Fire retardant coating is used to prevent fire from entering the ventilation system and the subsequent spread of combustion products throughout the building.
Ventilation surrounding any building (from a small apartment to a huge factory) can spread combustion products in a matter of minutes, aggravating the situation. Fire retardant duct systems are used to help contain the source of a fire.
Which premises need protection first?
Premises in which it is necessary to install fire protection for air ducts are, first of all:
- Warehouses for fuel, lubricants and flammable materials.
- Places with large crowds of people: office buildings, business centers, residential apartment buildings, shopping centers.
- Buildings with high temperatures: baths, saunas, boiler rooms.
The ventilation system, which carries air through the floors, has several compartments with valves and upholstered in fire-resistant materials. In this way, isolation of each individual room is achieved.
Cover insulating materials required ventilation pipes, air conditioning and smoke removal systems. The latter are made to remove smoke from the building, so they need increased protection.
Why do you need fire protection for air ducts?
According to statistics, during a fire greatest harm for humans it is caused by smoke, not fire.
Since air conditioning and ventilation are an integral part of any room, they become extremely dangerous during a fire, as they quickly spread smoke. Fire protection for blowers is designed primarily to delay the time of combustion products entering the ventilation.
Its second goal is to isolate the fire so that it “suffocates” without receiving the necessary oxygen. The third is smoke removal, removal of flammable gases from the room.
Covering material ventilation ducts outside, during excessive heating it foams, thereby creating additional thermal insulation. Fire-retardant plaster, impregnation for fabric coverings, and special paint are common. These materials are designed to protect against fire Decoration Materials, which tend to be highly flammable and emit toxic smoke.
Rules and regulations for the operation of fire protection for air ducts
The set of rules established by the legislative act SP 7.13130 of 2013 on anti-aircraft technology fire safety, regulates the installation of ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems.
When laying ventilation systems, it is allowed to use exclusively non-flammable insulating and facing materials"A" class. Within one fire compartment, low-flammable materials of class “B” can be used. “B1” - semi-fire-resistant materials are allowed for use in air ducts that do not pass:
- through ceilings (including suspended ceilings) and walls;
- in corridors and escape routes.
According to these rules, the ventilation system, in addition to fire retardant coating must have: air seals, fire dampers. According to technical standards fire safety, the fire protection must withstand the heat during the evacuation time. For each individual case, a certain time interval is calculated.
Materials must be certified according to fire resistance standards. The fire resistance of a structure is determined by the time from the onset of excessive heating to the moment of destruction of the surface. Fire protection material must withstand temperatures up to 1000º, given the average fire temperature in the room is 850º.
The use of perlite phosphogel sheets, asbestos cement, gypsum fiber, plasterboard, basalt boards, special spraying and fire retardant paint coating increases the maximum fire resistance time to 240 minutes. According to the standards, this time cannot be less than 150 minutes.
Methods and materials for protection
Now let’s look at what means can be used for fire protection:
- Basalt protection.
- Fire retardant paint.
- Sprayed material.
Below we will consider each option in more detail.
Balsat fire protection for air ducts
Basalt is a substance of volcanic origin, including impurities of iron, calcium, magnesium and 47% silicon dioxide. It is thanks to silica that basalt is widely used as fire protection. When exposed high temperatures, the material does not lose its shape or properties solid and does not emit hazardous substances.
Basalt fiber, which is used to insulate pipes from fires, is created from the original rock without the participation of foreign additives that reduce its natural properties.
The most popular and reliable brands are:
- Rockwool (Wired Mat) . Hydrophobized heat-insulating boards, light and rigid, are available in rolls. Size of 1 roll: 800x600x50 mm.
- Pro-Vent. Roll dimensions: 10000x1000-1200x20-80. There are options for one-sided lining: foil, reinforced foil, glass, basalt, silicon fabric, metal mesh.
- TIZOL. Roll sizes: 1000-1200x500-600x40-200. Covered with fiberglass and foil. Price on average from 326 rubles/m².
- Buffalo. Roll size: 6000x1000x20-80. The material can be lined with basalt, silicon, glass, aluminum foil, metal mesh. Price from 200 rub/m².
- MBF. Maximum length roll 31000x1000-1500x5-20. The material has a foil coating. Price from 320 rub/m².
Advantages of using basalt fire protection:
- comparative cheapness;
- high degree of protection;
- non-toxic;
- non-flammability.
The main disadvantage is requirement for additional fasteners. As a rule, metal brackets are used for this, which are destroyed at high temperatures, causing the insulation to simply fall off the ventilation duct. It is safest to glue rolls of basalt protection using fire-resistant adhesives.
