How Long Does Fire Retardant Paint Last?

You want to protect those you are responsible for from the threat of a devastating fire. This may be in a commercial setting or at home. There are a variety of ways to do this, and one of the most efficient and successful is by the use of fire retardant paint.

What is fire retardant paint?

By nature, certain materials are incredibly flammable. For example, if regular curtains were to be lit, the entire piece of fabric would be in flames in a matter of seconds and quickly spread further. You have an out-of-control fire before you know it. By definition, fire retardant paints are decorative, protective coatings designed to reduce the spread of flames in the event of fire. These coatings have the appearance of traditional paints and varnishes, comply with building and fire codes, and give the substrate rated flame spread protection. You can put fire retardant spray on everything from fabric to steel and much more.

How does it work?

When fire retardant paint is applied to a surface, the coat stops whatever material it is from being the fuel needed for the fire to grow. Upon contact with fire retardant paint, the heat emitted from the flames causes the paint to release a fire dampening gas. To put it more plainly, fire retardant paint prevents oxygen from fueling a fire by forming a protective barrier over the asset you’re protecting. This then prevents the fire from fully developing and spreading, causing untold destruction and devastation.

How long does fire retardant paint last?

Fire resistant paints need to be maintained and recoated per the manufacturers guidelines. If you do so, you can expect most fire resistant paints to last between 30 and 120 minutes, according to their ATSM fire rating. This means the material you covered with the paint can be engulfed in flames for this amount of time while still battling the heat.

Where can I buy fire retardant paint?

This one is easy- you can and should buy fire retardant paint online! Here at RDR Technologies, our online catalogue has all of the fire retardant products you could possibly need. We make it easy to shop for your specific product. You can shop by product type or the substrate you need to cover. We carry the industry's top name brands, including Contego and BanFire. We specialize in fire retardants, fire suppressants, and several other specialty chemicals. Because we are leaders in the industry, you can trust our website to have everything and anything you need to keep your building or other material safe from fires.

Our goal is to offer the best in class products for each code requirement and substrate. If you have a need for a special type of fire retardant, or you are not sure which product you need, feel free to call us at 405-306-3062 or email us at doug@rdrtechnologies.com. We will always do our best to get you the correct product. Beyond this, we are happy to talk with inspectors and code officials to determine proper products for your project.