Insulation detail

What is the purpose of PFP?

The purpose of PFP coatings is to slow down the resulting damage that a fire can cause. The coatings are designed as a barrier to both protect vital structural elements of the building, and to give people more time to evacuate. By helping to contain a fire to one area of the building, a PFP coating can literally make the difference between life and death.

Structural Steelwork Protection

What is PFP coating made from?

First of all, there isn’t just one universal Passive Fire Protection coating. There are numerous different types, and they can be applied to a wide range of fire prevention products. These coatings include:

  • Epoxy sprays
  • Subliming coatings
  • Intumescent paint
  • Cementitious
  • Glass fibre
  • Elastomer rubber
  • Phenolic foam
Structural Fire Protection

Is fire-resistant coating passive or active?

As their name suggests, Passive Fire Protection coatings are designed to be a passive fire deterrent, so they don’t actively tackle a fire – such as a sprinkler system would – but they keep the material that it is protecting below its flammable temperature.

They do this by expanding and absorbing the heat, giving firefighters more time to tackle the blaze. Of course, in addition to saving lives, PFP coatings also save the building from serious structural damage, so it’s extremely cost-efficient as well.

Do exposed steel beams need to be PFP coated?

Exposed steel beams are the perfect example of where using a PFP coating can be used to great effect. Generally, exposed steel beams are load-bearing, so the last thing you want to happen in the case of a fire is for those beams to heat up to the extent that their structural integrity is compromised. Other integral items that would benefit from PFP coating include pipework, bulkheads, firewalls, and valves.

The PFP coating ensures that this situation is prevented for as long as possible. The coating acts as a barrier, slowing the beam from heating up too much with low thermal conductivity. Depending on which coating you choose, it could keep the fire at bay for anywhere between 30 and 120 minutes.

Insulation detail

Install PFP coatings on your property with JMPFP

If you are concerned that your building is not adequately fireproofed and that it would benefit from PFP coating, then get in touch for a no-obligation quote.

However, if you would like you or your team to learn how to install this life-saving product yourself and become academically realised for your efforts, then our Level 2 NVQ course in passive fire protection is the perfect way to do it.

Get Started With JMPFP

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