Solvent Intumescent Coating for Structural Steel
Certified solvent intumescent coating that expands under heat to insulate structural steel — up to 120 minutes of fire resistance, applied by our certified crews to UAE Civil Defense standard.
Approved
Approved by UAE Civil Defense and trusted by contractors
Mechanism
What it is and how it works
Solvent-based intumescent is the same reactive chemistry carried in solvent rather than water. That changes nothing about how it performs in a fire, and everything about where it can be applied: it keeps curing at humidity and temperatures that leave a water-based film soft, which is why it is specified on Gulf sites and on steel that is already erected.
- Up to 120 minCertified fire resistance
- 85 % RHMaximum humidity at application
- 5–40 °CApplication temperature range
What it is
- Intumescent chemistry in a solvent carrier The same reactive coating that swells into an insulating char, but carried in solvent rather than water — which changes how it behaves on site, not how it performs in a fire.
- Built for real site conditions It cures by solvent evaporation, so it keeps curing in humidity that leaves a water-based film soft, and it can be applied from 5 °C upwards.
- High build in fewer passes Up to roughly 1,400 µm dry film per coat on some systems, so a heavy rating is reached in fewer visits to the same steel.
- A hard, durable finish Resists knocks and abrasion during the follow-on trades, and tolerates exterior exposure before topcoating on systems tested for it.
How it works
- Heat activation The film begins to react at roughly 200–250 °C — long before structural steel is in trouble.
- Gas release A blowing agent within the coating gives off inert gases.
- Expansion Those gases swell the film to 50–100 times the thickness that was applied.
- Char formation The foam sets into a rigid, carbon-rich char bonded to the steel.
- Insulation That char slows heat into the section, holding it below its critical temperature for up to 120 minutes.
Specification
Fire ratings and coating thickness
| Fire rating | Typically required in | Relative coating thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 30minutes | Light steelwork and single-storey frames | Lowest |
| 60minutes | Warehouses, retail and commercial frames | Moderate |
| 90minutes | Multi-storey buildings, car parks, semi-exposed steel | High |
| 120minutes | High-rise cores and industrial structures | Maximum |
Solvent-based thin-film systems are certified up to 120 minutes cellulosic fire resistance. Thickness shown is relative, not a specification — the applied DFT is set by the section factor of each member and the critical steel temperature, read from the certified loading table of the tested system. Send us your steel schedule and we will return the figure per member.
Range
Systems we apply
Intumescent Paint for Structural Steel
Thin-film coating that expands under heat to insulate steel and preserve its load-bearing strength, up to 120 minutes of fire resistance.
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Cementitious Fireproofing for Steel Structures
Durable spray-applied protection designed for columns, beams and heavy structural steel sections.
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Cable Protective Coating for Electrical Systems
Fire-resistant barrier for cable trays that stops flame spread and keeps critical circuits running during an emergency.
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Wood Fire Retardant for Timber Structures
Chemical treatment that slows combustion and preserves wood's natural look, with up to 60 minutes of added fire resistance.
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Solvent Intumescent Coating
Fast-curing, solvent-based intumescent system suited for exposed steel and demanding project timelines.
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Epoxy Intumescent Coating
High-build epoxy intumescent system built for offshore, marine and heavy-duty industrial environments.
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Fabric Fire-Retardant Treatment
Chemical treatment for curtains, upholstery and soft furnishings to meet fire safety codes in commercial fit-outs.
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Fire Proofing Materials
Certified fireproofing paints, mortars and accessories supplied and applied to spec for steel, cable and timber protection projects.
Learn more
On site
How we apply it
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Step 01
Surface preparation
- Steel clean, dry and free of mill scale, rust, oil and salts
- Primer must be one the intumescent system was tested with
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Step 02
Conditions check
- Air and steel between 5 °C and 40 °C
- Relative humidity 85 % or below
- Substrate at least 3 °C above dew point
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Step 03
Airless spray build
- High build per pass — up to ~1,400 µm on some systems
- Wet film checked continuously against the target
- Connections and cleats worked by hand
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Step 04
Overcoat intervals
- 6 hours minimum at 20 °C in normal conditions
- Above 25 °C sustained: thinner coats of ~750 µm and a 24-hour interval
- This prevents solvent entrapment, the cause of later blistering
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Step 05
Topcoat and verification
- Compatible topcoat where the steel is exposed
- DFT measured against the specified thickness, member by member
- Records issued for Civil Defence submission
Each stage carries a hold point — work does not proceed until the previous stage is signed off. In UAE conditions the overcoat interval lengthens rather than shortens: solvent trapped under a heavy coat in the heat is the single most common cause of blistering and cracking months after handover.
Applications
Where solvent intumescent coating is used
Solvent intumescent is a structural steel system. It is specified where the steel must reach a certified fire rating and the site conditions or the programme rule out a water-based product.
Steel elements
- Structural frames Load-bearing beams, columns and bracing in commercial, retail and industrial frames.
- Hollow sections Circular, square and rectangular tubular steel, where a smooth even build matters to the finish.
- Connections and base plates Bolted joints, cleats, brackets and base plates — worked by hand where spray cannot reach.
- Semi-exposed steelwork Canopies, walkways, loading bays and open car park decks that see weather but are not fully submerged in it.
Where it is the right choice
- Humid and coastal sites Gulf coastal projects where humidity leaves a water-based film soft. Solvent systems keep curing up to 85 % RH.
- Weather-exposed programmes Tested for semi-exposed service, and tolerant of exterior exposure before topcoating on systems certified for it.
- Tight programmes High film build per coat means fewer passes over the same steel, and fewer returns to a live site.
- Steel already erected Site application where conditions cannot be controlled the way a paint shop controls them.
Portfolio
Recent fireproofing work
A record of steel protected, inspections passed, and deadlines met across the Emirates.
Why us
Why contractors specify Ibtikar
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Certified applicators
Manufacturer-trained crews using our own spray equipment. The people on your site are ours, not subcontracted labour.
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UAE and GCC
Offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain — plus a Saudi operation, so we mobilise across the region without travel loading the price.
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Approvals already in place
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Civil Defence, plus ADNOC, CMW, PGC and Tawazun. See our approvals
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Documented handover
Dry film thickness recorded member by member, issued with material certificates and test reports, ready for authority submission.
How long does solvent intumescent coating take to cure?
- Touch dry is about 30 minutes at 20 °C, but touch dry is not cured. The minimum overcoat interval is 6 hours in normal conditions, and full through-cure takes longer again depending on film thickness and temperature. The system data sheet governs.
Why does the overcoat interval get longer in hot weather?
- Because solvent has to leave the film. Where ambient is sustained above 25 °C, manufacturer guidance is to apply thinner coats of around 750 µm instead of maximum build and allow a 24-hour interval between them. A heavy coat flashing off at the surface traps solvent underneath, and that shows up as blistering or cracking months later. In the UAE this is the normal condition, not the exception.
Can it be applied to steel that is already erected?
- Yes — that is one of its main advantages. It cures by solvent evaporation rather than needing controlled shop conditions, so it tolerates site humidity and temperature swings. Existing coatings have to be assessed first: the substrate must be sound and the primer must be one the intumescent system is tested with, otherwise the fire certification does not apply.
Can it be applied over an existing intumescent coating?
- Only after inspection. The existing film has to be sound, correctly adhered, and of a known product and thickness. Overcoating an unknown intumescent invalidates the tested system, so we survey and record what is there before quoting a retrofit.
What fire ratings can it achieve?
- Solvent-based thin-film systems are certified from 30 to 120 minutes of cellulosic fire resistance. The thickness needed for a given rating depends on the section factor of each member and the critical steel temperature, read from the tested system’s certified loading table.
Does it need a topcoat?
- Indoors, a topcoat is usually decorative. Outdoors it is mandatory — UV and moisture degrade an unprotected intumescent film and the rating can no longer be relied on. Some solvent systems tolerate up to six months of exterior exposure before topcoating, to a stated DFT limit, which is useful when a programme slips.
Is the coating Civil Defence approved, or the applicator?
- Both, and they are separate approvals. The coating system carries its own approval, and the applicator must be approved to install it. We hold applicator approvals with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Civil Defence, along with ADNOC, Command of Military Works, Presidential Guard Command and Tawazun. See our approvals
What documentation do you provide on completion?
- Material certificates, the manufacturer fire test report for the applied system, the approved primer and topcoat details, and DFT inspection records member by member — the package Civil Defence expects at submission.
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