What is fireproof coating for steel structures and what is its application?

Security is one of the important issues that must be considered as a primary goal in any work. This matter is especially important in building construction due to more possible incidents such as earthquakes, floods, and fire. One of the issues that, in addition to building insurance, must also be addressed with preventive measures during construction is fire.
This is where fireproof coating emerges as a passive protection system and becomes highly important in making the structure more resistant to fire and its damage. Therefore, in the following part of this article from the Kalar Machinery blog, the question “What is fireproof coating for steel structures and what is its application?” is answered.

Fireproof coating for steel structures and its types

Nowadays, various measures are considered to ensure the safety of life and property of residents or building owners. The use of fire-resistant coatings is part of engineering and architecture in building construction, so that in the event of an accident, the least amount of damage is caused to the structural frame of the building, and on the other hand, this coating prevents serious damage before firefighters arrive.
In fact, it is to prevent financial and human losses that this type of coating has gained such attention.

Different types of fireproof coatings for steel structures and their applications

There are several types of fireproof coatings; first, mineral materials that are spray-applied on steel beams and metal parts of the structural frame, second, intumescent paints, and third, fire-resistant boards.

Type one

The first type of fireproof coating for steel structures, which is used in large buildings such as refineries, factories, and similar facilities, consists of a set of mineral materials that are sprayed onto the steel structure using special equipment. They provide fire resistance for up to about 4 hours and, due to their high precision and greater durability compared to the other two types, are more commonly used.
These materials are applied in a specific thickness on the structural frame and have good paintability. Their fire resistance is estimated to be up to around 1000°C.

The thickness of these mineral materials used is between 2 and 5 centimeters, and different types of them are also used.

Type two

The second type of steel structure fireproofing consists of intumescent coatings, which are applied in a thickness of about 6 mm on the structure or even on internal surfaces. In case of fire, they expand and provide resistance up to around 300°C to minimize damage to the building. Their fire resistance is about two hours, and this time is very valuable for firefighting and preventing more serious damage.

These coatings are very useful for buildings where the exterior appearance is highly important and also where there is limited space. They can also be used in buildings where hygiene is of great importance, and intumescent paints can be applied.

Their mechanism of action is such that during a fire, due to chemical reactions, they expand and foam up, providing the necessary time to extinguish the fire without causing significant damage to the building.

Type three

As mentioned, the third type of fireproof coating for steel structures consists of boards that are highly resistant. Depending on the needs and architecture of the building, they can be used in partition walls, external and internal walls, as well as floors and ceilings of a building.
An important point about these boards is their resistance to moisture as well.

Light weight, easy cutting, simple transportation, and fast installation and execution are among the advantages of these boards. They also reduce the possibility of fire spread and can withstand such incidents for up to 4 hours.
Compared to the first two types, boards are more cost-effective. However, these boards cannot be applied on beams.

The importance of using fireproof coating in steel structures

Fire is considered one of the unforeseen events, and there are many reasons for its occurrence. Therefore, it is necessary to be fully prepared to deal with it and reduce its damages. Although it may not be possible to prevent the incident itself, its impacts and losses can be minimized.
Fireproof coating for steel structures, which is used for this purpose, is of great importance. The main importance of using it is as follows:

• Ensuring the safety of occupants is the most important reason for using fireproof coatings, and for this reason, investing in them at the beginning of building construction is extremely important.
• Another important point is that, in the event of a fire, the resistance provided by these materials and coatings helps buy valuable time for controlling the fire, allowing the building to sustain less damage.
• An important point is that, due to the nature of the materials used in these coatings, they can be easily repaired and restored after an incident.
• Their installation and application time is very short, and they are not only suitable for new buildings under construction, but can also be used in older buildings.
• They have no effect on the appearance of the building and do not add significant weight to the structure.

Factors affecting the cost of fireproof coating for steel structures

As mentioned, fireproof coating for steel structures has different types, and certainly the selected type will affect the cost. However, not only the chosen type influences the cost and price of execution, but the experience of the executing company is also very important in this matter.
Another important factor affecting the execution cost is the size and scale of the building. Naturally, larger buildings require more materials and labor, which also increases the overall price.

Conclusion

Protecting life and property by any means should be considered more of an investment than an expense, as it helps prevent future financial losses. Fireproof coating is essentially a form of building insurance against irreparable fire damage, aimed at minimizing its impact.

Today, various types of fireproof coatings for steel structures are being implemented by many companies in different types of buildings, and fortunately, they can be applied to buildings of various sizes and scales.
It is recommended that when selecting a company for such projects, you review their work experience and previous completed projects as their portfolio, and then proceed with the execution of the work.

Source: ScienceDirect