Types of Passive Fire Protection Coatings
Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Coatings are specialized materials applied to structural elements (such as steel, concrete, or wood) to improve fire resistance without requiring activation (unlike sprinklers, which are active fire protection). Their purpose is to slow down the spread of fire, maintain structural integrity, and provide extra time for safe evacuation and firefighting efforts.
Here’s a breakdown:
🔥 Types of Passive Fire Protection Coatings
Intumescent Coatings
Expand (intumesce) when exposed to high heat, forming a thick, insulating char layer.
Protects steel and other substrates from reaching critical failure temperatures.
Common in buildings, oil & gas, and infrastructure.
Cementitious Coatings
Made from cement or gypsum-based materials.
Applied as spray plasters or mortars.
Provide a thick, durable barrier against fire.
Common in tunnels, refineries, and industrial facilities.
Ablative Coatings
Absorb heat and gradually erode (ablate), carrying heat away.
Often used in high-risk industrial environments and offshore applications.
Vermiculite & Perlite-based Coatings
Lightweight mineral-based coatings.
Provide insulation and fire resistance.
Widely used in commercial construction.
⚙️ Applications
Structural steel protection – preventing collapse during fire.
Oil & gas industry – safeguarding refineries, rigs, and storage tanks.
Marine & offshore – meeting IMO/SOLAS standards for fire safety.
Commercial buildings – applied to walls, ceilings, and ducts.
Tunnels & transportation infrastructure – preventing catastrophic structural damage.