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Intumescent Paint
Intumescent paint are specially formatted coatings which expand to insulate the steel that has been painted to protect it in the event of a fire. Intumescent paint can be applied to building elements such as structural steel, metal clad walls.
Advantages:
- Rated to protect most structural steel for periods up to 2 hours (120 minute FRR)
- Resists normal weather conditions for up to 12 months without topcoat provided it has been allowed to fully dry prior to exposure.
- Extremely user friendly
- Cost effective fire protection as compared to boards or linings (especially at lower FRR’s)
- May be applied to a wide variety of steel sections as well as Galvanising
Approvals:
- Approved by Standards New Zealand - Ref: MP 9 - Fire Properties of Building Materials and Elements of Structure
- Approved by Certifier Pty Ltd for use in Australia Certificate RPL 2 – April 2005
- British Certifier approved for protection of steel up to 2 hours FRR
- Compliant to Australian Standard AS1530.4-1997
Firetex FX8000 is a specialist third generation thoroughly tested and certified thin film intumescent coating for the protection of steel against structural failure against fire for 2 hours (120 FRR). Firetex FX8000 is fast drying and designed for site application by airless spray, achieving 2 hour protection to qualifying structural steel in 1 to 4 coats.
- Independently tested and certified by Warrington Fire
- Research Centre for fire protection of steel requiring certification to BS 476 Part 21:1987 and equivalent standards for periods of 2 hours.
- Meets the specific requirements contained in relevant sections of the NZ Building Code
- Must be sealed with compatible topcoat for long term service
Limitations of Use:
- Do NOT apply when air or surface temperatures are below 5°C or RH exceeds 80%
- No more than 2 spray coats or 4 brush coats should be applied in any 24 hour period
- Do not expose to rain or heavy dew without being sealed.
Often called fire retardants, or mistakenly called "fireproof" paints, Intumescent paints refer to that class of specially designed paints which swell and form a protective "char" as a result of extreme heat exposure - such as a fire - increasing in volume. This char is a poor conductor of heat, which benefits the steel it is applied to, as it protects the surface for an increased time from the destruction fire may otherwise cause.
Typically intumescept paints are applied to structural steel, for the purposes of ensuring that in the case of a fire, the steel does not warp as quickly as it may otherwise, thus allowing fire crews to extinguish the flames.
For an intumescent to function properly, it relies on the interaction of three specific components which it is made up of. The 3 components are:
- Carbon Supplier: Polyols as starch or pentaerythritol
- Acid Source: Ammonium polyphosphate
- Expanding Agent: Melamine
Intumescent paints are supplied and applied in one of two forms - solvent or waterborne polymeric binders. Due to the negative impact solvent based products have on the environment, Remedial Building Services Australia uses water based intumescents which are less hazardous, more stable and better for the environment. However, at times, other components are added to improve the paint properties and enable easy application, enhance build and achieve faster drying.
The 4 stage intumescent process
- The heat from the fire begins to soften the polymeric binder inside the fire retardant paint.
- The heat also causes a release of an organic acid (from the Ammonia Polyphosphate)
- Carbonisation of the polyols begins to take place
- Gas produced through the decomposition of the blowing agent (melamine), swelling the molten mixture.
The final stage is solidification of the foamed char, through a cross-linking reaction, to maintain the insulation.
For further information on the intumescent process, please refer to a referenced sources.
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