Intumescent Coatings: Fireproofing Your Commercial or Industrial Building

For any commercial or industrial building, fireproofing is a crucial factor. You may need fireproof coatings to meet building and fire codes, and in the event of a fire they will help preserve your investments while saving lives. Fireproof coating options are also a factor in qualifying for LEED certification. For many commercial or industrial steel structures, intumescent coatings have proven a valuable means of fireproofing.

What are intumescent coatings?
Intumescent basically means “swelling”—when intumescent paint is heated by flame, it will swell drastically into an insulating barrier to protect the material it covers from the heat. On top of that, many intumescent coatings also contain chemical-bound hydrates that evaporate when in contact with extreme heat, cooling the material it protects and allowing it to survive the heat that much longer.  

Where are intumescent coatings applied?
Industrial and commercial painting companies usually apply intumescent coatings on structural steel such as beams, columns and girders, as well as doors, ceilings and many other features. It can sometimes be used to protect other substrates like fiberglass or wood. Intumescent paint can be used for exposed interior steel or exterior surfaces. There are flat, smooth varieties that work well when you need visually appealing commercial painting jobs for your space.

Why fireproof steel?
You could say that intumescent coatings don’t fireproof steel in the sense of keeping it from bursting into flame; rather, intumescent coatings keep steel structures sound amid temperatures that would otherwise weaken the steel to the point of sagging or even collapse—which often occur in structural fires. 

Intumescent fireproofing paint is a great fireproofing solution for office buildings, airports, industrial facilities, warehouses, gyms, malls and anywhere that needs fireproofing protection, especially where there is exposed structural steel. Working with highly professional painting companies makes all the difference, so for your painting jobs in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, Texas or beyond, contact Painters USA at (817) 962-0551.