Roxtec enables faster refits with no-weld seal system

摘要

When faced with sealing over 6,000 openings for cables and pipes, the builders of TUI's cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 opted for the Roxtec system. This relatively simple invention was used to great effect on the 98,811grt ship, not only greatly reducing the fitout time, but also adding redundancy for future upgrades. The biggest challenge when faced with running pipes or cables through structural metal partitions is to make a seal that is totally secure. Each one has to be watertight, gas tight and fire-resistant. Traditionally, this has been done by cutting a hole to the exact diameter of each metal conduit and then welding them into place. This presented several problems, ranging from manipulating intense heat in a confined space to how to remove the pipe again for repairs or modifications. In the cruise ship industry, deck and bulkhead penetrations have to cater for a wide range of non-ferrous carriers too -from lightweight plastic pipes for domestic services to antenna feeds and fibre optics. High power electrical cables can give additional problems from electromagnetic interference. Making thousands of holes and welds - and then remaking them for upgrades or new technology - is labour intensive and costly.