Passive Fire Protection · London & South East

Protecting people, property & structures from fire.

KBZ Fire Services applies intumescent fire paint to structural steel and timber, and carries out fire stopping, compartmentation and fire door works for contractors, developers and building owners.

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Steel & timber coatings Fire stopping & fire doors Inspected & documented

Steel beam, cross-section Normal conditions

Structural steel

Intumescent coating

Applied like paint, the coating is thin enough to keep the steel's clean profile on show.

Intumescent / Fire Paint

What is intumescent paint?

Intumescent paint, often called fire paint, is a fire-resistant coating that looks like an ordinary paint finish day to day. When it is exposed to the heat of a fire, it swells up many times its original thickness and forms a thick, insulating layer of char around the material underneath.

01 · Applied

A thin coat, like paint

The coating is sprayed, brushed or rolled on to a thickness set by the manufacturer for each steel section and the fire rating required.

02 · Activated

Heat triggers a reaction

As temperatures rise in a fire, a chemical reaction inside the coating releases gases that make it expand into a foam.

03 · Protected

Char insulates the structure

The expanded char slows the transfer of heat into the steel, helping it keep its strength for the specified fire-resistance period.

What it's for

Structural steel doesn't burn, but it loses strength quickly as it heats up. In a fire, unprotected steel can weaken to the point where beams and columns bend or fail.

Intumescent paint buys time. It keeps the structure standing for long enough for people to get out safely and for the fire service to do their job, and helps buildings meet the fire-resistance requirements of the Building Regulations.

30 min60 min90 min120 min

Structural steelBeams, columns, trusses and portal frames
Exposed architectural steelWhere the steel is part of the design
TimberUpgrading the fire performance of wood surfaces
Mezzanines & loft conversionsNew steelwork in commercial and residential jobs
Warehouses & industrial unitsLarge frames coated efficiently on site
RefurbishmentsProtecting existing steel during a change of use

Advantages

Why specify fire paint?

Compared with boarding or concrete encasement, intumescent coatings protect steel without bulking it out, hiding it or adding much weight.

Slim, clean finish

Keeps the shape and detail of the steel visible, so exposed steelwork can stay a design feature.

Any colour

A decorative topcoat goes over the fire protection, so the finish can match the building.

No lost floor space

Adds only millimetres to the steel, so rooms, walkways and ceiling heights aren't compromised.

Lightweight

Adds very little load to the structure compared with boards, blockwork or concrete casing.

Handles complex shapes

Follows connections, bolts and awkward sections that are difficult to box in neatly.

Measurable & certifiable

Film thickness is checked with gauges and recorded, giving clear evidence of what was installed.

Common types of intumescent coating
Type	Typical use	Notes
Water-based thin-film	Internal steel in dry, heated environments	Low odour, well suited to occupied buildings and refurbishments
Solvent-based thin-film	Internal steel, and some semi-exposed conditions	Tolerates cooler and more humid conditions during application
Epoxy (thick-film)	External, industrial and high-durability areas	Hard-wearing and resistant to moisture and impact

Our Services

Fire services across the whole building

From coating a single steel beam to protecting compartments across a full development, KBZ Fire Services handles the passive fire protection your project needs.

Intumescent coatings

Fire paint to steel, timber and other surfaces

Intumescent paint to structural steel30 to 120 minute protection for beams, columns and frames
Epoxy intumescent coatingsFor external, industrial and high-wear steelwork
Fire-retardant coatings for timberUpgrading the fire performance of wood surfaces
Surface preparation & primingCleaning, abrading and compatible primers before coating
Decorative topcoatsSealer coats and colour finishes over fire protection
Remedial & overcoating worksRepairing damaged coatings or bringing old ones up to spec

Fire stopping & compartmentation

Keeping fire and smoke where it starts

Penetration sealsPipe collars, wraps, batts and sealants around services
Linear joint & gap sealsHead-of-wall and movement joints in fire-rated construction
Cavity barriersClosing concealed voids in walls, floors and roofs
Fire-rated boardingBoard encasement of steel, ducts and service risers
Fire-rated partitions & ceilingsBuilding and upgrading compartment walls and ceilings
Compartmentation remedialsFixing breaches found in surveys and fire risk assessments

Fire doors

The first line of defence in any building

Fire door supply & installationComplete doorsets and frames fitted to certification
Fire door inspectionsChecks on gaps, seals, closers, hinges and signage
Repairs & maintenanceAdjustments, intumescent strips, smoke seals and ironmongery
Fire door upgradesImproving existing doors where they fall short

Surveys, testing & handover

Evidence of what's installed, and that it's right

Site surveys & quotationsAssessing the steel, substrates and access before pricing
Existing coating assessmentsIdentifying what's on site and whether it's adequate
Dry film thickness (DFT) testingGauge readings against the manufacturer's specification
Photo records & documentationHandover packs for O&M manuals and building records

Can't see what you need? Email us the details and we'll let you know how we can help.

Recent Work

Projects

A look at jobs we're working on across London and the South East.

Work in progress

Underfloor fire barrier to two airspace development units

We're applying Envirograf Product 53 as an underfloor fire barrier across two new airspace units, coating the floor joists and floor boards before the floors are closed up.

Location: Southsea, Portsmouth
Product: Envirograf Product 53 (UF60/500)
Scope: Underfloor fire barrier
Project: 2 airspace development units

Floor joists coated with Envirograf Product 53 underfloor fire barrier in an airspace development, Southsea, Portsmouth — Floor joists coated with the underfloor fire barrier

Floor boards coated with Envirograf Product 53 (UF60/500) fire barrier before installation, Southsea — Floor boards coated before they go down

Coated floor joists across an airspace development unit in Portsmouth — Coated joist layout across the unit

How We Work

From enquiry to handover

Enquiry
Send us drawings, photos or a description of the job by email or WhatsApp.
Survey & quote
We confirm the steel sections, fire rating, access and conditions, then send a clear, free quote.
Specification
Coating thicknesses are calculated for each section so the protection matches the required rating.
Application
Surfaces are prepared and primed, then coatings and fire stopping are installed and checked as we go.
Handover
You receive thickness readings, photos and records of the completed works.

Coverage

London &
the South East

LondonKentSurreySussexThe wider South East

Who we work with

Main contractors
Property developers
Building owners
Facilities managers
Commercial & industrial units
Residential & mixed-use

Common questions

How thick does intumescent paint need to be?

It depends on the size and shape of each steel section and the fire-resistance period required. The coating manufacturer's data sets the dry film thickness for every member, and we measure it once applied.

Can fire paint be used outside?

Yes, with the right system. External and high-humidity areas typically need an epoxy intumescent or a coating system approved for those conditions, plus a suitable sealer coat.

Will it change how the steel looks?

Very little. Thin-film coatings keep the profile of the steel and are finished with a decorative topcoat in the colour you choose.

Is the quote really free?

Yes. Send us the details of your project and we'll come back with a quote at no cost and no obligation.

Get In Touch

Protecting a project?
Let's talk.

Covering London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the wider South East. Tell us about the building, the steelwork or the fire protection you need, and we'll get back to you with a free quote.