It’s not exactly an industry secret that the cost of steel is rising ever steadily, hence another reason why timber remains a popular, sustainable and affordable material for commercial construction. There is a misconception that structural timber is less safe than other materials when it comes to achieving fire safety ratings, but it all comes down to ensuring the most efficacious coating for the substrate. Interior structural timber columns and beams require coatings to protect them from natural degradation but when it comes to superior fire protection, Fireshield® TimberClear intumescent paint is the new standard. Here’s why.

Why is Fireshield® TimberClear the best coating for timber?

Fireshield® TimberClear is a non-combustible, water-based, clear intumescent basecoat for the fire protection of interior timber. It is also available in whitewash finish. The base coat is then finished with a coat of Fireshield® TimberClear Top Coat Matt or Semi-Gloss.

The demand to make passive fire protection more aesthetically appealing has led product manufacturers to focus on the development and testing of systems to support the use of timber in architectural designs. Because of Fireshield® TimberClear’s nearly undetectable finish, it is favoured for maintaining the visual appeal of exposed timber.

More importantly, this interior timber coating system provides Group 1 solution in Australia fully compliant with the National Construction Code 2019 Amendment 1, CP4 for Class 2-9 Buildings. The intumescent can be applied on untreated solid wood, wood-fibre, hardboard, chipboard and most engineered timber products. The wood-based substrate must be greater than 8mm and have a density of more than 338kg/m³.

Image credit: Fireshield® TimberClear

Proper application is essential

Effective passive fire protection is not just a matter of slapping on a coat of paint. Fireshield® TimberClear should only be applied by certified applicators such as PROFINISH Fire Protection. It is just one element of a complete fire protection package to help you achieve the necessary FRL to keep your assets, and everyone using them, safe in the case of a fire.

At PROFINISH we’re regularly advising architects who are unsure about how they can use structural timber in commercial buildings. Our next Fireshield® TimberClear application is coming up at Reid Oval in Warrnambool as part of a complete fire protection treatment for the interior structure. Read more about the project here.

Fireshield® Timber Whitewash

Need further guidance?

Understanding passive fire protection systems is no easy task for even the most experienced architects and builders. For the latest information on passive fire protection products, the PROFINISH Fire Protection sales team can assist you with any queries you have so you can make correctly informed decisions on your project.

Get in touch by phone, email or via our contact form.

To read more, check out our previous insight 3 Things to Know About the Passive Fire Protection of Timber