Optimum Fire Protection for Structural Steelwork

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1 Optimum Fire Protection for Structural Steelwork Uniclass L68116 CI/SfB EPIC F815 (2-) En6 (K3) Decorative epoxy intumescent castings for columns and exposed feature beams

2 Beautiful Columns Perfectly Protected A revolutionary process Through its premier product, Interactive Columns, Interact Fire Solutions has revolutionised the way in which feature columns can be properly fire protected without any compromise of the original architectural design. The secret lies in the use of epoxy intumescent and the process of moulding and casting this medium into a particular shape. The result is a product that not only provides up to 3 hours fire protection but which also enjoys aesthetic and maintenance advantages over thinfilm intumescent and other alternatives such as concretefilled columns and secondary cladding. Superior and versatile A superior and versatile product is what you get from Interact Fire Solutions. There are no unsightly design joints, screw fixings, or any other impairment to spoil a smooth and seamless effect. In addition, any number of decorative finishes and colours can be applied without difficulty to further enhance the appearance. Legal requirements The way Interact uses and casts epoxy intumescent will fulfill any relevant fire protection stipulation. As such, the company s products satisfy all the criteria laid down in Approved Document B of the UK Building Regulations 2000 (Fire Safety). This is considered to be the bible of fire protection requirements for the whole country. There are various ways a steel structure can be protected, but the demand for an aesthetically pleasing result limits the options open to an architect or designer, especially with circular sections now being so widely used. When the required fire resistance of a building reaches 90 minutes or over, the number of suitable materials reduces even further. Interacts s epoxy intumescent castings fit the bill on every count, being able to provide up to 3 hours protection not just for basic cellulosic fire conditions but also where hydrocarbon materials are in evidence (more likely in modern building environments). The graph below illustrates how fire engineers can asses the likely damage a specific fire temperature curve would produce over time The ultimate solution Interact s cast epoxy intumescent is now the preferred choice of many architects and structural engineers as the ultimate solution for insulating feature columns anywhere where good looks are demanded and floor space is at a premium. Typical developments include shopping malls, atriums, airport buildings and contemporary office complexes. Temperature (c) BS476:Part 20:1987 Cellulosic Time Temperature Curve BS476:Part 20:1987 Appendix D Hydrocarbon Time Temperature Curve The system application is not confined to circular columns either. Rectangular hollow sections can also be protected using cast epoxy intumescent, as can exposed feature beams Time (minutes)

3 Quality Control from Manufacture to Installation Hard Working and Hard Wearing Own factory Having its own factory means that Interact is able to impose the highest levels of quality control right from the point of manufacture. The company also offers a customised service both in terms of the differing wall thickness of circular columns and the ability to protect a whole host of other architectural features, as already detailed. Production checks Every casing Interact produces is checked for roundness, thickness and imperfections before being primed ready for installation. Each casing is dispatched in special protective packaging to ensure the finished product arrives on site in the best possible condition. Site Installation All cast epoxy intumescent products from Interact are installed by highly trained craftsmen with an eye for decorative detail. Wherever possible, they will be FIRAS approved personnel. The inherent robustness of the product allows for installation to take place at any point in the construction process from initial development to just prior to commissioning. This is vital for quality control purposes, as dry conditions must prevail at the time of installation. On-going work on site is overseen by the Interact management team who liaise directly with contractors and subcontractors to eliminate any possible problems. In-built resilience There is no doubt that cast epoxy intumescent and Interactive Columns in particular can provide a faultless solution for passive fire protection, wherever aesthetic considerations rank just as high as those of safety. The robustness of the base material was already proven in the petrochemical industry before Interact developed a way of utilizing it for the commercial construction market. Offshore oil rigs needed protection against continual battering from the elements and the threat of jet fire blowouts and explosion. Interactive Columns offer up to 3 hours fire protection and resilience to impact, abrasion, chemicals and even vandalism. The durability of Interact s products is unmatched by any other available system. Repair and refurbishment is, therefore, kept to a minimum. Any damage can be made good at little cost and minor effort. Interact Fire Solutions use approved sub-contractors to ensure the installation meets their quality standards.

4 Paying attention to detail A Mesh or Meshless system? Architectural features Suspension rods and hangers Abutments A new method of production A particular property of epoxy intumescent is its malleability. Interact is able to cast the material into almost any shape. Therefore, an aesthetically pleasing solution can be provided for many different architectural features without the fire protection integrity being breached in any way. Nodes When treating columns, it may also be necessary to fire protect the joint nodes but still allow for periodic inspection. This can be successfully accomplished with cast epoxy intumescent because of its innate flexibility. The final result will have the same specification and decorative finish as the column itself. Cast epoxy intumescent sections can be fashioned to protect standard suspension rods for up to 2 hours. A safe, and visually acceptable, outcome can even be achieved on narrow diameter rods something virtually impossible with any other fire protection method. Any abutment to the steelwork of a building can be properly fire protected (with joints hardly visible) again due to the nature of the material and the capacity to mould it to the appropriate shape. A fresh approach for the use of cast epoxy intumescent in fire protection has been the development of Interact s unique meshless product. Before, a wire mesh had always been an integral part of the system with this incorporated in the casting to support the intumescent when it reacts and expands during jet fire conditions. This is still essential when there is a specific requirement for insulation against inflammable hydrocarbon materials and for buildings needing high security and subject to possible terrorist attack. However, when it comes to standard building configurations i.e. protection against cellulosic fire conditions there is now a safe way of producing epoxy intumescent castings without a mesh being necessary. The benefits of this are considerable. Comparison of the construction of the meshed (left) and meshless castings (epoxy intumescent shown in red). Major cost savings Manufacturing, installation, and decoration time can all be cut by up to 50%. The minimum thickness is further reduced (from 10 to 8 mm), while the actual length of casting is only really limited by practical difficulties surrounding the particular application. A single casting should not be used all the way up an atrium column as, apart from anything else, considerations of working at height need to be taken into account. In such cases, casting metre sections at the base of the column, followed by metre sections progressing up the column, is a more practical and safer way of completing the installation. Epoxy intumescent (shown in red) can be cast to virtually any shape, ensuring no breach in the integrity of fire protection around architectural features, and can include removable inspection covers. Cast epoxy intumescent provides the ultimate finish to feature columns whilst maximising the available floor space.

5 Innovators in Passive Fire Protection Interact s mission The fundamental ethos of the company is to provide the construction industry with the highest level of professional advice and optimum product solutions. Driving Interact s mission is its revolutionary understanding of cast epoxy intumescent and its flagship brand, Interactive Columns. Its success is founded on effective fire protection that does not compromise architectural design but still fully complies with the requirements of legislation. The company s business approach is to work in partnership with architects and structural engineers during the early design stages of a new building. It then teams up with the appointed contractors and sub-contractors, giving them technical assistance and also overall quality management as part of its standard product support. Interact is continually undertaking research and development projects designed to create new methods of production and application that can provide leading-edge solutions at the least possible cost. Limitations of main alternative systems: thin-film intumescent successful application depends entirely on the subcontractor s workmanship the thicker the coating, the less decorative the finish (resulting in an orange peel finish) can require frequent repairs that are difficult to conceal secondary cladding can look cumbersome and unattractive design joints can be abused and cladding subject to vandalism cost of repair is very high concrete-filled columns unsightly vent holes needed every 4 m (one at each floor level) impossible to hide any defects in the steelwork (e.g. weld marks) Interact has full accreditation from RIBA and makes regular CPD presentations to its members. The company is a full member of the ASFP (which represents major contractors and manufacturers of passive fire protection products) Interact Fire Solutions Ltd., Gatehouse, Picklescott, Shropshire SY6 6NR. Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) enquiries@interactfire.co.uk Website: