| Q.
BS476 Parts 6 and
7 - what are they? A.
They are the UK
'surface spread of flame' Test Standards (nothing to do with 30 or 60 minutes)
BS476
Part 7 – Test to determine the Classification of the surface spread of flame
- UK Class 1, Euroclass C. Class
1 conforms to BS 476 Part 7 and is the performance normally required for wall
and ceiling linings. To achieve Class 1 BS 476 Part 7 classification, the spread
of flame must not be more than 165mm in 10 minutes.
BS476
Part 6 - Fire Propagation test to determine a surface spread of flame Fire Propagation
Index number - UK Class O, Euroclass B. Class
0 is a more stringent requirement to BS 476 Parts 6 & 7 and is normally required
in higher risk areas of a building, such as escape routes and staircases. Class
0 BS 476 Parts 6 & 7 classification includes the requirements of the surface
spread of flame (Part 7) but also Part 6, which is known as the 'Fire Propagation
Index', a measure of the heat released when timber burns. Timber achieving a Class
0 specification must achieve a Fire Propagation Index of 12 and a Sub-Index of
6.
On
most materials, to comply, you will need at least one coat of Intumescent (swells
in heat) Paint or Varnish, plus at least one coat of Flame Paint finish.
What
to Buy: click USES
to determine the number of coats or call us on 01626 331351. For
a colour finish: Colour
Chart Click Here. PRS
Intumescent Paint - apply 2 or 3 coats,
or according to the Fire Standard required by your Building Inspector. PRS
Flame Paint Finish - apply 1 to 2 coats,
according to durability - indoors/outdoors, high/low wear finish required.
Benefits:
intumescent paints and water based top
coats *
water based *
no smell *
no solvents *
thin coats *
no vapour
Typical
Coverage:
click
SHOP to see the details For
a colour finish: PRS
Intumescent Paint - 7 square metres
per litre, 13 square metres per 2.5kg (1.9 litre) pack. PRS
Flame Paint Finish - 10 square metres
per litre, 25 square metres per 2.5 litre pack.
Prices,
Discounts and Delivery: call
01626 331351 for full details Prices
- some prices are lower than given above when purchased in larger pack sizes,
see SHOP to see
the details Discounts
and Trade Sales - call us for details Delivery
- Same day despatch, Next Day Service, UK Mainland - £10 plus VAT
Suitable
For: 1.
Meeting BS476 on Softwoods, Hardwoods, MDF, Chipboard, Melamine faced sheet, Bamboo,
Steel. 2. Interior and
Exterior BS476 Standards: Fire Retardent products for doors, decking, bar-tops,
panelling, cladding and floors. 3.
BS476 finishes over Painted surfaces, Varnished, Stained and Unpainted surfaces. 4.
BS476 paints and varnishes in Clear finishes, White Finishes or Coloured Finishes. 5.
Ideal for meeting BS476 Loft Conversions, Hotels, Boarding House, Flats. 6.
Fire Doors, and door upgrades to modify existing solid wood doors to 30 minutes
(FD30) Standard. 7. BS476
requirements for Exhibition Stands, Shopping Centre Kiosks, Night Club Bars, Restaurant
Bars, Shop Fixtures, Shop Shelving.
Speak
to us now for free help and immediate pricing - Tel: 01626 331351 Fire
Certificate of Supply Certificates
for: Class O
and Class 1, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes Fire Resistance, Timber and
Steel. Colours:
Clear Varnish and all B.S. and RAL Colours available ex stock for Next Day Delivery.
For a RAL Colour Chart Click
Here. Finishes:
Matt, Eggshell, Gloss and Metallic. Doors:
Click
here for - Guidance
Notes on upgrading Doors
What
you really need to know about Fire Retardant Paints: TYPES
OF PAINTS and VARNISHES - there are two types of Fire Paint and Fire Varnish: Fire
Retardant Paints and Fire Retardant Varnishes are used to stop the spread
of flame on a surface by releasing an inert, safe gas and are tested to assess
their effectiveness under BS 476, part 7. These are used in all rooms for walls
and ceilings. They are also used on top of base coats of the Intumescent (swells
up in heat) paint or clear varnish, because these base coats are too soft to be
durable if exposed to wear or high humidity. Intumescent
Paints and Intumescent Varnishes swell and char when exposed to fire. They
work by insulating the building material from heat. They are softer, so require
a top coat of Fire Retardent Paint or Fire Retardent Varnish. They are always
needed as base coats on combustible materials, like wood and on products that
warp in fire, like steel.
