Intumescent Paint

Q. A couple of years ago we renewed a teather where we had exposed steel columns and a contractor used what he called "intumescent paint" as a fireproofing or fire retardant agent. We had lost contact with the contractor and we intent to use the paint for the same purpose on another project. If intumescent paint is not the right product, which one is capable of creating a fire barrier around the steel under temperature rise?

A. Thanks you for your email. Yes, I believe that you are looking for an intumescent paint. Such paints expand when exposed to very high temperatures and they form an insulating layer that protects the substrate from the fire. The potection is not indefinite, but hopefully will last long enough to protect the substrate until the fire is extinguished.

You might want to contact Tony Scott of Contego, strategiccenter@aol.com, www.contegoglobal.com (800) 434-6444. He has sent me a CD-ROM that shows how an intumescent paint works and his company sells such a product.