Fire Resistant Paint

Fire Retardant Paint FAQs

What are fire retardant paints?

Fire retardant and resistant paints are usually intumescent paints, cementitious coatings, or fire retardant sprays that can be applied to different substrates. They help prevent or slow down the spread of fires and protect buildings.

Fire retardant paint vs. fire resistant paint

Fire resistant paints are typically classified as "intumescent paints" that meet ASTM E-119 standards. Fire resistant paints are typically not ASTM E-119 compliant and instead slow the spread of fire and have an ASTM E-84 rating.

What is ASTM E-119?

ASTM E-119 is the standard that measures the duration and temperature a substrate can withstand when exposed to fire. Fire resistant paints are ASTM E-119 certified up to a certain number of hours (e.g. 2-hour fire rating).

What is ASTM E-84?

ASTM E-84 standards measure how much flame and smoke spread on a substrate during a fire. Fire retardant paints are measured on a Class A, B, and C system, where Class A has the lowest flame spread, and Class C has the highest flame spread. In order to be ASTM E-84 certified, smoke development must be 450 SDI or lower.

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