Passive Fire Solution for Retrofitted Projects: Upgrading In-situ Plasterboard to Code How Tech Coatings is providing better outcomes for the passive coatings market. Shane Wyatt and the Tech Coatings team launched their first intumescent coating into New Zealand less than a year ago. They’re now aspiring to create revolutionary change in the passive fire market. With the growth of building refurbishment, passive fire protection can throw up a number of challenges when dealing with existing lining and structure. One problem area is the treatment of lift shafts, riser shafts and stairwells, typically lined with 13mm plasterboard. Now there is an NZ-tested coating to apply to insitu plasterboard to bring it up to passive fire code. Perfect for lift shafts, riser shafts and stairwells, FBL-100 enables buildings to meet passive fire code without time consuming and expensive removal of existing plasterboard.
for interior passive fire protection. FBL-100 is a hard, durable, abrasion resistant coating that produces a smooth, white architectural finish that can then be top coated with any compatible waterborne enamel.
Plasterboard ceiling
Emergency stairwell
Initial research undertaken by the company unearthed a problem in the market. A significant number of buildings throughout NZ contain 13mm standard plasterboard (secured using the standard fixing system) as part of a fire resistance rated mid-floor and/or wall system. Under the current New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) these systems are inadequate for passive fire protection so an upgrade is required. Existing solutions involve either: i) installing an additional layer of plasterboard, or ii) replacing all the existing plasterboard with a fire rated system. Both solutions are labour intensive, costly and time consuming for building owners. The Tech Coatings product, FBL-100 is a tested solution suitable for both existing and new buildings. The halogen free, low VOC, acrylic co-polymer latex thin film intumescent coating is especially designed
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Issue 18
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September 2019
FBL-100 is perfect for refurbishing and upgrading of passive fire protection in existing or new building stock. FBL-100 provides a 60/60/60 FRR over an existing 13mm standard plasterboard lined, timber framed wall exposed to either: l Fire from either or both sides (two-way FRR) l Fire from the coated side (one-way FRR), or l 13mm standard plasterboard lined, timber midfloor/ ceiling system exposed to fire from below FBL-100 is quick drying and easy to apply, making it time efficient and less disruptive compared to current remediation options. Sections, floors or areas can be closed off as the application takes place - ideal for high use areas such as stairwells and elevator shafts, or areas where it is difficult or impossible to remove and replace the plasterboard such as riser shafts. Adding another layer of plasterboard or removing the existing passive fire system is no longer required. FBL-100 can be applied directly to the top of the existing system to meet the requirements of the NZBC. Testing and Assessment Although FBL-100 is tested in the US (through Underwriters Laboratories - UL), Tech Coatings needed to ensure the testing data they presented would be specific for use in NZ as per the current NZBC. For Tech Coatings it was never a question of ‘if’ they would test on local products, only ‘when’ and the task
