Structural steels are the most essential component of building construction; they are the load-bearing frames that support walls, floors and roofs. Given their importance, it is imperative that they are adequately protected so that, in the event of a fire, the building does not succumb to the high temperatures and collapse. Not only does this protect the occupants, allowing them sufficient time to evacuate the building, but it also protects the general public who may be in the vicinity of the building. When it comes to structural steel protection, there are several applications that can be provided to meet numerous requirements.

INTUMESCENT PAINT

DDF Fire Protection have worked on many projects in the South West with all the leading principle contractors.

Intumescent paint is a thin film application system that can be sprayed or hand-applied onto beams and columns to a required depth in order to provide up to two hours of passive fire protection. When subject to high temperatures the applied intumescent paint will expand up to fifty times its base thickness providing a protective insulating layer around the steel.

Typically, using a ‘spray’ method is the most efficient means of application as it allows fast dispersion and even distribution of material across all the structural steels. This means that a large quantity of steels can completed in a short space of time with minimal disruption to other trades. The even distribution also provides an show-quality appearance that can receive further finishes if required. Prior to receiving intumescent paint, the steels will need to be adequately protected using a compatible primer, and can receive specific top coats afterwards to protect it from a number of elements.

As third Party IFC Accredited contractors we have to monitor every job closely with strict QA procedures to ensure the job is done in the right conditions and to the correct paint thickness for the fire rating.

We use the best products on the market ensuring they meet all the required standards.

FIRE-RATED BOARD ENCASEMENT

We use FR metal profiles and fire protective board, to provide full encasement and protect it from fire.

This cladding board can typically be used as a solid structure to affix metal stud and track to form partition walls. Depending on the material of the board and it’s thickness, board cladding can achieve up to four hours fire resistance.