Fire protection in civil construction has a number of tasks to perform. Intumescent paint for steelwork is expected to be functional, long lasting and allow the steel to become an architectural feature through the use of decorative topcoats. A tall order for an intumescent coating, but not impossible!

Firetex can allow architects to creating stunning buildings that are also provide passive fire protection for occupants. Our range of thin film intumescent are used to protect steelwork for up to 2 hours. Reacting at around 200°C, the intumescent coating will swell up to 50 times it’s original thickness producing a carbonaceous char. This reduces the amount of heat absorbed by the steel and so prolongs its load bearing capability – reducing the potential for structural collapse.

Leighs Paints have intumsecent paint for steel developed for both on-site and off-site requirements

Off-site or In-Shop	Coatings are applied before steel is delivered to site
On-Site	Coatings are applied to steelwork at the building site

As a result of in-depth Research and Development, you can now achieve necessary fire ratings at low film thicknesses in a minimal number of applied coats. The impressive appearance of Firetex means there are no limitations to the visual impact you can create and our TintXpress service supports your every need for colour.

Designing in Fire Protection, the easy way!
Whether steelwork is internal/external, calls for a decorative/non-decorative finish or is to be applied on-site/in-shop, our range offers durable products and practical systems that will have a positive impact on your project.

Our generic specifications allow the specifier to view freedom to pick a specification from our range. We have also included specifications approved by NBS (National Building Specification).

We offer a powerful piece of software to specifiers to aid the calculation of the fire protection for a steel structure.

The Firetex Design Estimator takes the heat out of navigating the plethora of legislative requirements for fire protecting steel, as it incorporates all the current legislative requirements and guidelines. The software can calculate the required fire protection on virtually any type of rolled or fabricated steel section. This software is in the process of being accredited by Bodycote Warrington Fire.

The output from the Firetex Design Esitmator, can form an integral part of the audit trail required. Therefore the contractor will have a professionally documented schedule to which he can prove his application compliance.

Testing
Cellulosic fire is caused by the burning of materials such as paper and wood and is used as the basis for fire testing in civil construction. All of our materials have been independently tested, as well as being tested in our in-house Fire Research Centre.

We place great emphasis on the reliability of our fire testing, assessments and quality of product supplied. This is your guarantee of performance. Products are independently evaluated in accordance with the recommendations of the Intumescent Coatings Forum, an industry body formed to establish protocols that ensure uniformity in these areas.

Leighs pioneered unique testing that would lead to the improved safety of tall buildings around the world. At present there are no legislative requirements within the UK, Europe or USA that tackles the issue of hydrocarbon explosions followed by fire on steel sections in cellulosic situations. Using facilities at Advantica Technology, Spadeadam (UK), a gas explosion and hydrocarbon fire test was carried out on steel sections coated with Firetex thin film intumescents. The feedback was amazing! WFRC witnessed the test and confirmed that the products tested provided a remarkable level of hydrocarbon fire resistance even after a substantial explosion and all this from a coating designed to resist a cellulosic fire regime!