Intumescent Coating Provides Up to 3 Hours of Fire Protection

PPG’s PPG Steelguard 951 is an epoxy intumescent fire protection coating designed to meet the demands of modern architectural steel, including up to three hours of cellulosic fire protection. Based on PPG’s flexible epoxy technology, the coating is said to offer durability and edge-retention properties, reducing risks of cracking during handling and transportation.

In a fire situation, the coating expands from a thin, lightweight film into a thick, foam-like layer that insulates the steel and maintains its structural integrity, providing more time for people to escape and limiting damage to buildings and assets.

PPG Steelguard 951 coating also provides effective corrosion protection for very corrosive atmospheric environments up to ISO 12944 C5 without the need for a topcoat, which also reduces project time and costs to achieve results. It can provide up to 3,500 microns dry film thickness in a single coat and cures rapidly, making it ready to handle the day after application, the company says.

“Structural steel plays a critical role in modern architecture by enabling buildings to meet specific fire protection and corrosion resistance according to their function,” says Richard Mann, PPG global product manager, passive fire protection, protective and marine coatings. “PPG Steelguard 951 coating is unique in combining an aesthetically pleasing finish with high corrosion protection and, most importantly, the ability to maintain the steel’s stability in the event of a fire.”

It is tested in accordance with all recognized national and international fire and corrosion standards, including EN 13381-8, BS 476, ISO 12944, GB 51249 and GB 14907 (for specified environments).