Many commercial and industrial facilities face a high risk of fire. While active fire protection systems like sprinklers and extinguishers play a critical role in suppressing fires, passive fire protection is equally important. This is especially true when evacuation is necessary and time becomes a life-saving factor.
In a fire, every second counts. The longer a building’s structural components can withstand heat, the more time occupants have to evacuate and emergency personnel have to save your property. That’s where intumescent fire coatings come in. These coatings provide critical fire protection that activates during extreme heat exposure, helping preserve structural integrity and slow fire progression.
Understanding how intumescent coatings work and where they’re required can help you make better decisions about your property’s fire protection.
What Is Intumescent Coating?
At normal temperatures, intumescent fire protection coatings look like ordinary paint. However, they are an industrial coating that offers passive fire protection for materials like steel and wood. In case of fires or extreme heat exposure, intumescent fire coatings have a chemical reaction that can protect the materials.
Intumescent fire retardant coatings won’t stop fires and are not fireproof. However, they protect the structural materials and help slow down the spread of heat. This gives those within the property enough time to evacuate and for the local fire department to arrive and put out the fire. Think of intumescent fire protection coatings as a thermal shield that activates when it’s needed most.
How Do Intumescent Coatings Work in a Fire?
Intumescent paint contains polyols, ammonium polyphosphate, and melamine. When a fire breaks out and the coating is exposed to around 500°F (260°C), these substances react by expanding and forming a thick, carbon-rich char layer. Depending on the paint’s application, the coating can expand up to 30 times its original thickness.
This is a poor heat conductor, so it insulates the material underneath. This can prolong the time it takes the heat to reach critical temperatures that cause it to combust or lose its structural integrity. Additionally, many intumescent fire retardant coatings also contain hydrates, sodium silicates, and graphite. When exposed to heat, these release water vapors, creating a cooling effect that strengthens the char layer.
Where Are Intumescent Coatings Commonly Used?
Essentially, anywhere building codes demand passive fire protection, they will have intumescent fire retardant coatings. This includes commercial and industrial settings, including:
- Commercial Buildings: Shopping centers, office towers, airports, and other commercial facilities that have exposed steel.
- Warehouses & Distribution Centers: To maintain structural integrity in storage spaces with flammable materials.
- Hospitals & Schools: These are facilities with high-occupancy spaces where extended evacuation time may be needed.
- Transportation Hubs: Rail stations, bus terminals, and shipping ports with high fire risk.
- Oil & Gas Facilities: Refineries and offshore platforms where thick-film epoxy coatings resist extreme heat and chemical exposure.
Intumescent coatings are often used on steel. While steel doesn’t burn, exposure to extreme heat for long periods can cause it to lose its structural integrity. Other materials can also be coated, such as sheetrock, wood, foam, fiberglass, and more.
What Are the Benefits of Using Intumescent Coatings?
- Buys Critical Evacuation Time: Intumescent coatings delay structural failure in a fire. This gives occupants more time to evacuate and emergency personnel more time to respond and put out fires.
- Preserves Structural Integrity: These coatings prevent structural weakening by insulating materials from high temperatures. This can reduce the severity of property damage fires can cause before local fire responders can intervene.
- Maintains Aesthetics: Unlike bulky fireproofing wraps, thin-film intumescents maintain the visual appeal of exposed architectural steel. This makes coating a suitable option for commercial spaces.
- Low-Maintenance Protection: Once applied and cured properly, these coatings require minimal maintenance and offer years of passive protection.
- Customizable Protection: The coating’s thickness can determine how long it can delay fire exposure. Different coatings can have higher or lower ratings depending on your specific building code requirements or insurance mandates.
Intumescent Paint and Regulations
Fire protection measures are often required by law for commercial and industrial properties, so you may be required to have intumescent paint and other forms of fire protection.
Most modern building codes, such as the International Building Code and NFPA 5000, require structural elements in certain buildings to meet specific fire resistance ratings. Intumescent coatings are one way to meet those requirements without sacrificing design flexibility.
