What is Intumescent Paint?
Intumescent paint, or intumescent coatings, are developed specifically to protect structurally integral parts of a building during a fire. Intumescent paint is generally applied to structural steel, concrete or timber but can also be applied to other substrates.
If a fire were to break out in a building, the coating is designed to char and expand once the flames reach the coating. The expansion of the coating during a fire creates a protective barrier against the flames and heat, which will protect those vital structural components from failure, at least for a sustained period of time. Intumescent paint application to a surface will usually give protection for between 30 minutes and 120 minutes to enable time for the building to be evacuated before the structural items start to fail.
How Does Intumescent Paint for Steel Differ from Intumescent Paint for Wood?
Intumescent paint for steel is designed to be applied to structural steel within a steel framed building, whereas intumescent paint for timber will be applied to exposed areas of timber in a building. Essentially both forms of intumescent paint are designed to be used on areas of structural importance. For timber, this could be exposed tongue and groove ceilings, timber cladding etc.
Intumescent paint for wood will usually give either a class 1 or class 0 spread of flame, or protection for between 30 minutes and 60 minutes to enable time for the area to be cleared.
Generally intumescent paint for steel will be white and is designed to be applied to a compatible metal primer to ensure good adhesion to the steel. An intumescent coating for steel will expand dramatically to give good insulation again the heat from the fire to prevent bending and buckling of the steel, protecting the surface for up to 120 minutes.
Intumescent coating for wood comes in white or clear options, depending on whether the timber is to be painted or have a clear protection. The coating can generally be applied directly on to the timber although a primer is sometimes required, depending on the product being used. As timber is a combustible substrate the coating works in a way which prevents the flames from reaching the timber surface for a certain period of time before burning through, after that time period it is likely that the timber will start to burn. Protection for up to 60 minutes can be expected for intumescent paint for wood.
What Suppliers of Intumescent Paint Do You Use?
Whether we need intumescent paint for steel or timber will dictate the suppliers we use, as they tend to carry their own specialisms. For steel, we look to the experienced hands of Sherwin Williams, Nullifire and Thermoguard, whilst for timber intumescent paint, Thermoguard are again ideal for the job, as well as Envirograf.
Having the intumescent paint alone does not guarantee its efficacy; the correct application by accredited contractors such as ourselves will ensure it works for its intended use.
