Single-pack, fast drying, very low-VOC formulation reduces intumescent volumes by up to 50% and cuts coating cycles by reducing the number of coats for onsite applications.
International®, AkzoNobel’s protective coatings brand, has launched Interchar® 1150, a waterborne intumescent passive fire protection (PFP) coating for onsite structural steel application that delivers significant efficiency benefits in application time and volumes.
Developed for the built environment market, Interchar 1150 is well suited for onsite applications across a wide range of infrastructure projects spanning data centres, commercial facilities, industrial manufacturing facilities, tall buildings, airports, stadia and more.
Interchar 1150 extends the Interchar range from International® with a formulation optimized specifically for 4-sided I/H beams and columns, where it delivers the lowest applied film thicknesses currently available from International®. It provides structural steel fire protection ratings from 30 to 120 minutes, with the formulation optimised for 90 and 120-minute periods.
For open structural member projects, Interchar 1150 can reduce intumescent volumes by up to 50% compared to other products on the market and for many specifications, this will cut the number of coats required for the job. On mixed-section projects involving both open and closed structural members, combining Interchar 1150 with Interchar 1120 for hollow sections can also deliver applied volume reductions of up to 39%.
The faster dry times from Interchar 1150 allow applicators to apply required coating thicknesses to steel more quickly. In a typical use case, combined with the reduced product loadings this can reduce the number of days from four to two, cutting applicator costs, speeding up construction timelines, and reducing the impact on other onsite trades.
As a waterborne coating, Interchar 1150 offers strong environmental credentials, including a very low VOC content of 22 g/L to support compliance and worker safety, while lower application volumes reduce packaging waste. Interchar 1150 can also deliver points under the LEED and BREEAM green building rating systems, helping to enhance the sustainability credentials of project developers and contractors.
Ian Fletcher, Senior Product Manager at AkzoNobel said: “Interchar 1150 is the latest waterborne intumescent passive fire protection from International. Developed at our state-of-the-art furnace facility, the formulation has been optimised to deliver very low loadings, particularly for 4-sided beams and columns. Combined with faster dry times, it means structural steel coatings can be delivered much more quickly and at a lower cost, as well as delivering high standards of fire protection.”
International® can also deliver additional bespoke support through its professionally licensed in-house Structural Fire Design Team, who can optimise the volumes required for onsite application in line with common structural engineering techniques, codes and standards.
Interchar 1150 has been tested to EN13381-8:2013, and has a C-s1,d0 rating for fire reaction in accordance with EN13501-1:2018. It also has third-party certification from ITeC in Spain and holds both European Technical Assessment ETA 26/0098 and the CE Mark.
Interchar 1150 is fully compatible with a range of International® primers and topcoats, enabling it to fit into existing specification frameworks without any additional complexity.