TEST
STANDARDS - there are three relevant fire test standards Class
1 - requires no surface spread of flame. This
is the Standard normally required for walls and ceilings. Class
0 - is an additional level of protection for walls or ceilings where limited combustibility
is required in high-risk areas, such as escape routes. To
comply materials must have a Class 1 Surface Spread of Flame and low fire propagation
index in accordance with BS 476 Part 6. This test checks that the coating does
not add to the heat or intensity of the fire. Fire
Penetration Resistance - 30 minutes or 60 minutes. Intumescent
Coatings are used to prevent the penetration of fire through a structure for a
specific period in accordance with BS 476 Parts 20 - 23 1987. Such coatings are
given classifications for specific periods of time, such as "30 minutes".
Intumescent systems are available for protecting structural timbers, steel and
plasterwork (including plastered and plaster boarded walls and ceilings).
CERTIFICATION
- why you will need a Certificate of Supply A
Fire Certificate of Supply can be issued for each Project. This is essential
if you have to satisfy your Insurers, the Fire and Building Control Authority
and for Client Records. Without a Fire Certificate you may be vulnerable to prosecution
in the event of a fire. We cannot issue a Certificate of Supply if we have not
produced a Specification in the first place, so please do not buy paints without
asking for a Specification.
COLOURS BS
and RAL Colour Range, plus five Metallic Finishes, plus clear Varnish. For a RAL
Colour Chart Click Here.
FINISHES Matt,
Eggshell and Gloss.
DRYING
TIMES Consult
the individual product pages - in general Intumescent base coats require at least
4 hours to dry between coats and will not tolerate high humidity or rain. Finish
coats cannot be applied to the final Intumescent coat for up to 10 hours. Gloss
Finish paint requires 12 hours between coats. All other paints in the range behave
like normal water based finishes, subject to the drying and surface conditions
at the time of application.
How
to comply with Class 0 and Class 1 - comply with
both in a single system For
timber and timber products, painted or unpainted, EXCEPT DOORS. Colour
coating: 1. Timbercoat
Intumescent - two coats, by brush, roller or spray - 7 square metres per litre
per coat. 2. Flame Paint
Retardent finish - two coats, by brush, roller or spray - matt, vinyl or silk,
gloss, eggshell or metallic - 10 square metres per litre per coat. Clear
coating: 1. Fire Intumescent
Varnish - two thin coats by brush, roller or spray - 6.5 square metres per litre
per coat. 2. Fire Varnish
finish - one or two coats by brush, roller or spray - 10 square metres per litre
per coat. 
Over
coating old paint layers: For
plasterboard, plaster, brick and concrete products, that have a thick layer of
old, non-retardant paints. 1.
Wallcoat - one coat, by brush, roller or spray - 8 square metres per litre per
coat. 2. Flame Paint finish
- two coats, by brush, roller or spray - matt, vinyl or silk, gloss, eggshell
or metallic - 10 square metres per litre per coat. Note
- the second coat can be a Flame Retardant Anti-Graffiti or Hygiene Paint. 
How
to provide 30 - 60 minute protection For
steel and cast iron products, painted or unpainted, EXCEPT DOORS. 1.
High Build Primer - apply one coat by brush, roller or spray - 12 square
metres per litre - 150 microns (wet). 2.
Intumescent Steel Paint - typically, apply one coat by brush, roller or
spray for up to 30 minutes protection, two coats for 60 minutes protection - at
about 2 square metres per litre per coat. This is only a very general example
- steel paint coverages need to be calculated by us for each different section
size and then converted to a paint volume. This is a free of charge service. 3.
Flame Paint Top Coats - to cover and protect the Intumescent paint where
either it is to be temporarily exposed during Construction, or left permanently
exposed after completion. Intumescent Paint can ONLY be used alone where it will
be protected by coverings or casings, and will always be inside a dry, indoor
environment. A typical
brush coating can be applied at up to 600 microns thick (wet) or by sprayer at
up to 1200 microns thick (wet). A simple plastic wet film gauge is supplied with
the paint. 500 microns
wet = 2 square metres per litre = 0.5mm thick 1000
microns wet = 1 square metre per litre = 1mm thick 
Steel
Specification and Costing We
will convert your steel measurements, or information from a Plan into surface
areas to be treated. This will allow us to calculate the thickness and volume
of Intumescent Fire Retardent Paint required. You
can download a copy of the Steel Calculation form and drawings of the different
types of steels commonly used in building here - Steel
Form and Steel
Types. The crucial
information is the thickness of the steel - this affects the thickness of the
Intumescent Paint coating required to meet a particular Standard.
Doors
Sometimes
it can be cheaper to buy factory built Fire Doors. For multiple doors and Historic
Buildings, where doors must be saved, please give us a call to discuss your options.
We will need exact details of the construction of each door and some photographs
would help. Give us on call on 01626 331351 for FREE help with your Fire Door
Specification. A minimum
of panel thickness of 16mm for softwoods and 12mm for hardwoods is required. SAFE
MINIMUM THICKNESS OF WOOD - to meet the 30 Minute Standard Softwoods
need to be at least 16mm thick and hardwoods 12mm thick, in order to withstand
charring (without collapse) of 10mm (softwoods) or 6mm (hardwoods). Hardwoods,
like Oak, burn slower than Softwoods, like Pine. These charring allowances leave
6mm of wood in reserve, to provide more time for escape, after the paint systems
have expired. If the wood is less than these thicknesses it can be supplemented
with additional panelling - we will be pleased to Quote for precision panels made
to measure for your project. When
using Ultra Door Protection for upgrading standard doors to 30 minute fire doors,
it must be used as part of an overall program to include intumescent fire/smoke
seal and lock, hinge and door closer Intumescent protection card, or as Specified
by your Building Inspector. As
a general guide, uprating is likely to include the following; 1.
Preparation of the doors to take intumescent fire/smoke seals and lock, hinge
and door closer intumescent protection cards. We can offer surface mounting Intumescent
Seal Strips, which are self adhesive and mount inside the door frame. This type
of seal enables you to avoid removing the door to cut slots. 2.
Three coats of Ultra Door Intumescent Fire Paint or Varnish base, followed by
two top coats of Flame Paint or Flame Varnish Finish (Eggshell or Gloss). 3.
Additional panels or Veneer may be required to meet the minimum thickness requirements
- we can manufacture this for you - please ask for a Quotation. Click
here for - Guidance
Notes on upgrading Doors
Free
Advice - we supply free specifications and product
quotations Speak
directly to us about your Fire Retardant needs: 01626 331351 Please
do not take a risk and simply buy products without a clear specification from
an expert. You may not be able to obtain a Fire Certificate of Supply in those
circumstances.
Click
to Home Page 'Fire
Paint' is a general term rather misleadingly used to cover both Fire Resistant
Paint, used as a top coat to protect the Intumescent Paint beneath and Intumescent
Paint or Intumescent Varnish, which are both fairly soft coatings used as primers.
Class 1 and Class O are Classifications used regarding fire action on the surface
of the paint, whereas 30 Minutes and 60 Minutes describe the period of protection
given by the underlying Intumescent layers of Intumescent Paint or Intumescent
Varnish against fire penetration. We
can provide an Intumescent Paint price based on the thickness of the wood or steel
to be protected, and a separate price for the Fire Rated paint used as a top coat,
which acts as a retardent fire layer, producing an inert gas to protect itself.
I
Timber
Paint I Wall
and Ceiling Paint
I Clear
Varnishes I
Top
Coats I
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Doors I
Uses
I I
Steel Paint
I Over Coating Old Paint I
Loft Conversion I
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Charts
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