Intumescent Coatings

An intumescent coating is a fire protection method which plays a vital role in fire safety in commercial and industrial spaces alike. The coating is applied to structural elements such as steel beams in order to prevent collapse in a fire event and to increase the time it takes for a fire to spread.

How do intumescent coatings work?

These fire protective coatings are applied to a substrate, usually a structural element in buildings or infrastructure, such as steel beams or columns. When a fire occurs, the heat causes the coating to expand.

This expanded layer reduces the conduction of heat from the fire to the substrate, increasing the time it takes for the structure to heat to a point of weakness or failure. The coating also acts as a barrier to prevent the spread of flames and smoke.

This provides valuable time for occupants to evacuate the building and for firefighting efforts to be initiated, improving fire safety.

Thin Film Intumescent Coatings

This is a fire protective coating designed for use in buildings with resistance requirements of up to
90 minutes. With DFTs of up to 5000μm, thin film intumescent protective coatings can be solvent or water-based and come as a single pack designed to withstand cellulosic fires, which occur when the fuel source is primarily made up of wood or paper.

Thick Film Intumescent Coatings

Thick film intumescent protective coatings are usually solvent-free and epoxy-based, with DFTs up to 25,000μm. These coatings require specialist application by plural straying machines and are designed to offer protection against hydrocarbon pool and jet fires which
burn much hotter than cellulosic fires and occur
when thefuel is gas or oil-based.

Common applications

Intumescent coatings can be used in a range of applications to help maintain structural integrity during a fire. Examples include:

Steel beams and columns
Office buildings
Retail spaces such as shops and malls
Hospitality buildings such as restaurants and hotels
Buildings, tunnels and other public infrastructure
Oil refineries and offshore platforms
Industrial warehouses or factories

SCI has extensive experience in applying intumescent coatings to improve safety in both industrial and commercial spaces. Our SSPC-trained Fireproof Applicators install the coatings, which are inspected by certified Fireproof Paint Inspectors before sign off.

We work with ICORR and SSPC certified inspectors to guarantee compliance. View our full list of accreditations including ConstructionLine Gold and Acclaim Health & Safety on our about page.

For more information about our intumescent coating services