Other disadvantages include: comparative difficulty of installation, heavier structure.
Installation is carried out in several stages:
- Surface preparation. Cleaning, leveling, drying, removing rust and unevenness.
- Application of adhesive. One layer is enough for fire resistance of 30-150 minutes, for longer a second layer is needed.
- The material is glued in strips. Material consumption per 1 m² is 1.1 m². When installing double protection, the layers are offset from each other and the consumption is 2.05 m².
- If glue is not used, the roll is unwound over the entire surface of the pipe and secured with metal staples.
For basalt rolls, the fire resistance limit is 180 minutes with a thickness of 70 mm. The greater the thickness, the higher the protection, and vice versa. Options with foil increase resistance to heat energy. Use together with paint or sprayers provides comprehensive and most reliable protection..
Application of rolled basalt fire protection (video)
Fire retardant paint
During strong heating, when exposed to temperatures in the region of 100º, such paint foams, forming new layers of carbon fire protection and additional thermal insulation.
Popular brands:
- Thermal barrier. Paint consumption for minimum protection of 45 minutes – from 0.95 kg/m² depending on thickness metal structure(the thicker the duct, the less paint is required).
- Kedr-Met-V. Consumption averages 1 kg/m².
- Ecofire. Average consumption: 1.11 kg/m².
- CROZ. Average consumption: 1.37 kg/m².
Pros of fire retardant paint:
- ease of application;
- speed of repair after a fire;
- the structure is not heavier.
The first disadvantage is that the thickness and integrity of the coating must be constantly monitored, since the paint peels off over time, falls off, and runs off. Paints on water based may not have time to foam if the fire is of the carbon type (if the temperature rises sharply in the first five minutes). In this case, the paint is ineffective, and the possibility of this type of fire should be considered in advance.
Water-based paint is applied by spraying or brushes. It provides protection for 120 minutes with a thickness of 0.8 mm. The more paint is applied, the higher the fire resistance time.
The more paint is applied to a surface, the more often it needs to be revised and checked for integrity.
The result of using fire retardant paint for wood (video)
Sprayed fire retardant material
A composition applied by spraying for fire protection of surfaces. It is created from mineral microfiber substances, an inorganic binder and additives with a very high fire resistance limit (2-3 hours).
Famous brands:
- POLINOR;
- Thermal spray;
- Corundum.
- no need for preparatory work;
- good adhesion to the surface;
- spraying can be painted with an additional layer of protection;
- the most durable method (the layer can remain effective for up to 50 years).
PAROC FPS 14 is a non-flammable stone wool board that is used as fire protection steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Slabs based stone wool have fire-retardant characteristics, which directly depend on the density of the material, as well as on the thickness of the insulation. Choice the right product determined technical specifications and the regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use.
PAROC FPS 17
PAROC FPS 17 board is a non-combustible stone wool, which is used as fire protection for steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Stone wool-based slabs have fire retardant characteristics that directly depend on the density of the material, as well as the thickness of the insulation. PAROC FPS 17 has ETA (European Technical Approval) approval for use as fire protection for steel structures and a Certificate of Compliance with the fire safety requirements of the Russian Federation. The choice of the right product is determined by the technical specifications and regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use.
PAROC FPS 17t
PAROC FPS 17t slab is a non-flammable stone wool, which is used as fire protection for steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Stone wool-based slabs have fire retardant characteristics that directly depend on the density of the material, as well as the thickness of the insulation. PAROC FPS 17t has ETA (European Technical Approval) approval for use as a fire protection for steel structures. The choice of the right product is determined by the technical specifications and regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use. The fireproof board is covered with fiberglass.
Any building must ensure maximum safety for the people in it. One of the most dangerous situations is a fire. The spread of fire between floors most often occurs through the ventilation system, and therefore the problem is one of the most pressing tasks of fire prevention.
We welcome our regular reader and offer him an article about what fire protection for air ducts is, why it is needed and how it is done.
Fire protection for air ducts is a passive means of fire protection and consists of creating a heat-insulating protection (screen) with high heat and fire resistance on the surface of ventilation ducts.
The screen must protect for a specified time:
- near sources of ignition - the air duct from destruction and, if possible, from heating;
- in the rooms above and below, walls, ceilings - combustible structures and materials adjacent to the air duct pipes, from secondary fire.
Fire protection is carried out by applying special compounds or thermal insulation with various products from non-combustible materials (mineral wool, asbestos, sometimes ceramic materials– for example, expanded clay concrete, brick).
