Intumescent Coatings

Intumescent Coatings

Intumescent coating, often referred to as intumescent paint, is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to protect load bearing elements of buildings against fire. Intumescent coating delays the collapse of the structure through insulating the structural elements (columns, beams, floors and roofs) that support the building, thus helping achieve fire resistance levels specified in terms of time. Therefore, it fulfills with the highest priority of passive fire protection, preventing the collapse of the building, allowing the time for safe evacuation of people from it, and making it safer for the emergency services and rescue team.

Intumescent coatings are an increasingly used way of providing passive fire protection to the load-bearing structures, especially structural steel, which is becoming more and more popular in modern architectural design of both industrial and commercial buildings. As a means of fire protection, it presents several advantages:

– It does not modify the intrinsic properties of materials, like for example the mechanical properties;

– It is easily processed, and

– Different kinds of intumescent paint can be used on a variety of materials, such as steel, timbers, composite elements and concrete.

How to correctly apply intumescent paints to steel materials – preparation tips

Intumescent paints are always part of a system. For steelworks, the system includes an anticorrosive primer and (eventually) a topcoat. For the former, the scope is assuring adhesion to substrate in cold state, anticorrosion protection and stickability of intumescent char formed during fire exposure, while the scope of the latter is aesthetic function and, in case of specific atmospheric aggression, sealer function to prevent early degradation and inactivation of intumescent layer and weathering resistance to end-use conditions.

Before being coated with a compatible primer, steelwork must be prepared according to SA 2.5 Swedish Standard. If that is already the case, it must be cleaned and free from grease, oil, rust, dirt or any other contaminant that may inhibit the bonding.

For speed and quality of finish, intumescent coatings are preferably spray applied with airless paint equipment. Brush and roller application may also be possible.

Spray, brush or roller applied intumescent paint.

• Spray, brush or roller applied topcoat (if necessary).
• Primer approved by international certification or by supplier.
• Structural steel column and beam. Clean, dry and free from dust, oil, loose mill scale or rust and any other condition preventing good adhesion AND blast cleaned in accordance proper international standards.

Fire Trap is a certified applicator for most of international manufacturers