Additionally, some commercial and industrial facilities are required to use intumescent coatings. In California, for example, their building codes have a higher fire rating for commercial buildings than residential properties. Where they’re required depends on factors like:
- Your building’s occupancy type
- Height and size of the property
- Distance between buildings
- Use of combustible materials
Not all intumescent fire retardant coatings offer the same level of protection. To ensure your facility has acceptable fire protection standards, you should use intumescent coating products tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and meet ASTM E119 standards for fire resistance. These tests evaluate how long a material can withstand fire while maintaining structural load. Your intumescent coatings should also comply with the same VOC and emissions standards as other types of paint.
Is Professional Installation Necessary for Intumescent Coatings?
It’s highly recommended that you work with professional painting contractors. Intumescent coatings require precise application, as the thickness can determine whether your coatings provide the rated level of protection. Thickness must be uniform and meet the manufacturer’s specs, and the surface must be properly prepared. Failure to apply your paint correctly can compromise its performance. Hiring experienced professionals ensures:
- Proper surface prep and primer use
- Accurate millage (coating thickness)
- Adherence to product-specific application requirements
- Long-lasting, code-compliant results
What Is the Difference Between Intumescent Paint and Heat-Resistant Paint?
While intumescent paints and heat-resistant paints like epoxy coatings sound similar, there are some key differences in their function and reaction to high temperatures.
Heat-resistant paints maintain their finish at high temperatures. They are used in industrial facilities because of their high resistance to flames, smoke, grease, rust, and other substances common in demanding industrial facilities. However, they are primarily for aesthetics; in cases of fire, they have a higher resistance but don’t do anything to protect the structural materials beneath them.
| Heat-Resistant Paint | Intumescent Paint | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Slows down the effects of heat on the surface. | Expands into a layer to insulate the material. |
| Protection Time | Short-term surface protection. | 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on your coating. |
| Fire Protection | Not used for fire protection. | Protects the structure and gives occupants more time to evacuate. |
Applying Intumescent Paint
Applying intumescent paint requires precise execution to ensure it performs in the event of a fire. It is generally thicker than many coatings, ranging anywhere from 30 to 500 mils.
- Surface Preparation: The surface must be cleaned and primed to remove rust, dirt, or oil and ensure proper adhesion. Steel surfaces require abrasive blasting or power-tool cleaning before applying a compatible primer.
- Application Method: Intumescent paint is typically applied using an airless sprayer for uniform thickness. Rollers or brushes can be used for touch-ups or small areas. Multiple coats may be required to achieve the specified dry film thickness (DFT), which affects fire rating.
- Measuring Thickness: The coating’s performance depends on applying it to the correct thickness. Applying too thin won’t provide enough protection, while layers too thick can cause cracking or failure.
- Curing and Inspection: After application, the coating needs time to dry and cure properly. Curing time can vary, especially with environmental factors like temperature and humidity. Once cured, contractors can inspect the film’s thickness.
Why Choose Raider Painting To Apply Your Intumescent Fire Coating
When it comes to fire protection, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Choosing the right contractor for your project matters. Raider Painting brings the experience, precision, and professionalism you need for any project that requires commercial and industrial painting services.
- Proven Expertise: We’ve been in the commercial and industrial painting business since 1983. With years of experience and an impressive list of satisfied clients, you can trust us to handle intumescent fireproofing. We understand the science behind these coatings and the fire code standards they need to meet.
- Code-Compliant Work: Compliance is a must for every commercial and industrial facility. Our team is trained to apply intumescent coatings to the exact thickness required for UL, ASTM, and local building code compliance. Our painting contractors don’t guess; we measure, test, and document every step.
- Minimal Downtime: We know your time is valuable and that painting projects can disrupt your operations. Raider Painting works efficiently to keep your project on schedule. We offer flexible planning to minimize disruption to your operations and ensure we finish on time.
Let Raider Painting Help You Protect Your Property in Case of Fire
Fire protection measures are important to your facility, and intumescent coatings are a smart investment. When you least expect it, these coatings can slow down the impact of uncontrolled fires and give everyone more time to act quickly. They provide code-compliant, low-maintenance protection that works invisibly in the background until you need it most.
Raider Painting specializes in the professional application of intumescent coatings that meet the highest safety and aesthetic standards. Improve your building’s safety and get in touch with us today to request a free estimate.
