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Q1
I have an old house/hotel/rest home/Listed or English Heritage building that is full of character - Can I upgrade the original doors & ceilings to give a higher degree of fire resistance?
Answer
Yes, Envirograf produce a range of products for this specific requirement
Q2
Is it possible to achieve Class 1 & Class 0 Surface Spread of Flame and Fire Propagation without using solvent based products?
Answer
Yes, use the ES/VFR Clear Protective Coating for Timber which is water based
Q3
Can I achieve Class 1 & Class 0 or, enhanced fire protection over existing paints or varnishes?
Answer
Yes, three systems are available from us - the ES/VFR clear Protective Coating for Timber, the HW Intumescent Paint & Varnish range, the ES/RFC Intumescent Coating to Upgrade Raised & Fielded Doors.
Q4
I’ve been told that I must fit some sort of protection over the downlighter light fittings in my ceilings - what can I do?
Answer
Fit Envirograf Intumescent Downlighter Covers. These are also known colloquially to the trade as Fire Hoods, Top Hats, Witches Hats, Fire Cones etc.
Q5
Can I fit them from below? I don’t want to take up the floorboards.
Answer
Yes, they are designed with this in mind.
Q6
Why do I need to fit protection to light fittings?
Answer
If a fire occurs, you need to stop the fire spreading from one room to another, but the hole made in the ceiling for the light fitting will allow the fire to penetrate the ceiling structure. Unless the correct form of protection is fitted, the fire will very quickly burn through the floorboards into the room above. The joists would also be attacked by the fire, loose structural integrity and the floor structure would collapse.
Q7
Low voltage light fittings get extremely hot. Will the Intumescent Downlighter Covers cause them to overheat?
Answer
No, so long as the correct size is used. The covers are designed to “breath”. Contact AFP for a list of Envirograf recommended sizes.
Q8
Why do I need to apply intumescent paint to steel columns, RSJ’s & steel beams?
Answer
Steel weakens and loses it’s structural strength very quickly in a fire. Thinner steel sections heat up much faster than thicker sections of the same nominal overall size, so this means that the thinner sections require much more intumescent paint than the thicker ones.
Q9
How and why does Intumescent Paint work?
Answer
In simple terms, when the fire attacks the paint, it causes a chemical reaction which makes the paint expand to form a layer that insulates the surface (or substrate) below from the fire.
Q10
What does the word “Intumescent” mean?
Answer
In respect to the fire protection industry, it describes the property of swelling or expanding due to the action of heat during a fire. This property is utilised by many passive fire protection products to block the path of fire.
Q11
Why is fire protection needed for hinges, locks, closers etc.
Answer
It is extremely important that all ironmongery is protected. The reason for this is that metal absorbs and transfers heat very rapidly to the wood, which leads to premature failure of the door during a fire, especially at lock & hinge areas.
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