A Guide to Structural Steel Passive Fire Protection- Intumescent Coatings

Intumescent Coating Services

Intumescent coating is the processes of protecting load-bearing structures against fire. It delays the occurrence of structural damage in the event of a fire, allowing people to quickly evacuate buildings. G P Coatings is fully accredited to provide NSW with fire protection using intumescent paint.

Why opt for Intumescent coating?

There are numerous reasons why you should consider making intumescent coating a standard procedure, including:

Protects Buildings & People in the Event of a Fire

Intumescent paint has flame retardant properties and adds additional strength to steel structures, prolonging stability in the event of a fire. This is possible because the intumescent covering significantly extends the steel’s temperature hold, which means people have more time to evacuate the premises to safety. This also gives firefighters more time to step in to try and get the fire under control.

Increases Fire Resistance Levels

This intumescent covering increases the Fire Resistance Level (FRL). Furthermore, not only does it decrease in density, but it also increases in volume and transforms into an insulating barrier. This barrier is considerably larger and less rigid than what conventional paint can offer.

Significantly Decreases Risk of Collapse

Naturally, when a fire rages beyond 500°c, the load-bearing capacity for steel structures decreases significantly. This puts every single person, including firefighters, in incredible danger. Therefore, it is important to meet Fire Resistance Levels (FRL) to secure enough steel protection and give everyone a window to evacuate safely. Intumescent coatings are the ideal solution for this and should be regarded a necessity for all buildings.

 How it Works

In the event of a fire when temperatures rapidly increase, the intumescent paint begins to swell and forms a protective layer around the structure it covers – and increases in volume. The specific layer it forms does not conduct heat well and, instead of acting as a fireproof solution, it merely protects the structure for an extended period of time before the heat reaches the surface.

There are three main components in intumescent paint that make it work effectively, including:

1.    Carbon - this can either be polyols as starch or pentaerythritol

2.    An expanding agent like melamine

3.    An acid source such as ammonium polyphosphate

The intumescent coating can be applied in either a solvent or a waterborne polymeric binder.

Here’s the process of how the intumescent paint works in action:

Stage 1        The fire’s heat softens the polymeric binder

Stage 2        The heat releases an organic acid

Stage 3        The polyols start carbonising

Stage 4        The decomposition gasses from the melamine starts to swell, creating a barrier and spreading to other parts of the structure

What is Intumescent Paint Coated To?

In the event of a fire, steel usually starts to warp, which poses a major risk for collapse. Therefore, intumescent paint is usually applied to structural steel in an attempt to safeguard the structure for a limited time period in the event of a fire.

Though the intumescent coating does extend the time in which the steel structure is affected, it is not a fireproof solution, and the steel will eventually start to warp. However, the intumescent coating still provides enough time for evacuation and firefighting action.

When there’s a fire, the most important thing to do is get every person to safety, which is why time is such an important factor. Intumescent coating gives both people and firefighters the time and opportunity to evacuate safely and get the fire under control.

G P Coatings is fully accredited to apply intumescent paint coatings. Not only we apply these systems, we certify them as well. For more information on applying intumescent coatings, feel free to contact us.