Manufacturers of intumescent paint to have access to a large workspace containing specialist equipment for the controlled application of protective coatings to steel
The Applus+ fire laboratories have recently unveiled a new facility in which manufacturers of structural protective coatings will be able to apply their products and prepare samples for testing. This is highly significant since imperfections in the paint-application process can lead to negative outcomes during testing.
Manufacturers conducting their tests at Applus+ will now have access to a large, spotless laboratory, fully equipped for the application of multiple layers of paint – a laborious process that can be extremely time-consuming depending on the number of layers and how thick they are.
The new facility spans some 750 square metres, with a minimum height of 9 metres. This enables the use of a 5-tonne crane throughout the site and therefore facilitates the moving of steel girders and columns. The facility incorporates a ventilated chamber for the controlled application of multiple layers of paint. In addition to the main workspace, there is an 80-square-metre area on the first floor set aside for client use, containing lockers, showers and a dining area, as well as a further 80 square metres of office space on the second floor.
With this new facility, paint manufacturers have a vast, clean and confidential space at their disposal for the preparation of test samples.
Applus+: a benchmark laboratory for the fire-resistance testing of intumescent paint
The Applus+ fire laboratories have more than 30 years’ experience in carrying out
fire-resistance tests to international standards. We test against all key sector standards for structural-protection elements, in particular the standards for intumescent paint, such as EN 13381 part 8, BS 476 parts 20, 21 and 23, the Yellow Book and ETAG 018.