Steel beams, girders and other structural elements need to be protected to limit the temperature to a
level where the load bearing ability of the structure is not compromised.
Fire protection can reduce human and economic costs of fire damage, if not eliminate it completely,
providing the appropriate protection system is used.
The required periods of Fire Resistance are normally 30, 60,90 and 120 minutes and which is required
depends on the buildings design and its use. Structural Steelwork can be protected either by the
application of protective material to the structure or by enclosing it in a protective system.
This is normally achieved using boarding or blankets of fibrous materials, cementitious products, composite
fire resistant boards or intumescent coatings.
The advantages of using Intumescent Coatings over other passive fire protection systems:
- Off site application allows time & cost savings
- Takes up little space & weight
- Relative ease of application
- Ability to cover with decorative coatings
- Easily repairable
How do intumescent coatings work?
Intumescent materials are thin film coatings which, when applied and cured on the steel are typically
less than 2mm in thickness.
Intumescence is a complex process in which, under heat of fire, and due to endothermic reactions, the coating expands or foams and creates a carbonaceous char coating on the steel which then solidifies.
This thick barrier restricts the build up of heatin the steel, allowing its load bearing strength to last longer
and therefore improving the stability of the structure in the event of a fire.
What does intumescent mean?
Intumescent comes from the Latin word "tumesco" which means to expand or swell up. Intumescent
coatings swell up or expand into a crust when subjected to heat, hence the use of the latin word.
