Intumescent Painting Services
There is nothing quite as devastating as a fire ripping through your property. Whether residential or commercial, it can be expensive, inconvenient, and a grave danger to life and limb. That’s why fire safety measures are such an essential concern for property owners.
While no building material is fireproof, there are options available to property owners to protect their real estate. High on that list is specialized fireproof paint. Intumescent painting (also known as a coating) provides highly effective fire protection for buildings and people. At Pro Paint & Finish, we offer the latest in intumescent painting services to protect your real estate investments.
What Is Intumescent Painting?
Intumescent paint is a specialized coating used in buildings as a passive fire resistance measure and can be applied to structural elements as an aesthetically pleasing fireproofing product.
The word “intumescent” refers to something that expands when exposed to high levels of heat. Some intumescent coatings can even swell to several times their original thickness. As intumescent paint expands, it becomes less dense, which, in turn, makes it an effective insulator that keeps the high temperatures away from vulnerable structural elements or protected openings.
Most intumescent paints also contain chemical-bound hydrates that evaporate at extremely high temperatures. This evaporation helps cool the building material, improving the likelihood that your building will survive collapse or failure until the fire can be extinguished properly.
As an aesthetic consideration, intumescent paints come in various colors and are effectively used in many different settings.
Why You Should Use Intumescent Paint
Intumescent paint can help protect a building’s beams, columns, girders, walls, doors, and other spaces. The goal of using a fireproof coating is to keep a structure from collapsing during a fire. Without the added protection of intumescent paint, steel could sag or collapse, threatening structural integrity. Other materials like wood or fiberglass can also be protected.
While good for residential structures, intumescent paint is beneficial with buildings that feature exposed structural steel, such as office buildings, airports, malls, gyms, industrial facilities, hospitals, and warehouses. All industrial and commercial properties should have a thorough fireproofing inspection to ensure safety standards are being met. Intumescent paint instantly increases the fire-resistance rating for any exposed structural steel.
Fire Safety Requirements
The International Building Codes (IBC) and the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) list the requirements for proper building fire protection. State and local ordinances may have different unique expectations that go beyond IBC and NFPA requirements. On top of all that, some insurance companies will have their list of specific criteria.
Remember that when including something like intumescent painting, you must use an appropriately trained and certified installer. Make sure to keep copies of all inspection certificates and installation reports to keep in your files.
Your painting contractors must understand these requirements when determining where and what type of protection is needed. The team at Pro Paint & Finish has the expertise to walk you through all of these requirements and help you make sure your property is as safe as possible in case of fire.
Intumescent Painting at Pro Paint & Finish
Whether you’re building or renovating, you’re going to want the most qualified team possible when it comes to fire safety and intumescent paint. The highly experienced technicians at Pro Paint & Finish are trained and certified to meet and exceed all fire protection standards. Contact us today for a free quote on your current or next project! (574) 596-3072
