Passive fire protection (PFP) is therefore essential, particularly in large commercial buildings, to slow the spread of fire and maintain structural integrity long enough to allow evacuation and emergency response.
Intumescent coatings, which expand when exposed to heat and form insulating char layers, are often used to protect steel structures and other materials that are sensitive to high temperatures. Steel, for example, loses strength at temperatures above 500°C, so delaying heat transfer is crucial to prevent collapse and allow safe evacuation. Current leading materials include ammonium polyphosphate (APP), an important flame retardant that triggers the formation of an insulating char layer. APP-based intumescent coatings are designed to be activated only when exposed to heat. At high temperatures, these coatings expand to form a thick, protective char layer that acts as a thermal barrier.
With Exolit, Clariant International Ltd. from CH-Muttenz is presenting such a coating. Not only does it meet all fire protection requirements, it is also an environmentally friendly alternative that complies with EU environmental regulations.
