NTU, JTC develop paint coating with quick application, can withstand fire longer

SINGAPORE — Workers could soon take about half the time to paint 100sqm of a building’s surface, when a new fire-resistant coating is out in the market in about a year’s time.

The product, called FiroShield, is the fruit of two years of research and development by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and national industrial developer JTC. It can also be painted to protect steel structures against corrosion.

Steel structures in buildings are typically coated with a fire-retardant layer to shield bare metal from being damaged by fire and to meet the fire-protection standard of two hours (to give occupants enough time to evacuate the building).

With FiroShield, five layers of coating is needed to protect surfaces against fire for more than two hours, compared to conventional coatings which may need up to 15 layers or more.

Assistant Professor Aravind Dasari from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, who led the research team, said that the average fire-retardant coating forms a “charred layer” that acts as a protective layer against heat. It is usually “thick and foam-like” and tends to fall off easily, exposing steel structures to the fire.

By contrast, FiroShield sticks to steel surfaces under high temperatures. Under normal conditions, it is durable and weather-resistant without needing a top coat of paint, he added.

It can also be applied on bare steel without the need for sandblasting to prepare the surface, and protects steel surfaces against corrosion from moisture and ultraviolent rays. Apart from steel, it can also be used on other construction materials such as reinforced concrete and laminated timber.

When subjected to weathering tests in the lab, the performance of FiroShield’s coating dropped by 2 per cent — compared to a drop of up to 75 per cent for conventional coatings. This advantage means that it can help cut maintenance costs.

The new coating is expected to cost about US$60 (S$82) to US$75 per sqm, compared to traditional intumescent coating that costs about US$100 to US$150.

Mr Koh Chwee, co-director of the JTC Industrial Infrastructure Innovation Centre, said that such products do not require specialised equipment to be applied and would help to “bring down the overall construction costs”.

He added that cutting out the sandblasting step also helps to create a much “cleaner” environment for workers.

Before it is put to use, FiroShield will be sent to the United Kingdom for an industry certification, which should be completed by April next year. The product will hopefully be ready for the market by the end of 2018.

After that, it will be applied on steel structures within the upcoming JTC Logistics Hub @ Gul near Tuas, expected to be opened in 2019. The site holds a multi-storey inland container depot, warehouses and a heavy vehicle park.

The team from NTU and JTC also plans to work with agencies, including the Building and Construction Authority, to take the technology further.