Types and characteristics of fire retardant paints for metal structures

Fireproof paint for metal is the tool that is used in combination with other measures aimed at improving fire safety. Material consumption during the execution of work will also be of considerable importance.

Content:

• Fire retardant paint
• Characteristics of various fire retardant paints
• Varieties of fire retardant paints
• Fire Retardant Paint Requirements
• How to apply paint to metal?
• The composition of paints to protect metal

It is worth noting that in everyday conditions it is not advisable to use this tool, which can not be said about various industrial facilities, where the application of this paint is almost a prerequisite.

Fire retardant paint

If we talk about the protection of an object from fire, it implies the prevention of ignition of certain objects and the further spread of fire. It may seem strange to many that the metal construction of buildings is being processed, because, as you know, steel does not burn.

However, this point of view is fundamentally wrong, as the following facts indicate:

1. Although the metal does not ignite like a tree, any metal surface heats up quickly enough, which can affect the further spread of the fire sources.
2. Another point is that a metal structure heated to 5000 C loses its strong properties, which can lead to the destruction of load-bearing structures and the object as a whole.

For these reasons, the processing of metal structures with a special composition prevents not only the further spread of fire, but also gives additional time for the evacuation of property and working personnel. In any charter, all measures and recommendations for the processing of steel structures of a particular object or building are precisely spelled out.

There are several ways of processing metal structures to provide fire protection:

• sheathing of building metal structures with special plates that counteract the effects of fire (can withstand fire for up to three hours);
• they finish the building with special plaster that counteracts the effects of fire (valid for up to two hours);
• drawing fireproof paint on the surface (up to 1.5 hours).

The first two methods, of course, are more effective methods, but also more laborious. Therefore, many enterprises resort to painting the building with special materials that protect against the effects of fire.

Characteristics of various fire retardant paints

The main objective of any fire retardant paint is to prevent the heating of metal surfaces to high temperatures, which can affect the characteristics of the metal.

If we consider in more detail, then fire retardant paint acts as follows:

• in conditions when there is no ignition, the treated surface is no different from the usual one without entering into any interaction;
• at the first signs of fire, the paint composition begins to disintegrate into components that do not allow the surface to heat up, remaining at normal temperature;
• after the paint disintegrates, the released elements slow down the effect of fire on the surface, preventing the destruction of metal structures.

Varieties of fire retardant paints

According to the principle of its action, paints can be of two types:

1. Non-intumescent paints - after application to the surface, form a thin layer of high density. Due to the fact that such a layer protects rather weakly from the effects of fire, the use of such materials becomes impractical.
2. Intumescent paints - such compositions have a radically different principle of action. When the fire acts on the surface and it heats up, the applied layer increases in size by almost 70 times. Such characteristics can significantly increase the strength of the fire reaction, which lasts at least one and a half hours.

The following grades belong to the latest types of paint: Krause, Polystyle and others.

Fire Retardant Paint Requirements

In view of the fact that the coloring of metal structures with such substances imposes certain requirements on the material, the choice of such compositions should be based on a list of different recommendations:

• any refractory protection used must meet all the requirements that are regulated by fire safety.
• the surface on which the non-combustible substance is applied must be durable, because the frequent painting of structures is quite expensive.
• the composition should not contain toxic materials, because after drying it should not adversely affect the environment.
• fire-resistant paint should be sufficiently stable on the surface, not crack or peel off when any vibration occurs.
• If the question of aesthetics is also important for you, then you need to choose a composition with the possibility of tinting to add additional shades.

If we talk about manufacturers of specific brands, their choice will depend on the work that they plan to carry out. There are compounds that are intended only for internal painting, and there are more universal paints used in any conditions.

How to apply paint to metal?

Painting with refractory materials is a certain algorithm of actions aimed at preparing metal structures and further applying the composition.

Here is an example sequence of actions:

1. We clean metal structures from dirt and traces of rust. You can do the work manually, but it is better to use grinders to speed up the process.
2. Apply a special primer to the cleaned surface. Consumption should be calculated on the basis of the information indicated on the packaging. Some manufacturers of fireproof paint for metal structures indicate the specific type and composition of the primer required for their product. In addition, the packaging indicates the required composition consumption per square meter.
3. After applying the primer, it takes some time for the surface to completely dry. Only after that, you can start applying paint.
4. Before applying the paint to the surface, it must be properly mixed. Manually doing this is quite problematic, so it’s better to use a construction mixer.
5. The process itself can be carried out manually, or using a special atomizer.The first method is quite laborious, and the material consumption is significantly greater than when using a spray gun.
6. Material consumption is not only a matter of economy, but also affects the characteristics of the treated surface. For example, if the applied layer exceeds 1.5 mm, then when the composition swells, breaks and chips of paint can be observed, which will negatively affect the protection against fire.

The composition of paints to protect metal

Any such material has a fairly rich and complex composition and the corresponding expense.

In most cases, it includes: silicate glass, vermiculite or other binding materials (perlite, asbestos, kaolin wool, etc.). In addition, a number of additional additives may be present.

The material consumption will depend not only on the composition, but also on the type of surface where the composition will be applied. In general, paint consumption will vary from 1.5 kg to 3.5 kg per 1 sq. M.

If all the conditions and factors of choice have been met, then you can purchase a fairly high-quality paint to protect the metal from fires. It is correctly selected material that will allow avoiding the negative effects of fire, including the collapse of the entire building. Of course, I would like the fire never to occur, and such material only fulfill its decorative role, without resorting to its direct responsibility, but it is better to foresee all the options in advance.