaced with a more suitable material once found. This may, however, range from 1mm to 10mm depending on the application.

82 It is envisaged that the outer layer be made from approx. 3mm of mineral fibre (2) (again, 83 not exclusively as different ceiling tiles are made from different materials) for it to have 84 an element of sound absorption as general ceiling tiles do. This also may, however, range from 1mm to 10mm depending on the application.

87 The general leak detection layout is to remain mostly the same with variations available 88 for different size of ceiling tile and application as well as the connections may change for 89 the required application and from manufacturer.

Claims

Claims: 97 1. The combination of leak detection cable (being held down by various different 98 methods), in a tray (a variety of different materials or even a combination of 99 materials) with the outside layer made from the same material that ceiling tiles are made from.102 2. A combination that matches claim 1 above, with different overall sizes, thus 103 different volumes of liquid it can hold, to match the required size and style of the 104 ceiling grid and application.106 3. A combination that matches claim land 2 above, with different types of ceiling 107 tile edge details including, but not limited to, Board, Tegular, Microlook and 108 Vector.4. A combination that matches claim 1, 2 and 3 above, with the leak detection cable 111 layout changing depending on the size of the tile and the coverage required.