How to Select and Accept Steel‑Structure Fire‑Retardant Coatings

Nowadays, steel‑structure fire‑retardant coatings are increasingly recognized and adopted as fire‑protection measures for steel structures owing to their convenient construction, reliable performance and high cost‑performance ratio. For a steel‑structure project, how should we select suitable steel‑structure fire‑retardant coatings? The selection principles are specified as follows:
There is a wide variety of steel‑structure fire‑retardant coatings. For a specific steel‑structure fire‑protection project, it is essential to select the appropriate type of fire‑retardant coating, which serves as the prerequisite for engineering application. In accordance with fire‑protection design requirements of the project, including fire hazard classification of protected objects, application site, fire‑resistance rating, fire‑resistance duration of each building component and other specifications, fire‑retardant coatings for different building components shall be determined with reference to standards such as Technical Code for Fire Protection of Building Steel Structures (GB 51249‑2017) and Technical Specification for Application of Fire‑Retardant Coatings for Steel Structures (T/CECS 24‑2020).
For example, the fire‑protection design for a Class‑B steel‑structure workshop is specified as follows: secondary fire‑resistance rating; fire‑resistance duration of 2.5 h for steel columns and inter‑column bracings; fire‑resistance duration of 1.5 h for steel beams and steel staircases; fire‑resistance duration of 1 h for other roof load‑bearing components.
For steel columns and inter‑column bracings, indoor non‑intumescent steel‑structure fire‑retardant coatings with a 2.5‑hour fire‑resistance duration (code: GT‑NSF‑Fp2.50‑) shall be adopted.
Reasons: it is a conventional fire‑retardant coating for steel‑structure workshops for Class‑B ordinary fire‑hazard scenarios; it is intended for indoor steel columns; the required fire‑resistance duration is 2.5 h, hence non‑intumescent fire‑retardant coating with fire‑resistance capacity of 2.5 h or higher is selected.
For steel beams and steel staircases, indoor intumescent steel‑structure fire‑retardant coatings with a 1.5‑hour fire‑resistance duration (code: GT‑NSP‑FP 1.00‑) shall be used.
Reasons: the coating is applied to indoor steel beams and staircases of the workshop. Given the required fire‑resistance duration of 1.0 h, intumescent fire‑retardant coating is selected since non‑intumescent coating is not suitable for such construction conditions. Water‑based fire‑retardant coating is preferred over solvent‑based alternatives for environmental‑protection considerations, with fire‑resistance duration above 1.0 h. Similar selection logic applies to other cases.
After confirming the specific coating model, priority shall be given to reliable products certified by officially‑authorized certification bodies (with valid statutory certificates), featuring high market share, stable product quality and complete quality‑certification documents.
The following documents and reports shall be submitted for acceptance of steel‑structure fire‑retardant coating projects:
Design documents and design modifications for the fire‑retardant coating project
Type inspection report / type test report and factory qualification certificate
Construction work instruction
Inspection report for incoming coating materials
Compatibility test report for anti‑rust primer and fire‑retardant coating
Record of pre‑treatment measures for fire‑retardant coatings on galvanized steel components
Treatment records for steel‑structure rust re‑occurrence or damaged anti‑rust paint
Inspection and acceptance records for concealed engineering items
Quality acceptance records for each inspection lot within the fire‑retardant coating sub‑project
On‑site construction quality management inspection record
Other necessary documents and records