Fire Protection Product Guidance

This guidance covers fire protection materials (also referred to as fireproofing) that are applied to structural steel such as columns, beams, and joists. Their function is to slow the heating and associated weakening of the steel in the case of a building fire in order to prevent or delay collapse of the structure. Fire protection materials include spray-applied fire-resistive materials (SFRMs), intumescent fire-resistive coatings (IFRCs), and rigid board fire resistive materials. SFRMs are cementitious in nature and are made of Portland cement and/or gypsum. They are typically powders that are mixed with water on site and spray-applied. These products protect steel by thermally insulating it during a fire. IFRCs are paint-like coatings that include intumescent and fire resistance additives. Intumescents react and expand when exposed to high temperatures in order to insulate the steel they are protecting. They can be factory applied or applied on site by spray, roller, or brush. Intumescent fire protection is often preferred where the steel is visible to building occupants for aesthetic reasons. Rigid board materials can be used when spraying is not practical: in cold weather, where there are space constraints, for out of sequence construction phases, etc.[1] Rigid board fire protection includes mineral- or slag-fiber boards which are made primarily of mineral fibers and a binder. They provide thermal insulation to protect the steel structure in the event of a fire. Calcium silicate board fire protection is also available, but it was not found to be common and was not included in the analysis. 

Fire protection products can contain a range of hazardous chemicals.  Those of highest concern include halogenated flame retardants, solvents, and epoxies. These chemicals can impact installers and building occupants.

In addition, the production of fire protection materials can also have significant impacts on nearby communities and the broader environment through the release of hazardous chemicals. These impacts can occur at the facilities that make the products as well as those farther back in the supply chain. For example, intumescent fire protection coatings are made primarily of petrochemicals: chemicals derived from oil or natural gas. Oil and gas extraction and processing release hazardous pollution that can have significant impacts on the health of people in surrounding communities, and these polluting facilities are disproportionately sited in BIPOC and low-wealth communities contributing to environmental injustice.[2]

Some fire protection products have historically contained asbestos, so this is something to be aware of related to legacy fire protection materials.[3] In 2019, the US EPA enacted a rule prohibiting the manufacture or import of asbestos in products for legacy applications like fire protection. Their research indicated that asbestos was no longer used in fire protection products, and the 2019 rule prohibits future use without an EPA evaluation and potential restrictions or prohibitions.[4]

Below is some additional, more detailed guidance to use when choosing fire protection materials. This guidance is focused on material health considerations. Ensure that any products that you use meet the required fire protection requirements of applicable building codes.

• Prefer mineral-based spray fire protection (gypsum- or portland cement-based) or slag- or mineral-fiber board over intumescent fire protection. Fire protection based on gypsum, Portland cement, and mineral fibers has fewer hazardous chemical impacts across the life cycle than intumescent coatings. The binders and intumescent systems in the coatings have several hazardous inputs, and the coatings are made primarily of petrochemicals. Oil and gas production and the use of hazardous chemical inputs both can expose fenceline communities to hazardous pollution, impacting the health of residents.
• For intumescent fire protection:
  • Prefer a site-applied water-based coating or a factory-applied coating. Water-based coatings are typically only applied on site, and contain less hazardous content than solvent-based or epoxy products. If not using a site-applied water-based coating, choose a non-epoxy factory-applied product to keep hazardous solvents out of the building and in a more controlled environment.
  • Avoid products that contain halogenated flame retardants (HFRs). Intumescent coatings can contain TCPP or chlorinated paraffins, which are HFRs. HFRs are considered a very high concern to avoid because they can be persistent and toxic. HFRs can be found in all types of intumescents including water-based, solvent-based, and epoxy, but all also appear to have product options that avoid them. You can find a list of halogenated flame retardants in Pharos.
  • Avoid epoxies (both site applied and factory applied).  In addition to the use of hazardous solvents in epoxy-based intumescent coatings, the epoxy itself is based on many hazardous inputs, including bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor that interferes with how hormones work in the body.