Even if you’ve never seen the word “intumescence”, there’s no doubt you’ve seen an intumescent material firsthand. When you toast a marshmallow over a campfire, the marshmallow swells in the heat. That makes it an “intumescent” material.
It means “to swell”
Applying an intumescent coating to steel
The first known use of the word “intumescence” was in the 17th century. It comes from Latin, and it means “to swell”.
Used in fire protection
Intumescent coatings and materials are used in fire protection. For example, a gun safe can have a door seal made of an intumescent material. In the event of a fire, the seal can swell up to at least five times its original thickness to help prevent heat and smoke from entering the safe.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, coatings were developed for commercial and industrial use that expanded (or would swell) in response to heat. These intumescent coatings react in the presence of heat, to create an expanding, protective layer of insulation on solid materials like steel girders and beams. The intumescent material reaction to the heat produces a char, which is a poor conductor of heat, thus helping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke by reducing the rate of heat transfer.
Can help reduce the risks of collapse
Application of the intumescent coating in an on-sight shop setting for quality control
Steel, being a non-combustible material and the strongest metal used in construction, can weaken at high temperatures of around 1200°F. During periods of prolonged high temperatures like this, even though steel doesn’t melt (steel’s melting point is 2,700° F), steel can lose its capacity to handle heavy loads. Intumescent coatings on the steel construction material can help reduce the risks of a structural collapse of the steel and buy time for people to evacuate the structure.
Fire protection up to four hours
Intumescent coating formulations include epoxy-based, solvent-based, water-based, or multi-component. Depending on the intumescent formulation used, fire protection on steelwork can be up to four hours.
Blackwell’s, Inc. is now an approved applicator of Sherwin William’s FIRETREX Intumescent Coatings. By being an approved applicator, we can help protect the integrity of the steel columns and beams, and mechanical support structures, which in turn helps protect the floors and roofs in your industrial facility in the event of a fire.
