• Water Based Intumescent Coating designed for I Section Steelwork
• Provides 30, 60 and 90 minutes resistance to structural steelwork
• Tested in accordance with BS476:Part21 1987 by Warrington Fire
• Highly competitive loadings
• Easy application properties
• Minimal VOC's - EPA Compliant and 'environmentally friendly'
• Topseal are not required in C1 interior environments
• Can be used externally with a suitable topseal.  View topseal product Zinfos 340

Phoenix 168 - 30 Minute Loading Table
Phoenix 168 - 60 Minute Loading Table For Beams
Phoenix 168 - 60 Minute Loading Table For Columns
Phoenix 168 Product Data Sheet
​Phoenix 168 Product MSDS 

Guidance Notes:

Phoenix 168 is a water based intumescent coating designed for I section steelwork such as beams and columns. 

What is meant by HP/A / A/V? HP/A is generally used with British Testing and A/V in European.  The principle is the same.

The thickness of this intumescent coating is dependent on the steel section used. For calculation of DFT (dry film thickness) a factor called HP/A (heated perimeter divided by cross sectional area) is used. Intumescent coatings are applied as an intermediate coat in a coating system (primer, intermediate and top/finish coat).  Phoenix is designed for use in internal environments but can also be used externally provide is not exposed to water ingress.  A suitable topseal must be applied to the intumescent (once dry) if used external.

The rate increase in temperature of a steel cross-section is determined by the ratio of the heated surface area (A) to the Volume (V).  This ratio A/V, has units of m-1 and is known as the “Section Factor”.  Members with low Section Factors will heat up more slowly.  A steel section with a large surface area (A) will receive more heat than one with a smaller surface area.  Also, the greater the volume (V) of the section, the greater is the heat sink.  Therefore a small thick section will be slower to increase in temperature than a large thin one.  The Section Factor (A/V or HP/A) is thus a measure of the rate at which a section will heat up in a fire.  The higher the value of the Section Factor the greater will be the protection thickness required.

Primers?

A primer is used as a preparatory coating put on the steel before applying the intumescent paint and acts to provide corrosion protection.  Priming ensures better adhesion of the intumecent paint to the surface, increases its durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted and is always recommended.

A primer designed for steel is still highly recommended if a part is to be exposed to moisture.  Once water seeps through to the bare metal, oxidation will begin (plain steel will simply rust). Metal primers might contain additional materials to protect against corrosion, such as sacrificial zinc.

Metal hydroxides/oxides do not provide a solid surface for the paint to adhere to, and paint will come off in large flakes. Using a primer will provide extra insurance against such a scenario. An additional reason for using a primer on the steel could be the poor condition of the surface.  A steel part can be rusty, for example and should be prepared to the Swedish Standard 2.5 .Intumescent paint works well with Zinc Phosphate primers but does not like Zincrich primers.  Zinc rich primers are often used in coastal areas and are usually unnecessary where high moisture /or sea spay are not expected. Intumescents do not like to adhere to zinc rich primers due the sacrificial nature they have.

A good cost effective primer to use with Phoenix 168 is HB420 Zinc Phosphate which can be found under primers on the shop.  If you are ever unsure of the primer and its compatibility then please send us the details of the primer and we will confirm compatibility.  Generally in the UK we find that most projects will have primer applied to the steelwork already such as a Zinc Phosphate, Calcium Plumbate etc and the Phoenix Intumescent is applied to this. 

If you would like to send us your steel sizes we would be happy to calculate the loadings required using Phoenix 168.  We would recommend that intumescent coatings are carried out by an approved applicator.

Phoenix 168 should be used on I section steelwork such as beams and columns.  For coating for Hollow Section Steelwork the product to use is Phoenix 167 which can be found in related products.