Why fire protection is needed
In the event of a fire, it is through the through network of ventilation pipelines that smoke and fire spread.
The main task of fire protection of air ducts is to prevent fires and limit the cascading spread of fire through ventilation and industrial air conditioning systems.
What are the dangers of ventilation during a fire?
The ventilation system in case of fire creates two types of danger:
- distribution of smoke-laden air through air ducts. Uninitiated people underestimate the danger of smoke - and according to statistics, most of those injured and killed during a fire died from suffocation. But this article will not talk about smoke prevention;
- spread of fire and secondary ignition of combustible structures and materials from contact with the hot walls of the air duct.
In most public, industrial and office buildings it is used natural ventilation(that is, without the use of fans) or mixed (some of the systems are equipped with fans). In private and multi-apartment buildings residential buildings Usually only natural ventilation is used.
The air ducts of any ventilation system are practically not blocked by any valves or dampers (in modern systems special fire dampers are installed, but there is always a possibility that the valves will not operate, and modern systems not installed everywhere).
In large modern buildings there are smoke removal systems - a separate exhaust ventilation removes combustion products from places of fire occurrence and from adjacent rooms, forced ventilation pumps air and creates overpressure V staircases and elevator shafts and prevents them from becoming smoke-filled.
Hot air from the fire zone will rush upward, heat the air ducts, carry away sparks and flames - and cause secondary fires in upper floors, attics, roofing.
Which premises need protection first?
First of all, they need fire protection:
- warehouses for fuels and lubricants;
- production using open fire or molten metals and minerals, welding, plasma cutting, electric furnaces for various purposes;
- places with large crowds of people - shopping centers, shops; entertainment institutions (theatres, cinemas, entertainment complexes, sports facilities); office buildings, domestic buildings on industrial enterprises, children's and educational establishments; catering enterprises4
- underground structures.
At the domestic level, the first areas that need to be protected (especially those with open fire) are rooms with stoves and fireplaces, bathhouses, kitchens, boiler rooms and the rooms and attics located above them. However, all air vents should be protected - fires also occur for other reasons (cigarettes, pranks, short circuits).
Do not forget about the quality and proper thermal insulation and sufficient fire resistance of chimneys, especially in places where they pass through walls, ceilings and roofs.
Rules and regulations for the operation of fire protection
Requirements for the implementation and operation of fire protection for ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems are prescribed in the Code of Practice SP7.13130.2013.
Only certified materials may be used. Fire protection must withstand temperatures of 1000°C for at least 150 minutes.
Methods and materials for protection
Fire protection methods:
- insulation using sheet and roll materials made of mineral wool;
- application of special intumescent paints;
- application of fire-resistant mastics;
- installation of a fireproof barrier made of heat insulators;
- combined method - the use of paints and roll materials.
For fire protection of a forced ventilation system (using a fan), vibration-resistant, soundproof materials are required, since ventilation units make noise and create vibration.
The metal thickness for ventilation ducts must be at least 0.8 mm; grilles and diffusers in the system must be installed from metal.
Basalt mats, slabs, canvases
For fire protection, mineral wool mats and sheets, vermiculite boards, foil sheets, self-adhesive basalt fibers, asbestos-cement, and gypsum fiber boards are used. Average in price and affordable for self-installation isolation method. For installation, screws, washers, studs, wire, and clamps are used. They increase the size and weight of the pipes; work cannot be carried out if the pipe is tightly adjacent to the wall or located in a corner. There are a lot of types and varieties of slabs and mats.
Fire retardant paint
Special paints, varnishes and enamels are used that swell under the influence of high temperatures. The resulting layer has high thermal insulation properties.
Easy and quick to apply. Can be applied to hard to reach places, where thicker insulation does not fit - for example, if pipes are laid against the wall and in the corner of the room. The labor intensity of this method is approximately 5 times less than the use of mineral mats or mastics. Disadvantages: Less effective thermal insulation than other methods. Most compounds are quite expensive.
Fire barrier
To create a fireproof barrier, plaster on a mesh, a brick box, or concrete coating is used. These methods are no longer popular. Plaster makes the structure very heavy and requires reinforcement of the fastenings. Brick boxes are sometimes used in private housing construction.
Concreting was previously used in the construction of industrial and residential buildings, but now it is practically not used.
Concrete and brick boxes require installation of a foundation.
