Best Defence For The Protection of Structural Steel: Cementitious Spray Protection Or Fire Resistant Boards?
The various design and build processes involved in the construction of most modern structures integrate numerous professional disciplines. These in turn are usually
aimed at creating functional, multipurpose value chains and optimum return on investment of usable space in the built environment.
Not surprisingly, a number of difficult questions punctuate this complex “foundation-to-occupation” scenario, many of which are directly related to vitally important safety and security issues.
Fortunately, the provision of many safety solutions is predicated and led by abundant scientific, empirical evidence balanced against prevalent regulatory authority requirements and building code legislation. Increasingly, these important decisions are also directly influenced by recognised and acceptable international building benchmarks and fire code standards.
Taken together, the situation creates clear cut and relatively straight forward decisions in most areas of concern, effectively balancing cost and functionality with acceptable, deliverable performance in a win-win situation for developers, designers and end users.
There are, however, many instances where the line between the efficacy and usability of, let’s say, spray fire protection over fire resistant boards for structural steel, for example, is not so clearly defined. Indeed, it can be extremely difficult to assess on an analytical and pragmatic basis simply because the design, location and size of the structure lies at the borderline of a particular cost/function/performance differential and various scales of economies.
Not surprisingly, a number of difficult questions punctuate this complex “foundation-to-occupation” scenario, many of which are directly related to vitally important safety and security issues.
Fortunately, the provision of many safety solutions is predicated and led by abundant scientific, empirical evidence balanced against prevalent regulatory authority requirements and building code legislation. Increasingly, these important decisions are also directly influenced by recognised and acceptable international building benchmarks and fire code standards.
Taken together, the situation creates clear cut and relatively straight forward decisions in most areas of concern, effectively balancing cost and functionality with acceptable, deliverable performance in a win-win situation for developers, designers and end users.
There are, however, many instances where the line between the efficacy and usability of, let’s say, spray fire protection over fire resistant boards for structural steel, for example, is not so clearly defined. Indeed, it can be extremely difficult to assess on an analytical and pragmatic basis simply because the design, location and size of the structure lies at the borderline of a particular cost/function/performance differential and various scales of economies.
Companies like Promat, a worldwide leader in the business of innovative fire science technologies — thanks to its 50 years of experience and a continuous and ongoing
research and development programme — have developed a set of tools aimed as making the decision making process considerably less problematic.
These scientific models — from well established fire curves right through to abundant fire test data — are well known to most professionals with an interest in the fire performance of various structural components and competitively priced fire safety solutions.
Promat has now taken these principles a step further and developed specific tools to assist professionals make the correct decision in recommending correct fire protection spray, board or paint solutions in difficult, non standard situations.
These new tools look at and extrapolate the critical factors related to general, regulatory, scientific and proven principles of effective fire protection.
These include the fundamentals of compartmentation, fire curve requirements, design parameters, risk management considerations…right through to the application and installation of applicable Promat’s board and sprayed fire resistant solutions.
The flowcharts are now available for download, click here.
These scientific models — from well established fire curves right through to abundant fire test data — are well known to most professionals with an interest in the fire performance of various structural components and competitively priced fire safety solutions.
Promat has now taken these principles a step further and developed specific tools to assist professionals make the correct decision in recommending correct fire protection spray, board or paint solutions in difficult, non standard situations.
These new tools look at and extrapolate the critical factors related to general, regulatory, scientific and proven principles of effective fire protection.
These include the fundamentals of compartmentation, fire curve requirements, design parameters, risk management considerations…right through to the application and installation of applicable Promat’s board and sprayed fire resistant solutions.
The flowcharts are now available for download, click here.
GUIDE FOR STRUCTURAL STEEL PROTECTION CHART
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