Intumescent fire protection products which swell and char in reaction to the heat of a fire, have been
with us for decades. These coatings may be water based, solvent based or solvent free. 100% solids
epoxy intumescent passive fire protection materials (Epoxy PFP) were introduced to the Oil & Gas
market in 1974. Prior to this date, other materials had been used in external applications in the Oil &
Gas industry with varying levels of success and, in some cases, were found to lose the majority of their
fire protection capability due to leaching out of active ingredients after exposure to offshore weather
conditions.
Essentially, the ingredients which cause fire protection materials to intumesce, and provide thermal
protection, are very similar across a broad spectrum of products. The binder in which these
intumescent ingredients are dispersed is the key to longevity and durability when considering fire
protection and corrosion resistance. A loss of performance over time can result in the costly need to reapply
the Epoxy PFP or operators will run the risk of inadequate performance in the unfortunate event
of a fire.
Epoxy PFP has consistently proven to be superior with over 30 years of real time experience in severe
environments around the globe. For most of the life of an Epoxy PFP, the primary function is that of a
barrier coat to prevent the corrosion of the steel substrate and protection is required for the lifetime of
the facility.
However, this paper shows that all Epoxy PFP are not the same with regard to corrosion protection and
product stability under stress, particularly in environments described as C5-M as per ISO 12944. Topcoats
cannot be relied upon to maintain the integrity of the Epoxy PFP, particularly considering that the
material is a safety critical element in the design. Inherent resistance of the Epoxy PFP to periodic
immersion and atmospheric weathering is therefore a pre-requisite when considering selection.
Keywords: Epoxy, Passive Fire Protection, Water resistance, Atmospheric weathering, film integrity