Advanced fire protection solutions for structural steel

Yes. We select a product that holds the approval your authority accepts: a Singapore Certificate of Conformity (SCDF Product Listing Scheme), a UL listed design (UL 263 / UL 1709), a BS 476 assessment or Certifire certificate, an Australian AS 1530.4 / AS 4100 assessment, or a European ETA. The certificate and its loading table are submitted with the proposal; where a product's certificate for a market is not published, we confirm it with the manufacturer before quoting.

A coating system – usually primer, intumescent basecoat and topcoat – that insulates steel in a fire so it stays below its critical temperature for the required time. Cementitious sprays and boards do the same job by other means.

When heated, the coating softens and chemical reactions release gases that expand it into a thick carbon char. The char has low thermal conductivity and slows the heating of the steel. The degree of expansion is specific to each product.

The time in minutes for which the member must keep its load-bearing function in the standard fire test – 60 or 120 minutes. R120 usually needs a much thicker coating or a different system on the same member.

There is no single thickness per rating. The DFT is read from the product's approved loading table for each member's section factor, critical temperature, rating and exposure – from a few tenths of a millimetre to several millimetres.

It depends on the DFT (which depends on the member), the product, volume solids, surface preparation, location and inspection. Use the cost estimator with your own unit prices, or send us the member schedule for a priced proposal.

Yes. World Steel can apply the system in its painting shop with the steel; connections and handling damage are completed on site with the same product.

Only with a pre-treatment and primer or tie-coat that the intumescent manufacturer approves for galvanized substrates, and within the scope of its fire test data. Check this before specifying.

Some systems are assessed for exterior exposure (for example durability type X under EAD 350402) with a specified topcoat; epoxy systems are designed for harsh exterior and offshore conditions. Water-based grades are usually for dry interiors.

It depends on the product, its durability classification, the exposure and maintenance. Manufacturers state durability for their systems; inspect regularly and repair damage with the same system.

Typically EN 13381-8 with EN 13501-2 in Europe, UL 263 / ASTM E119 in the US, AS 1530.4 with AS 4100 in Australia, BS 476 in the UK, and UL 1709 for hydrocarbon fires. Your authority decides which approvals are accepted.

With calibrated magnetic or electronic DFT gauges on each member, at a frequency set in the ITP, and compared with the DFT schedule. Wet film checks guide the applicator during spraying.

Structural drawings or a member schedule with section sizes and lengths, the fire rating per element, exposure (3 or 4 sides), critical temperatures if known, the environment, accepted standards or approvals, application location and the programme.