Scientist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a new, affordable 3-in-1 coating, named FiroShield, that will provide steel buildings with enhanced fire and corrosion protection. Currently, existing steel structures are usually coated with a fire-retardant layer intended to shield the bare metal from damage by fire, and provide the required two hour window for occupants to evacuate the building. The mainstream coatings currently in use require the steel to be sandblasted before the coating can be applied, which is a task that FiroShield removes the need for. As a result, the material is both cheaper and less laborious to apply whilst at the same time still providing the necessary time frame window and fire protection. Additionally, FiroShield has also been tested on other construction materials, such as reinforced concrete and laminated timber, and has been able to achieve the same excellent results.

FiroShield’s strength is derived directly from the balanced mix of additives, which work in conjunction to give off simultaneous chemical reactions when exposed to extremely high temperatures. This means that in the event of a fire, the coating forms a compact charred layer that serves as a protective barrier against the heat. The charred layer, however, instead of being thick and foam-like like mainstream coatings, FiroShield instead is an innovative coat that works differently than these traditional coatings and that allows the coating to stick to the steel surface for as long as possible. The key to the coating’s ability to serve this purpose lies in the combination of materials that are used for the coating to create the super-adhesive properties of the material under extremely high temperatures. The base material of the coating is made of synthetic resins, which are polymers that are commonly used to make paints. For the sake of fire and corrosion resistance, the developers added a combination of common chemicals. Amongst these chemicals, notably, the developers added one that is endothermic, which means that when the coating begins to absorb heat, a chemical reaction that causes the coating to adhere firmly to the steel begins. This compound, with just 5 layers applied, will provide the same level of protection that would be achieved by 15 layers of conventional coatings. FiroShield is cheaper, more durable and more effective and is set to be used in upcoming construction projects this year.

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