We offer you steel fire protection coatings with so-called insulating layer formers from R30 to R120. We also work with 2K hydrocarbon materials for the chemical and petrochemical sectors. Our offer is aimed at operators of public buildings, industry and private developers.

 

We would be happy to advise you in the planning phase. By using selected materials that correspond to the latest state of the art, construction costs can often be reduced in advance. Our close contact with the leading manufacturers in the industry is a great advantage for our customers.

 

The fire protection you need is not standard? No problem, just contact us. Here too, our close contact with the manufacturers is an advantage. Together we will find the solution tailored to your needs.

 

But... what does fire protection actually mean?

 

A basic distinction is made between preventive, passive fire protection and defensive, active fire protection.

Preventive, passive fire protection includes all measures that prevent the formation of a fire or the spread of fire or smoke. In this area we work in structural steel fire protection. For the sake of completeness, an explanation of defensive, active fire protection: This includes fire extinguishers and extinguishing work by the fire brigade. Fire protection is a complex topic and can be found in many areas of everyday life. In Germany there are therefore numerous laws, regulations and guidelines that regulate the requirements for fire protection to be applied.

 

What is preventive fire protection?

 

Preventative fire protection is divided into three areas:

 

– structural fire protection

– technical fire protection

– planning fire protection

 

They all serve to limit the effects of fire, protect life and limb, the environment and public safety and are a prerequisite for effective fire fighting. The minimum requirements for preventive fire protection are laid down in the public law provisions of the state building regulations, but in addition to the building regulations, the requirements with regard to property protection are also based on private law agreements. There are a number of legal regulations for this area of responsibility, which already indicates that this is a very complex topic and why fire protection can only be carried out by specialists.

 

Our specialty...preventive structural steel fire protection – what does it do?

 

In the event of a fire, the load-bearing capacity of unprotected steel components is reduced at a temperature of 550°C. Uncoated steel parts reach this temperature after approx. 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the intensity of the fire. As a result of the heating, the actually solid steel deforms, causing the entire building to collapse. By using fire protection coatings, this period of time can be extended by 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes, thereby counteracting the collapse of the building and/or enabling escape from the building. The task of intumescent fire protection coatings is therefore to prevent steel components from reaching this critical temperature at which the yield point of the steel drops to the tension present in the component. These so-called reactive fire protection systems (fire protection coating systems, fire protection paints) consist of an approved primer, the insulating layer former that reacts in the event of a fire and an approved top coat. The following steps are necessary to achieve an approved fire protection coating:

 

1. Primers and primers

 

Intumescents may only be applied to approved substrates (corrosion protection primers or primers) that do not run when exposed to heat. Each system has its own components that must be combined with each other.

 

2. Apply fire protection:

 

The so-called fire protection that forms an insulating layer refers to the actual component of a reactive fire protection system. In the event of a fire, insulating layer formers explosively form a heat-insulating, carbon-containing insulating layer above a response temperature of approx. 250°C. This delays the effect of heat on the steel profile so that fire resistance classes of F30, F60, F90 and F120 are achieved. Our materials are either water or solvent based and can also be applied to galvanized steel components with appropriate primers. On the other hand, we work with hydrocarbon-based materials. Here, a chemothermal reaction is used to counteract an increase in temperature. The amount of fire protection coating applied depends on the U/A value of the respective steel profile, taking into account the required fire resistance class.

 

3. Top Coat:

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Depending on the area of application, top coats are applied decoratively or functionally to protect the insulating layer. Top coats are available in all RAL, NCS and DB (iron mica) colors.

 

According to the building regulations approval, the first two components must be part of the fire protection coating for complete fire protection. Only the top coat is optional for the builder, depending on the area of application. According to the valid general building authority approvals, fire protection coatings may only be carried out by companies certified by the manufacturer and trained specialist personnel (e.g. the insulation master in the craft role).

 

If we carry out your fire protection work, you will of course receive all documents proving the professional execution of the fire protection once all work has been completed.

 

This includes the corresponding stickers that are to be applied to the coated steel parts and the data about the person carrying out the work, the material used, number of layers, date of completion and information on when the coating is to be checked, as well as measurement protocols for the wet and dry layer thicknesses, specialist construction manager's declaration and manufacturer’s declaration of conformity.