Effects of natural weathering on the fire properties of intumescent fire-retardant coatings

Fire-retardant coatings could be one option for providing enhanced protection to buildings during a wildfire, particularly when applied to combustible siding and in under-eave areas. Limited studies have been conducted on their effectiveness but maintaining adequate performance after weathering has been questioned. This paper reports on a study evaluating the effect of natural weathering on the performance of intumescent-type fire-retardant coatings. The main concerns were (a) the reduction of ignition resistance of the coating after weathering and (b) the coating might contribute as a combustible fuel and assist the fire growth after weathering. This study evaluated the performance of 3 intumescent coatings that were exposed to natural weathering conditions for up to 12months. A bench-scale evaluation using a cone calorimeter was used to evaluate the performance of the coatings at 3 heat flux levels (30, 50, and 70kW/m(2)). Our results showed that weathering exposure reduced the effectiveness of fire protection of intumescent coatings, but the weathered coatings did not act as additional fuels. Weathering orientation showed much less effect on the performance of intumescent coatings in comparison to other parameters. There was statistical evidence that weathering duration, heat flux level, and coating type affected the combustion properties.