The 100% solids epoxy intumescent FIRETEX FX9502 requires a lower dry film thickness (DFT) and is easier to apply compared to competitive epoxy fireproofing coatings – providing time, labor and cost savings to applicators and building owners alike.
Sherwin Williams
Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine is giving building owners and architects fresh design flexibility, enhanced aesthetics and long-term corrosion and fire protection with its new FIRETEX® FX9502 cellulosic fireproofing coating. The 100% solids epoxy intumescent coating offers up to three hours of protection to structural steel in cellulosic fires to enhance safety for building occupants and first responders. The attractive, smooth coating provides an architecturally pleasing finish compared to bulky cementitious Spray Applied Fire Resistant Materials (SFRMs), enabling the use of exposed steel throughout buildings. It delivers better protection from corrosion, damage and wear compared to alternative acrylic intumescent coatings. In addition, FIRETEX FX9502 requires a lower dry film thickness (DFT) and is easier to apply compared to competitive epoxy fireproofing coatings – providing time, labor and cost savings to applicators and building owners alike.
The epoxy formulation of FIRETEX FX9502 presents versatile design possibilities to showcase structural steel in both interior and exterior environments. The material allows architects to create complex building designs with exposed steel, compared to traditional designs that hide steel behind drywall and expensive decorative cladding to cover up unattractive cementitious fireproofing materials. The exposed, coated steel can be topcoated with a wide variety of protective coatings to further enhance its decorative appearance.
“Fireproofing commercial buildings is a necessity to protect occupants, visitors, first responders and adjacent properties. But this requirement should not hinder building designs or aesthetic considerations,” said Max Tritremmel, Fire Protection Market Segment Director – Americas for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine. “Using FIRETEX FX9502 gives owners and architects the ability to open spaces up and showcase steel using an array of finishes. The design possibilities are nearly unlimited, with the coating also delivering the benefits of lasting protection from corrosion, fire and damage.”
The ASTM E119-certified FIRETEX FX9502 is highly resistant to damage and wear, meeting UL2431 durability requirements for cyclic weathering, impact, vibration, salt spray resistance and other key environmental factors. The coating can extend the life of assets in a range of environments from conditioned internal spaces to exterior heavy industrial applications without requiring a topcoat. With enhanced durability compared to acrylic intumescent coatings, it can better withstand the rigors of high contact spaces where people, objects and equipment may impact coated columns.
For applicators, FIRETEX FX9502 offers some of the lowest competitive thicknesses in the ASTM E119 designs for fire ratings up to three hours and features a reduced total number of coats compared to acrylic intumescents. These aspects, plus the product’s mesh-free application, all contribute to time, labor and cost savings. FIRETEX FX9502 can be applied either onsite or offsite, providing flexibility for project managers and project scheduling. The coating can be applied at a lower thickness than competitive epoxy intumescents, reducing material and associated labor costs.
With many fire ratings able to be achieved in as little as two coats when using FIRETEX FX9502, steel can be fire protected in just one working day. In addition, the coating’s typical overnight dry-to-handle times enable fully fire protected steel to be quickly transported from the paint shop or on-site application area to the construction site. These efficiencies deliver real benefits to applicators, who rely on fast turnrounds and throughput.
Further enabling efficiencies for applicators, FIRETEX FX9502 has excellent sag resistance and can be applied at a high film build with minimal finishing requirements. For added flexibility, it can also be applied via trowel, single-leg airless or plural-component methods.
FIRETEX FX9502 can be specified for a wide array of public buildings and structures, including hotels, convention centers, atriums, bridges, airports, transportation terminals, schools and gymnasiums. Its durability also makes it ideal for use in parking garages, warehouses and heavy-duty manufacturing facilities.
Specifying the appropriate fireproof protection coatings and application thicknesses requires careful consideration – and the support of knowledgeable experts. The Sherwin-Williams Fire Engineering and Estimation Team (FEET) is available to offer industry-leading technical and engineering support, including technical advice, training, recommendations, customized coating thickness calculations, and fire protection and engineering designs.
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