Fire Retardant Coatings

Fire Retardant Coatings — Intumescent Paint for Wood and Cable Fire Protection

Passive fire protection is not limited to fire doors and physical barriers. The surface finish materials used throughout a building — wall panelling, ceiling boards, timber flooring, decorative elements, and the vast networks of electrical cabling that run through every floor and shaft — contribute significantly to fire spread, smoke production, and the survivability of escape routes. Fire retardant coatings address this by chemically modifying the burning behaviour of treated surfaces.

Fire Retardant Paint for Wood and Timber

When ordinary wood ignites, it supports a self-sustaining flame and contributes to the fire load of the space. Fire retardant intumescent paint for wood works by decomposing on heat exposure to release gases that dilute combustible vapours, and by forming a carbonaceous foam layer (char) on the surface that insulates the underlying timber from the heat source and cuts off the oxygen supply to the combustion zone. This does not make wood non-combustible, but significantly delays ignition and reduces the rate of flame spread, converting the surface from a fire spread pathway into a passive delay mechanism.

Applications: structural timber frames, decorative ceiling boards, wooden wall panelling, timber truss and rafter elements in industrial buildings, plywood partitions, MDF and chipboard furniture in commercial interiors, and any timber surface required to meet NBC 2016 Class 1 or Class 2 surface spread of flame classifications.

Fire Retardant Coating for Electrical Cables

Electrical cables represent one of the most significant fire spread pathways in a modern building. PVC, XLPE, and other cable insulation materials ignite readily and, once burning, propagate fire rapidly along cable runs in trays, ladder racks, and shaft risers — carrying fire from the floor of origin to multiple floors above in minutes. Fire retardant cable coating is applied over the outer sheath of installed cables, forming a barrier that delays ignition of the cable insulation and significantly retards fire propagation along the cable run.

Applications: main distribution boards (MDBs), sub-distribution boards (SDBs), electrical risers, cable trays in basements and service corridors, server room cable management, and any high-density cable installation where fire propagation is a significant risk.

Application

Both products are applied by brush, roller, or spray — typically in two to three coats with intermediate drying. Coverage rates and number of coats depend on the substrate, the required fire performance class, and site conditions. IFES provides product datasheets, application guidance, and site supervision for critical installations.