Intumescent coatings, often referred to as intumescent paint, are used in buildings and applied to structural steel members as an aesthetically pleasing fireproofing product and passive fire resistance measure. The key feature of intumescents is that they expand significantly when exposed to high temperatures, such as those found in a fire and some intumescents can expand to more than 100-times the original thickness. As the product expands it becomes much less dense, acting as an insulator to keep the high temperatures away from structural members or protected openings, allowing them to retain their strength in the event of a fire and significantly extending the time it takes for structural members to reach critical failure temperatures.

Intumescents are divided into two main categories: thick film and thin film coatings. Originally developed for off-shore applications, thick film intumescent coatings are typically solvent-free epoxy-based products and have dry film thicknesses of up to 25 mm. Thin-film intumescents are either water- or solvent-based coatings with film thickness of less than 5 mm. The greater the thickness at which intumescent coatings are applied, the better the protection of the substrate.

• Intumescents are highly durable and do not readily flake off when struck
• Versatile and can be easily applied on- and off-site to a variety of surfaces
• Available in different colors with an aesthetically pleasing finish
• Intumescent coating systems are relatively easy to apply and low in maintenance
• Provide anti-corrosion protection to steel surfaces, extending their life significantly