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Essential terminology for fire protection and compliance.
The bond between coating and substrate, critical for durability and fire performance. Poor surface preparation compromises adhesion and system integrity.
UK building regulation guidance on fire safety, defining fire-rating requirements and protection standards for structural elements in commercial buildings.
Technical definitions supporting specification and compliance.
The insulating layer created when intumescent coating expands under heat, protecting underlying steel from temperature rise.
Chemical and physical compatibility between substrate, primer and topcoat systems.
The ability of a coating system to protect steel from oxidation and rust.
The temperature at which moisture condenses, critical for application conditions and coating cure.
The final coating thickness after solvent evaporation, measured in microns and directly linked to fire rating.
Core definitions for fire protection systems.
Structural wrapping or boxing that encloses steel members to provide fire protection through thermal mass and insulation.
The duration a protected element can withstand fire exposure, measured in minutes and specified as 30, 60, 90 or 120 minute ratings.
Technical definitions supporting specification and compliance. Navigate between sections using the tabs below.
The movement of thermal energy through materials, critical to understanding how fire protection systems delay steel temperature rise.
The thermal resistance provided by intumescent char, measured by the time required for steel to reach critical temperature.
The expansion of coating material when exposed to heat, creating a protective char layer that insulates steel or timber.
Systematic layer-by-layer examination of applied coatings to verify compliance with specification and fire-rating requirements.
The ability of a coating system to withstand mechanical damage without loss of adhesion or protective integrity.
Fire protection systems applied to manufacturing, processing and heavy industrial structures subject to corrosive or demanding environments.
Essential terminology for fire protection and compliance.
The structural strength of steel, which diminishes as temperature rises, necessitating fire protection to maintain integrity.
Standardised procedures for recording steel section dimensions and calculating section factor for fire-rating determination.
Unit of measurement for coating thickness, where 1 micron equals 0.001 millimetres, critical for WFT and DFT accuracy.
Oxide layer formed on hot-rolled steel during manufacturing, which must be removed during surface preparation for adhesion.
Non-active systems including intumescent coatings and fire-retardant treatments that protect structural elements without mechanical intervention.
Technical definitions supporting specification and compliance. Navigate between sections using the tabs below.
The ratio of heated perimeter to cross-sectional area (Hp/A), determining how quickly steel heats during fire exposure.
The cross-sectional shape of structural steel, measured during survey to calculate section factor and determine WFT requirements.
Pre-application cleaning and treatment of substrate, ranging from abrasive blasting (SA 2.5) to mechanical abrasion based on condition.
Detailed technical documentation defining coating type, number of coats, WFT requirements and application conditions for compliance.
The rate at which heat passes through a material, lower values indicating better insulation properties for fire protection.
Records linking batch numbers, application dates and environmental conditions to ensure product authenticity and system compliance.
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