Intumescent Coating with Thermal and Ignition Barriers

Intumescent paint is a fireproofing product applied inside buildings and on exterior structures in the form of a surface coating. Intumescent products, like our fire-retardant coating, are effective because they expand exponentially under extreme heat, such as in the case of a fire. In some oof these instances, our intumescent products can expand to as much as 100x the coating’s original thickness. Then, the expanded product loses density, filling in gaps that could allow the fire to reach structural supports, susceptible pipes, or ports connected to the internal portions of the building.

To apply this intumescent coating, foam contractors need to possess the intumescent paint itself, as well as a paint sprayer to coat the surfaces effectively. Graco’s fireproofing sprayers are a fantastic choice for these types of jobs because the products are flexible enough to handle the intumescent materials composed of singular or plural components. These sprayers are also capable of handling jobs ranging from minor touch-ups to significant intumescent coating projects.

Thermal and Ignition Barrier Coatings

Determining the type of material needed for a fire-retardant coating will be based on whether you require a thermal barrier, ignition barrier, or both. Different ratings measure flame spread, how effectively the coating limits flammability, and coating efficacy for delaying and resisting the effects of fire.

Because of this, all intumescent coating is also intended to be fire-retardant coating. A thermal barrier is typically used on foam to further prevent increased temperature when a fire or fire hazard is present. An ignition barrier prevents material from igniting, slowing the spread of fire.

Determining Fire-Retardant Coating

Intumescent coating is an affordable option for passive fire protection. According to SSPC’s 2011 Protective Coatings Glossary, a fire-retardant is a “ . . . product, under accepted methods of test, that will significantly: (1) reduce the rate of flame spread on the surface of a material to which it has been applied, or (2) resist ignition when exposed to high temperatures, or (3) insulate a substrate to which it has been applied and prolong the time required to reach its ignition, melting, or structural-weakening temperature” [ASTM D 16].

Flammability is defined as the ability to catch fire (a flammable material burns quickly and easily). Inflammability can sometimes mean “not flammable.” SSPC has separate definitions for a flammable aerosol, gas, liquid, and solid material, based on their respective properties to ignite and burn, according to various test methods.

Moreover, an intumescent paint, according to SSPC’s definition, is “a fire-retardant coating that when heated forms a foam produced by nonflammable gases, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia. This [reaction] results in a thick, highly insulating layer of carbon (about 50 times as thick as the original coating) that serves to protect the coated substrate from fire. See also FIRE-RETARDANT [ASTM D 16].”

Applications Available with Our Intumescent Paint:

Some of the places that you can apply our intumescent paint include, but are not exclusive to:

• Walls, foam, attics, and crawl spaces
• Open-cell insulation foam
• Closed -ell insulation foam
• Bio foams
• Lumber
• Oil rigs, boats, and ships
• Industrial worksites and mining
• Commercial trucks and machines
• Factories
• Storage tanks
• Structural steel
• Commercial Roofing

Contact SprayWorks Equipment for Your Fire-Retardant Coating

To learn more about our intumescent paint, please contact us today. We look forward to speaking with you about how we can best accommodate your intumescent coating needs!

Intumescent Coating Material Manufacturers