Fireproof mastic
All kinds of phosphate-based pastes and mastics are applied to the surface of the air ducts in a thick layer, liquid glass(silicates), mineral or asbestos fiber, nepheline mineral. Coating thickness – from 10 to 50 mm. Effective method fire protection, moreover, inexpensive and quite lightweight and not too labor intensive.
Application of pastes requires application specialized equipment, available only to organizations. The coating is not resistant to humidity and precipitation - the wet layer cracks due to temperature changes. Significantly increase the weight of structures and require reinforcement of fastenings. You cannot apply the coating to the walls of air ducts adjacent to walls.
Where to buy materials
Your life and the lives of your loved ones depend on the quality of the materials used, so you should not buy fire protection materials in markets and small shops - the quality almost certainly does not meet the standards. You need to buy in large construction supermarkets, with a receipt and certificate. The likelihood of buying a fake in this case will be minimal.
The approximate price of rolled foil mats 50 mm thick is from 200 rubles; 80 mm – from 250 rubles.
Design and installation
Any work on fire protection of public and residential buildings is carried out by specialized organizations with a project in place. However, no one forbids additionally insulating the ventilation duct in your apartment. Fire protection of ventilation systems in private housing construction is practically not controlled by anyone.
Fire protection is advisable in the following cases:
- if the housing has two or more floors, including a usable basement;
- if the ventilation ducts are in one-story house pass close to the chimneys of the heating system. In a small one-story house, fire protection is a matter of your desire.
You can apply intumescent paint yourself or insulate using mineral wool slabs. Working with asbestos-cement or gypsum-fiber boards is labor-intensive; the use of asbestos-cement in residential premises is not allowed.
Before carrying out work, you should complete a project or make a drawing, think over the method of fastening, and calculate the quantity of all components.
Most often, basalt mats are used at home.
Installation technology:
- it is necessary to degrease, rinse and degrease the surface of the air ducts (using acetone). Don't forget to open the windows - you can only work if there is enough supply fresh air and as quickly as possible;
- the mats are cut around the perimeter of the air duct, taking into account an overlap of 100 mm;
- special glue for gluing mineral wool sheets is mixed, protruding elements of the air duct (for example, joints, clamps) are coated;
- First of all, protruding parts, brackets, and joints are glued. the foil will be on outside mat; pieces of mat are glued with an overlap of 100 mm;
- the smooth part of the air duct is coated and glued;
- at the joints of mats and protruding parts, mineral wool slabs must overlap; if necessary, the joints are glued with aluminum foil;
- It is advisable (but not necessary) to secure the mats on top with wire, clamps, or metal brackets.
Watch the technology in more detail in our video:
Ventilation systems, air ducts and chimneys are perhaps the most important in the building, as they allow people inside the room to breathe, provide a constant flow of fresh air and smoke removal, unpleasant odors etc.
This section presents the fire protection of air ducts and smoke removal, which is necessary for all these systems to work efficiently and uninterruptedly.
Thermal insulation of chimneys
This section of the catalog presents fireproof materials for chimney insulation.
Fire protection of a chimney, on the one hand, protects the building and the people in it from fire, and on the other hand, it protects the chimney itself, since without reliable insulation it wears out much faster.
Insulation of a chimney in the ceiling begins with a well-organized design of the chimney and pipe itself. It is important that the temperature at the junction of the pipe and the roof does not exceed 50°C. If you want to brick pipe, then to comply with this condition, you will have to make it very thick. This is why many people prefer metal pipes.
Subsequently, it is very important to sheathe the entire box with insulating materials that will protect both from fire and from elevated temperatures, as well as from condensation and other possible negative effects. For protection, materials such as fireproof boards Termoizol, Superizol, Silka, etc. are used. It is important that the materials are non-flammable!
High-quality fire protection for smoke removal is necessary wherever heating is carried out using stoves or fireplaces. And, of course, the insulation of the bathhouse chimney deserves special attention, since today there are saunas and baths in almost every suburban area.
Fire insulation of air ducts
Another important and extensive topic is fire insulation of air ducts. Here we're talking about about almost every building, be it a residential building or a restaurant, an office center or a music club, etc.
Fire insulation of air ducts is necessary because this system, as it were, permeates the entire building, connecting various rooms, which means that in the event of a fire and lack of insulation, the air duct can be quickly destroyed, which will play a tragic role for the people in the premises.
Modern materials for fire protection of air ducts are represented by a wide group of mineral wool boards, pierced mats, rolled insulation and other products that can reliably protect these systems from fire and high temperatures.
As a rule, the price of these products is not that high, and the degree of protection they provide is simply priceless!
