Passive protection of steel structures is essential to maintain safety in the event of a fire. The law requires that public and industrial buildings be properly protected. One of the methods that allow this is the use of fireproof paints. Why use them for protection purposes?
How do fireproof paints used on steel structures work?
Fire-resistant paints swell in a fire situation and protect steel from excessive heat. The fire-resistant layer can effectively insulate steel from high temperatures, which minimizes the risk of deformation, weakening or collapse of the steel structure as a result of exposure to fire.
It is worth noting that the performance of fire-resistant paints may vary depending on the specific type of paint and its specific properties. It is important to carefully read the technical documentation and manufacturer’s recommendations in order to properly apply these products.
If you are not sure how to do this, it is worthwhile to use the services of specialists, such as the company rs-mal. They will help not only protect the structure, but also remove traces of corrosion and remove previously peeling paint.
Why use fire-retardant paint when painting a steel structure?
During a fire, steel can deform and weaken due to high temperatures, which in extreme situations could lead to collapse. Fire protection paints form an insulating layer of carbon foam on the steel surface, which prevents the structure’s temperature from rising and protects the steel from overheating. This allows the structure to maintain its structural strength during a fire, minimizing the risk of deformation and weakening.
Fire-retardant paints, compared to other solutions, have the advantage that they spread easily, and their layer is thin and uniform over the entire surface. This makes them aesthetically unobtrusive and unappealing if properly applied. In a dangerous situation that threatens the environment and the people in it, the paint increases its volume 40 to 200 times under the influence of heat. At temperatures between 350 and 750 degrees C., where a critical state is reached in steel, the risk of health exposure through building collapse is minimized, and those inside can be evacuated quickly enough.
Building regulations set minimum requirements for fire protection of buildings, including steel structures. This is not only a safety issue, but also a legal issue that must be kept in mind. The use of fire protection paints helps meet these requirements and obtain the appropriate certificates and permits for the use of buildings.
Fire-retardant paints should be applied at the appropriate thickness. How thick the coating should be depends on the parameters of the building. These parameters are the A/V ratio, as well as the critical temperature of the steel structure. It is important that a specific system is used when applying it.
For maximum benefit and to prevent delamination of the coating, use:
– a primer coat (which creates a base for the proper coat and increases the adhesion of subsequent coats),
– intumescent coating (protecting and intumescing in the event of a fire outbreak),
– a top coat (covering the first two layers and providing aesthetics).
An additional advantage of using such a system is that it protects steel from corrosion. This is particularly important, especially in buildings with exposure to moisture or demanding industrial environments.
These solutions are used not only in steel structures, but also for the purpose of protecting places, machinery and antennas from fire.
Limitations to keep in mind when using fire-retardant paints
Fire retardant paints have many advantages and are indispensable in public buildings, but there are several limitations associated with their application. The application procedure requires precise surface preparation, quality control, and they cannot be applied in certain situations.
Due to the Y, Z1 and Z2 use categories, these paints can only be used indoors. Another limitation is that the duration of the work may be prolonged due to the requirements of a high minimum thickness of fireproof coating for elements with higher resistance classes. Paint cannot be used if the elements have a low U/A massiveness ratio, while requiring a resistance class higher than R60. Note that the low massiveness of the elements limits the available resistance range.
