Changes in intumescent material technology mean that products are now being used in a variety of novel applications. The proposal to install a seven metre high polyester resin sculpture in London’s Canary Wharf complex posed unusual fire protection problems. The Big Blue, by internationally renowned designer, Robert Arad, is a translucent sculpture that casts spectacular light effects into the Canada Place retail mall below it. Concerns about the fire risk of such a large plastic object in a public space were overcome by incorporating a layer of fibrous intumescent mat into the surface of the sculpture.

Composite plastics are finding increasing applications in construction. When it was discovered that the existing cables of New York’s Bronx-Whitestone suspension bridge were not performing to design capacity it was decided to reduce the weight of the bridge by replacing existing steel wind fairings with composite wind fairings. This venture constitutes one of the largest uses of structural composites in the world to date. Fibrous intumescent mats are being used to provide fire protection to the new composite wind fairings.

It is not only modern building materials that have benefited from the advent of fibrous intumescent mats. The products are also being used to improve the fire resistance of doors, walls and ceilings in buildings of historic importance where upgrading must be carried out with minimum interference with structure or appearance.

Intumescent fire protection is becoming increasingly common outside traditional construction markets. Fibrous intumescent mats are used to provide fire protection in many transport applications where the weight or thickness of conventional fire protection is unacceptable. For example the bodies of buses are now being produced from fibre-reinforced plastic, which offers advantages in weight and corrosion resistance. Fibrous intumescent mats are being incorporated in the composite to meet fire resistance standards.

The use of intumescent materials is not limited to fire protection applications. Fibrous intumescent products are used to hold the catalyst block in position in catalytic converters where temperature variation causes changes in dimensions of the metal housing. They are also used in a similar manner to support a ceramic filters which are used to remove impurities from molten aluminium in the low pressure casting process.

Intumescent materials have helped solved many problems in the past and it looks as though they will continue to help solve problems long into the future.

Further information on intumescent products and their applications can be obtained from the Intumescent Fire Seals Association, 20 Park Street, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9AH, Telephone 01844 275500 or Fax 01844 274002.