New Sherwin-Williams Cellulosic Fireproofing Coating Delivers Efficiencies

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine is looking to make life easier for applicators with its new FIRETEX FX9502 cellulosic fireproofing coating.

With FIRETEX FX9502, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine offers applicators an array of efficiencies when applying long-term corrosion and fire protection to structural steel for buildings.

The company reports that applicators using the 100% solids epoxy intumescent coating can save hours, labor and costs through a combination of low application thicknesses, reduced coats and exceptionally fast drying times.

The solution, which offers up to three hours of protection to structural steel in cellulosic fires, requires a lower dry film thickness (DFT) and is easier to apply compared to competitive epoxy fireproofing coatings. It also delivers better protection from corrosion, damage and wear compared to alternative acrylic intumescent coatings.

In addition, the attractive, smooth coating offers an architecturally pleasing finish compared to bulky cementitious Spray Applied Fire Resistant Materials (SFRMs), enabling the use of exposed steel throughout buildings.

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.

“Application efficiencies for fireproofing materials are critical to keeping building projects on schedule. Any delays related to the availability of coated structural steel can push timelines back and create construction bottlenecks,” said Max Tritremmel, fire protection market segment director – Americas for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine. “With faster applications and handling times, FIRETEX FX9502 gives applicators, general contractors and building owners the ability to keep construction projects moving without delay.”

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 benefits, 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.

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 material allows architects to create complex building designs with exposed steel, compared to traditional designs that hide steel coated in unattractive cementitious fireproofing materials behind drywall and expensive decorative cladding. The exposed, coated steel can be topcoated with a wide variety of protective coatings to further enhance its decorative appearance.

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.