INTUMESCENT COATINGS
The structural steels supporting a building may be strong – but even they will collapse should they get too hot in the event of a fire. By coating them with intumescent paint, they’re kept beneath their melting point while improving the look of a building.
Intumescent spraying is a specialist skill, and we’re lucky enough to have the best sprayers in the business here at Enfield SW. Our intumescent coatings can provide up to four hours of fire protection to structural steel. It leaves a durable, aesthetically pleasing finish that allows the steel to feature as part of the buildings design.
How does it work?
Intumescent coatings work by undergoing a chemical reaction when heated to form an expanded, thermally insulating layer.
In the event of a fire, the heat causes a chemical reaction with the coating causing it to expand to up to 50 times its original dry film thickness. This is what provides the insulation which protects the structural steel. The insulation is designed to keep the steel below the temperature at which it would become structurally unsafe.
Intumescent coatings come in three different forms:
- Water Soluble
- Solvent Based
- Epoxy Based
