How Do You Protect Steel From Fire?

Substrates like wood and fabric are known to be potential fire hazards. This isn't to say they're the only items around your home or building that should be considered and protected. It may surprise you to learn that steel is not fireproof. Structural steel buildings perform well when exposed to fire. Steel is durable and noncombustible. That is the good news. Given a certain amount of time and heat level, anything will burn eventually. This includes metals, like steel.

Steel is not indestructible! It can melt at approximately 2,500 degrees fahrenheit. Although it won’t necessarily melt, steel can become deformed and lose its strength when exposed to extremely high temperatures. That's not a risk you want to take. Fireproofing steel helps maintain a building’s shape in the event that a fire breaks out. This way, more people are able to escape unscathed and the fire department has time to arrive.

Fire is always a danger to steel beams and other structures. If you have steel you don't want to be damaged or destroyed, it's worth looking into how to make it more fire resistant. We have an entire section of our website dedicated to fire retardant products made specifically for steel. From there, you can decide whether you want products made for interior steel or exterior steel. Whatever you're looking for, we'll have it available in our online catalogue!

One product we especially encourage you to look into is Contego HIGH SOLIDS Fire Retardant Paint/Primer for Steel. It offers exceptional protection from heat and fire, plus a smooth, thin, decorative finish. Fast drying and curing times, plus the fact that no special equipment is required, means that this is a convenient product to use. Just like nearly every other aspect of our lives, technology and advancements in the industry have made these products significantly safer and more effective than even a decade before. The new Contego High Solids formula means you can get the same great results using 20% less paint!

Fireproof steel columns are used in everything from parking garages and office buildings apartment complexes to hospitals and cafeterias. It is important to note here that while this won't make the wood entirely fireproof, it will give it enough resistance to allow you to quickly put out the flames before it spreads. The difference even a few minutes makes can be huge when it comes to putting out a fire and stopping it's damage.

Here at RDR Technologies, it is our mission to provide you with the best fire protection, which means fire retardant that is effective and long-lasting. If you have any additional questions about which product is right for you or how to increase steel's resistance to flames, we encourage you to contact us. We have a simple online form to fill out, or you can call (405) 306- 3062 to speak with someone directly.