What is Intumescent Fire Varnish?

Most people are aware there are ways to protect themselves if they were ever caught in a fire. This article focuses on the benefits of a particular type of varnish, and discusses how it can provide protection if a fire should break out.

We all know that timber can burn very easily if given the chance. The more timber there is in a structure or building, the more there is for a fire to get hold of and burn. This could be catastrophic if a fire were to break out and there were people inside the building.

This is why products such as intumescent fire varnish have been created. This type of varnish is designed to withstand the effects of fire. Quite often the varnish will be clear in nature, so it allows the wood to look its very best while providing a level of protection you wouldn’t be aware of. If a fire broke out you would see how it prevents the fire from burning the wood, and therefore slows its progress.

Imagine you had a wooden door frame and door finished with this varnish. In this situation the door would not catch light and neither would the frame, simply because the varnish would expand to provide a layer of protection the fire can’t easily get through. This could mean the difference between escaping to safety and being caught in a room that is well alight. As you can see, it can make a profound difference to the way you act and feel during a fire. Wouldn’t you feel safer if you knew all the wooden surfaces in your home had this type of protection included in them? Find out more about this type of varnish and see how it gives you great looks as well as peace of mind.

A Guide to Fireproofing New Buildings

Building and architecture is forever changing and developing with innovative ideas and new materials being used. The use of steel and glass is increasing, and although it looks breathtaking safety features are still very vital aspects to building a home, office, or any public building for that matter, which is why fire proofing is still just as important as ever.

Taking the right precautions can save lives, so putting that little bit of effort in can make the world of difference, literally! There are many different ways to protect your building in the case of a fire and the most obvious one is fire exits and fire doors. Although these are important, simply having an extra door here and there isn’t going to solve the issue completely.

Within most houses there are compartments. Compartmentalising your building will help prevent a fire from spreading if it did occur. Each of these compartments will be linked to a fire door or some sort of fire exit. These fire doors should be protected by intumescent seals. The fire doors have two separate functionalities – the first is to provide a barrier when the door is closed to stop fire spreading further. The second is providing a means of escape once the door is opened.

By using intumescent seals you can have a sense of protection. These seals work by expanding and swelling up once they are exposed to heat, providing a seal around the door that will not allow smoke to seep through or fire to spread.

Intumescent fire protective coatings are also important to any building. These coatings basically come in the form of paint and whilst they look decorative, once subjected to heat they will expand. The reason for the expansion is that it creates a layer of carbonaceous char. The intumescent fire protective coatings change from a single layer of paint to a layer which is 50 times the thickness once heated above 100 degrees, providing the barrier required for protection against fire.