FIRE PROTECTION OF COLUMNS, BEAMS, TRUSSES, BRACINGS AND FLOOR BEAMS

According to fire safety regulations, all load-bearing structures of buildings and facilities without exception are subject to mandatory fire protection treatment. Both horizontal (beams, bracings and trusses) and vertical (columns, posts) structural elements are subject to treatment.

Various materials are used as means of fire protection: intumescent paints, plasters, coatings, basalt or roll insulation, solid calcium-silicate boards. Intumescent or thermally expanding compounds are divided into single-component water- or solvent-based, two-component epoxy, and graphite-filled compounds. Depending on the operating conditions, both the fire safety system and the protection method must be selected with particular care, as this ensures maintenance-free operation of the facility for many years.

Fire protection of columns

Building columns are generally load-bearing structures, ensuring the overall stability of the building and its geometric immutability. These structures require full fire protection. The methods depend on the material they are made of (reinforced concrete, metal, wood). As a rule, thin-layer sprayed intumescent coatings are used for columns.

Fire protection of floor beams

Floor beams require fire protection first and foremost. These load-bearing elements act as a rigidity diaphragm in the horizontal frame, ensuring its strength and the stability of the entire building. It is carried out as part of the overall fire protection of the facility structures.

Fire protection of trusses

A truss is a system of rods connected into a joint, geometrically stable under loads. Fire protection of trusses is strictly mandatory immediately after construction, as they are the load-bearing basis for spanning large distances. It is applied to metal structures in accordance with fire safety standards.

Choosing fire protection for floor beams, columns and trusses

When choosing a fire protection system, it is also necessary to consider architectural parameters if certain requirements are imposed on the appearance of the protected structures (floor beams, roofing elements, trusses, bracings, columns).

The convenience of most intumescent paints lies in the speed and ease of application. Thanks to modern technologies, proper material selection and compliance with conditions, a year-round painting process is possible, including at sub-zero temperatures or in a dismantled workshop position. Fire protection of metal structures is possible all year round and in any climate, but only when the entire application technology is observed.

Materials for protecting structures from hydrocarbon fire are a special type of work, where without skill and mastery of the technology the result can be disastrous. These include two-component epoxy materials, whose application involves installing a reinforcing mesh and using special units with separate component feeding. Applying special plasters with additional reinforcement is no less complex. These thick-layer materials require special conditions, trained personnel, specific equipment and manufacturer accreditation.

Fire protection treatment requires extensive experience and professionalism from the specialist applying materials to the protected surfaces. Fire protection of buildings depends on several factors:

• Purpose of the premises
• Total area of treated surfaces
• Method and urgency of work

The price of fire protection per m² may vary depending on the above factors and is determined individually.