FedEx Authorized Ship Center DWC Fireproofing Madinat Al Mataar, Dubai South, Dubai: Ibtikar applied Phoenix 370-90 Water Based Intumescent Coating across 45,000 m² of structural steel to achieve a 120-Minutes fire rating, completed in October 2022.
Project Type Water Based Intumescent Coating
LocationMadinat Al Mataar, Dubai South, Dubai
Area45,000 m²
Fire Rating120-Minutes
MaterialPhoenix 370-90
CompletionOctober 2022
The FedEx Authorized Ship Center DWC is an Water Based Intumescent Coating project located in Madinat Al Mataar, Dubai South, Dubai, UAE, where Ibtikar delivered professional structural steel fireproofing and passive fire protection solutions for FedEx Express. Covering approximately 45,000 m² of steelwork, the project was completed in October 2022 using Phoenix 370-90 via airless spray fireproofing, selected to provide reliable protection in accordance with the specified 120-Minutes fire-resistance requirement.
Ibtikar’s scope included the application of the fireproofing system to primary and secondary structural steel members such as columns, beams, connections, and other critical steelwork. Our team strictly managed surface preparation, primer compatibility, coating application, and dry film thickness (DFT) verification at every stage. All fireproofing activities were executed in accordance with approved project requirements, manufacturer recommendations, and applicable UAE passive fire protection and Civil Defense requirements.
Through controlled application and systematic quality inspections, Ibtikar delivered a durable, fully compliant, and properly documented fireproofing system engineered to preserve the structural integrity of the building during fire exposure.
Explore more Ibtikar projects or contact our team to learn about our structural steel fireproofing, intumescent coating, and passive fire protection services across the UAE and GCC.
Primary and secondary structural steel members — columns, beams and connections — are protected against fire exposure to maintain load-bearing capacity for the required fire-resistance period, in line with the project's passive fire protection strategy.
A reactive intumescent coating system is applied to prepared steel surfaces. Under fire exposure, the coating expands to form an insulating char layer that slows the rate of heat transfer to the substrate, delaying loss of structural strength.
Dry film thickness (DFT) is measured throughout application against the specified coating build-up. Each stage is documented with inspection records, culminating in a final walk-through and sign-off prior to handover.
A layered coating system builds up fire resistance on the steel substrate. Products and film thicknesses are project-specific — see the technical documents below.
Prepared structural steel, cleaned and profiled to the specified surface standard prior to coating.
A compatible primer system protects the substrate and provides adhesion for the intumescent coating. Thickness per specification.
The reactive fireproofing coating, applied to the dry film thickness specified for the project's required fire-resistance rating, from 60 up to 120 minutes. Under fire exposure it expands to form an insulating char layer.
A protective topcoat is applied where specified, for UV resistance, weathering or a decorative finish.
Each layer depends on the one beneath it — primer adhesion determines how well the intumescent coating bonds to the steel, and the specified dry film thickness is what delivers the certified fire-resistance rating. Products and film thicknesses are project-specific: always confirm against the data sheets and the approved project specification before application.
Surface preparation and primer sign-off come first for a reason — an intumescent coating applied over contaminated or incorrectly primed steel can fail to adhere, and that is found out long after the steel has been closed in. The DFT records are the evidence: the fire-resistance rating is only as good as the film thickness actually achieved on each member, which is why the readings are taken point by point and kept with the handover file.
45,000 m²Protected Area
120-MinutesRequired Fire Rating
Water Based Intumescent Coating Coating System
CompletedProject Status
Approved 100%Inspection Status
Fire Proofing Material
BS 476 Certified Passive Fire Protection for Structural Steelwork. High-build single-coat application up to 1050 µm DFT.
Source: Phoenix 370-90 Technical Data Sheet, tested to BS 476: Part 20 & 21: 1987.
Specific touch-dry and recoat times were not published in the current TDS — confirm exact figures with Phoenix Fire Protection before publishing, or replace this panel once you have the updated sheet.
Point these four links at your own hosted PDFs — I couldn't find a Phoenix 370-90 TDS hosted on ibtikar-uae.com to link automatically (only on your Saudi site), so left it as a placeholder rather than linking to another entity's file.
Fire Proofing Material
Spray-Applied, Asbestos-Free Fire Resistive Material for Interior Structural Steel. Mineral Wool-Free, Styrene-Free Formulation Backed by 40+ UL Fire-Resistance Designs.
Sources: Carboline regional product pages and a technical specification guide. Carboline's official TDS PDF is blocked to automated access (robots.txt), so I couldn't confirm VOC, pack size, or the exact thickness-per-hour-rating chart — send the PDF if you have a copy and I'll fill those in with real numbers.
Figures are at 70°F (21°C) — confirm with Carboline for other site conditions.
I did not find an explicit ASTM E119 citation in the sources checked — UL Design listings are based on this test method, but confirm the exact standard reference with Carboline before publishing.
All four links are placeholders — point them at your own hosted files once confirmed.
A track record of fireproofing delivered across the UAE's industrial, commercial and infrastructure sectors.
Dedicated focus on passive fire protection and intumescent coating systems for structural steel.
Documented dry film thickness inspection and quality checks at every stage, issued as a signed inspection report.
Technical guidance from specification and system selection through to inspection, handover and authority submission.
What type of fireproofing was used on this project?
This project used a Phoenix 370-90 intumescent coating system, specified to deliver a 120-Minutes fire-resistance rating on exposed structural steel.
How is intumescent coating applied to structural steel?
Steel is first cleaned and primed, then the intumescent coating is applied in controlled passes — by spray, brush or roller depending on the product and site conditions — to build up the specified dry film thickness.
How is the required fire-resistance rating determined?
The required rating is set by the project’s fire strategy and applicable building regulations, based on factors such as building use, height and occupancy. This determines the fire-resistance period the steelwork must achieve.
How is dry film thickness (DFT) inspected?
DFT is measured using a calibrated gauge at multiple points across each member and recorded against the thickness specified for the required fire rating, with results documented for inspection.
What factors affect intumescent coating thickness?
Coating thickness depends on the steel member’s section factor (Hp/A), the required fire-resistance period, and the specific product’s certified performance data.
Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City
