Steel loses strength as it heats, so many building frames need fire protection to give people time to escape.
How much protection
Building regulations set the fire resistance period, commonly 30, 60 or 90 minutes. The coating or board thickness depends on that period and the section’s size and exposure.
Options
- Intumescent coating: a thin paint that swells in a fire. Keeps the steel shape visible.
- Board systems: fire boards boxed around the steel. Robust, but bulkier.
- Concrete encasement: used less often now on new frames.
Intumescent can be applied in the workshop or on site. Tell us the fire rating with your enquiry and we will price it.
