Fireproofing supplies materials and structures with fire resistance so that important structures may continue to operate even if a fire breaks out accidentally. Fireproofing entails the application of particular products to materials or structures in order to reduce the spread of fire and give plant operators enough time to intervene in the event of a fire.
Types of Fireproofing
The 3 main varieties of fireproofing ways are building material fireproofing, intumescent fireproofing, and firestop fireproofing.
Cementitious Fireproofing
These are gypsum-based, plaster-like coatings that seem like white stucco once dried. These coatings are sprayed on the surface of the structural members that require protection. they’re sometimes used building material fireproofing on steel beam pictures to stay girders and beams below 540 C, wherever the steel can bend. The coatings are wont to shield structural concrete, like in conveyance tunnels, from crude oil and alternative intense fires. Concrete members would like further hearth insulation to preserve their structural integrity.
Intumescent Fireproofing
When heated, intumescent paint expands and chars, forming a heat-resistant barrier. Sodium silicates are commonly found in them. Under high-heat circumstances, the paint coating thickens, trapping air and forming a char layer, which provides better insulation. These coatings are applied to the surfaces to be protected by spraying or brushing. While these paints may be used interchangeably with cementitious fireproofing, they are often utilized on pipes and other metallic things such as tanks and valves, where the rough thick covering of cementitious fireproofing would be in the way. Firestops are made of intumescent putty.
Firestop Fireproofing
In fire-resistance-rated walls and floors, firestop fireproofing entails sealing all apertures and seams. Fire dampers are installed by HVAC professionals to cover ductwork gaps and seal ducts where they cross firewalls. Opening cuts for pipes and electrical wiring plates are typically filled totally with a specialty fire sealant produced using gypsum or elastomeric substance.
Why Do We Fireproof? – What is the purpose of fireproofing?
Fireproofing equipment and structures is necessary for a variety of reasons.
The following are a few of them:
- To complete the NFPA (National Fire Protection Academy) and OSHA requirements, the industrial requirement of completing NFPA (National Fire Protection Academy) and OSHA requirements must be met.
- Fire resistance should be improved.
- During the fire, maintain equipment and vital control systems operational.
- The structural steel is thought to lose around half of its design strength at about 1000°F (538°C). As a result, employing fireproofing extends the time it takes to reach that temperature. It’s worth noting that a typical fire burns between 1800 and 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.