Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

August, 2004

Intumescent Paint Fire Rating

Q. We want to use intumescent paint on wide flange columns which are presently encapsulated in 1 hour drywall. For architectual reasons we want to leave the columns exposed, but painted with the intumescent product. Will we meet a one hour standard and will we need an inspection as with ordinary fireproofing to verify thickness of the application?

Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I'm not the right person to ask. You might need to ask your insurance company if they need you to inspect the building or the columns. Of-course, if you do perform FILM thickness tests, or have an independant party do that for you, you will be better off with regard to future liability.

Only the paint company that supplies the intumescent paint can tell you if the product has a 1-hour fire rating for this particular application. If I were you, I'd get a certficate from them verifying the fire rating.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph