The essentials of fire resistant coating

Fire resistant coating, or other fireproof construction and lining materials, have been compulsory for years now in office buildings, entrance halls, public buildings, parking garages and governmental buildings. . In case of fire, a fire resistant coating guarantees extended evacuation time, as well as vital extra time for firefighters to arrive and minimise damage.

Fire resistant paint, in general, comes with the following advantages:

Suitable for various substrates: fireproof paints are applicable on wood, steel, concrete, textile and plastics.

Durable protection: lasts for decades and makes the surface impact resistant

Decorative: if applied as a top coat, it is available in every RAL colour

Fire protection up to 120 minutes: conforms to British, European and international standards

Prefab is possible: fire protection coatings can be applied before or after construction

When applying a fireproof paint there are several important factors that will affect your choice: the building type determines the minimum fire protection time required of the fireproofing method (30, 60, 90, 120 minutes), and each different substrate will need a specific product and application method (fire resistant coating for wood is different to one for steel). Therefore, in this article we provide you with professional advice on what you need to know when choosing a fire protection paint.

General guidelines to choosing a fire resistant coating

If you are considering applying fireproof coating, then the structure of the building is part of what defines the coating you need; what is the building used for, and what is the building’s height? There are three factors that define whether the building requires 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes of fire protection.

1. Height
   The higher the building, the stricter the requirements: a building higher than 5 metres must be at least 90 minutes fire proof. A building lower than 5 metres does not always have specified fire resistance, which is why you should always consult a specialist when considering fireproof coatings.
2. Residential / non-residential building
   Are there, or could there be people sleeping in the building? Buildings below 5 metres must be 60 minutes fireproof, and buildings between 5 and 13 metres require 90 minutes. If the building is higher than 13 metres, the requirement is 120 minutes of resistance to fire.
3. Risk factor
   In some cases the fire resistance must be 120 minutes regardless of the height and purpose of the building. This is true for industrial facilities and places with a heightened fire risk such as offshore structures and chemical processing plants. This is also true for archives, libraries, and museums where valuable information or goods are stored.

Note that these three factors are not affected by the substrate type; the same rules count for wood and steel. In general, the costs of fireproof paint can be estimated by the amount of coating needed and the required fire resistance: the higher fire rating the fire resistant coating must have, the greater the investment to apply it.

Fire rating for your building

The following table gives you an indication of what to expect from the fire protection for your building type.

Always consult a specialist about fire resistant coatings to make sure your building is appropriately protected and meets the set standards. Our experts are happy to help you receive a competitive proposal for the coating you need: just send us a message by clicking the “request a quote” button at the bottom of this article.

Fire resistant coating quality and certification

We advise you to leave the application of fireproof paint to a certified contractor. Every building has specific requirements for fire resistance, and it takes a trained professional to apply the coating effectively. The building type, substrate type, and end use requirements all impact the choice of coating and the way it is applied, including such factors as film thickness. An inspection report needs to be drawn up by the contractor, including calculations for film thickness and the suitable materials for the project.

Once the coating has been applied, you will receive a certificate. This certificate confirms that you have complied with all relevant regulations and used the correct fire resistant coating. The coating must also be regularly inspected in order to detect any signs of premature deterioration and need for maintenance.

What makes fire resistant coating fireproof

There are two types of fire resistant coating, intumescent and fire retardant, and each has a different method of impeding fire. They can be applied either independently or as a fire protective system.

1. Intumescent coatings:almost predominantly applied as undercoats. This type of fireproof paint expands when the temperature reaches 200°C forming a solid foam-like char which insulates the substrate. Not only does it protect the substrate from ignition but also from the effects of the heat; steel loses strength and structural integrity starting at 300°C .
2. Fire retardant coatings:used as undercoats for regular paint or topcoats for intumescent coating. These coatings release a flame damping gas when the temperature rises to extremes. This forms a buffer zone, protecting the surface from the flames. This is the most common type of fire resistant coating used as an independent coating for wood.
3.  

If these two coatings are applied as a complete system, the fire retardant topcoat prevents flames from coming close to the surface, postponing the swelling response of the intumescent undercoat. Once the fire has exhausted the topcoat, the undercoat kicks in. This system provides much needed extra time to get a fire under control.

International & Indian fireproof paint manufacturers

Depending on the substrate material, there are several fire resistant coating specialists in India whose services are available to you. Which one you should contact, depends on the substrate – most of them can help you with coating steel, but wood and concrete require different expertise.

The internationally recognised fire resistant paint products include coatings from AkzoNobel, Jotun, Sika and Sherwin Williams. Additionally, there are Indian manufacturers such as Fyretard Noble Paints, Ameetuff, Satya Firotech India and Navair International. We at Coatings.co.in are happy to connect you with the right specialist for your project, and provide you with a quote. Just use our 100% free quote service by clicking the “Request a quote” button at the bottom of this article. Our experts are here to help.