Practical Intumescent Coating Strategies for UK Infrastructure Webinar

Fire protection in the UK construction sector has come under unprecedented scrutiny in recent years. In the wake of regulatory reform and the implementation of the Building Safety Act, passive fire protection systems – particularly intumescent coatings applied to structural steel – are now recognised as critical components of a building’s life-safety strategy. For offices and commercial building refurbishment projects, ensuring these systems are correctly specified, applied, and documented is essential.

Intumescent coatings play a vital role in protecting structural steel during a fire by expanding under heat to form an insulating layer that delays temperature rise. However, the effectiveness of these systems depends heavily on technical accuracy and governance throughout the project lifecycle. Errors in section factor calculations, misinterpretation of product certification, inadequate film thickness control, or incomplete quality assurance records can compromise performance and expose project teams to significant risk.

Commercial office buildings present challenges such as exposed steel aesthetics, fast-track construction programmes, and increasingly strict documentation requirements linked to the “Golden Thread” of building safety information. Other infrastructure projects such as stadia introduce additional complexities, including large-span structural elements, partially exposed environments, and heightened public scrutiny.

Delivering successful intumescent coating systems therefore requires more than product selection – it demands coordinated specification, disciplined application practices, and robust inspection and documentation processes to ensure fire protection strategies remain technically sound, compliant, and defensible throughout the life of the asset.

Presented by Simon Daly, Senior Consultant (E&I) and Lee Spoor, Consultant (E&I) –  the session will explore the technical, regulatory, and commercial considerations surrounding intumescent passive fire protection systems for structural steel in office and commercial building refurbishments.

The webinar will address key industry challenges including system identification, dry film thickness verification, refurbishment versus replacement decisions, and alignment with evolving fire safety regulations.