Worldwide Procurement Services distributes for Nullifire – Fire Protection products and services in Africa. Protect your steelwork in buildings, rigs, vessels 60, 90 or 120 minute protection.
Passive Fire Protection | What is Passive Fire Protection?
Why do we need fire protection?
The fundamental purpose of fire protection systems whether active or passive is to firstly, prevent the passage and spread of smoke and fire, from one area of the building to another, to allow for the safe escape of the building occupants. Secondly to prevent / reduce the amount of damage to the building structure, neighbouring structures and reduce the risk of collapse for the emergency services.
Other more commercial reasons for the use of fire protection systems, is to reduce the amount of damage and prevent collapse of the building. This in turn can help to:
- Reduce the rising cost of insurance polices
- Protect capital investment
- Reduce the possible risk to the fire fighters
Passive fire protection
Nullifire have been instrumental in the development of 2 key areas of passive fire protection over the past 30 years:
- Intumescent coatings for the protection of structural steelwork
- Fire stopping and penetration sealing systems
Why do we need to protect the steelwork?
During a fire situation the temperature within a building can rise from ambient around 20°C, up to 1000°C. As the temperature in the building increases, so does the temperature of the steel structure that supports the building. All steel sections have wants know as a critical steel temperature. This is the temperature at which the steel section begins to lose its strength and buckle.
The building regulations require that structural steel is protected against fire, to ensure that the load-bearing strength of the steel is not decreased as the temperature increases.
There are 3 main systems used to protect structural steelwork against the risk of fire:
- Boarding:
In the form of plasterboard / mineral fibre / Calcium silicate etc - Spray:
In the form of cementitious, mineral fibre or gypsum systems - Intumescents:
Thin film intumescent basecoats
