Fire Resistance
Fire Resistance and Keim Products
KEIM Mineral Paints possess many qualities that are inherent due to their ingredients, composition, and manufacturing process. One such quality that is becoming increasingly significant is its non-combustibility, meaning that it does not support the spread of flame and nor does it give off any noxious emissions. The legal requirement in the UK has been recently lowered, with fire resistant exterior paint systems needing to be applied to any residential building measuring over 11 metres in height.
KEIM Mineral Paints and renders are incombustible due to their organic composition and are therefore ideal for use in safety critical public areas such as underground stations and tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals, hotels as well as residential high-rise buildings.
There is a difference between fire resistant and fire retardant paints.
Fire resistant, such as KEIM do not melt, or drip when exposed to extreme heat; their integral nature prevent the passage of fire from one area to another and they are able to withstand heat or energy for a given period of time.
Fire retardant paint on the other hand is used to slow down the spread or growth of a fire by using materials that are chemically treated to inhibit the flame or form a protective layer.
More information regarding the difference between fire resistant and fire retardant paint systems can be found in our Blog area
Focusing on KEIM, our paint systems have been independently tested against the standard EN13501-1, with both our interior and exterior paint options meeting the A2-s1,d0 classification. This sequence of digits and number refers to the fire performance as non-combustible in Scotland, and of limited combustibility in England and Wales. In addition, it signifies emission of little or no smoke, and production of no flaming droplets or particles within the first 10 minutes of fire exposure; all of which are significant considerations when planning to paint projects. In more detail;
A2 relates to how much (if any) a material contributes to the spread of flame, with A2 classified as non-combustible materials.
s1 relates to total smoke during the first ten minutes of exposure. This determines a βsmokeβ index, with s1 classified as little or no smoke.
d0 relates to βflaming droplets and particlesβ during the first 10 minutes of exposure, with d0 classified as none (no flaming droplets and particles).
EXTERIOR PAINT SYSTEMS
Fire resistance of exterior paint systems is a legal requirement in the UK for use on residential buildings over 11m in height. KEIM exterior paints meet this requirement, with classification A2-s1,d0
The following exterior paint systems are classified A2-s1, d0. Confirmation certificates are available for all of these products from the download section below.
INTERIOR PAINT SYSTEMS
The following interior paint systems are classified A2-s1, d0. Confirmation certificates are available for all of these products from the download section below.
KEIM RENDER, CONCRETE REPAIR AND STONE REPAIR SYSTEMS
The fire classification for render, concrete repair and stone repair systems is measured against European standard EN 998-1:2010 (BS 13501-1), with the KEIM systems below achieving classification A1. Declarations of performance are available for all of these products from the download section below.
KEIM Render systems
- KEIM NHL-KP 0.6 β (classification A2-s1, d0)
KEIM Concrete Repair Systems.
KEIM Stone Repair Systems.
