The Science Behind Fire Resistant Coatings: How Do They Work?

Fire resistant coatings play an important role in fire protection, especially for commercial buildings. If you are a commercial property owner who is looking to improve the fire safety within your building, you have come to the right place.

At Passive Fire Installations Limited, we provide a collection of fire protection services, including installation of fire resistant coating on a wide variety of surfaces. 

In this blog, we will explore fire resistant coatings in more detail, delving into the science behind them and how they work. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the realm of fire resistant coatings!  

What are Fire Resistant Coatings?

First of all, let’s define what fire resistant coatings are. In essence, a fire resistant coating is exactly what its name implies – it resists fire, preventing ignition when it comes into contact with an ignition source. Fire resistant coatings are self-extinguishing and do not have the tendency to melt or drip when exposed to extreme temperatures. 

Fire resistant should not be confused with fire retardant which is a separate term in itself. Although some people confuse the two and use them interchangeably, fire resistant and fire retardant mean two different things. In particular, the latter refers to something that has been chemically treated to be fire resistant. 

How It Works

Fire resistant coatings, such as intumescent paints, are made from materials that naturally resist burning. Particularly, intumescent coatings create a layer of insulation when directly exposed to extreme heat, preventing the surface from igniting. The insulation layer helps to control the temperature, slowing down heat transfer. On top of this, oxygen is also blocked from reaching the heat source, effectively preventing a fire from being produced. 

Intumescent or fireproof paints are usually installed over timber, steelworks and other metal structures that are excellent heat conductors (making them vulnerable to reaching extreme temperatures quickly). 

Ensure your building is secure and protected against fire hazards with fire resistant coating installations from Passive Fire Installations Limited. For more information about fire resistant coating or our other fire safety services, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.