Steel section factor, required fire-resistance rating and operating conditions are the three parameters that determine the solution.
Selecting a fire-protection system starts not with material prices but with three parameters: the required fire-resistance rating, the steel section factor and actual service conditions. Mistakes at this stage can result in rejected work or excessive material consumption.
Required fire resistance rating
The required rating is established by the design and applicable regulations (Federal Law No. 123-FZ and SP 2.13130), depending on the building’s fire-resistance classification, structural fire-hazard class and the component’s role in the load-bearing system. Columns, beams and bracing generally have different requirements, so specifying the same R rating for the entire frame is not cost-effective.
Steel section factor
The same product performs differently on different steel profiles: the lower the section factor’s inverse (effective steel thickness), the faster the section heats up and the more coating is required. Calculations use manufacturer tables supported by test reports under GOST R 53295.
Operating conditions
- Heated indoor spaces without corrosive exposure — thin-film water-based intumescent coatings
- Unheated and humid areas — solvent-based coatings with a protective topcoat
- Outdoor exposure and aggressive industrial environments — combined anticorrosion and fire-protection systems
- High fire-resistance requirements (R120 and above) — board-based passive fire protection
What the final deliverables should include
A properly specified system includes coating thickness and consumption calculations for each group of structures, a bill of quantities and supporting material documentation. This package then forms the basis of the as-built records and addresses most technical-supervision questions at handover.
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