How much should fire protection / intumescent painting cost for steel

[AliG]

Hi,

 

My builder says he sent out for 5 contractors to quote on intumescent painting of the steel in my house.

 

Only 1 returned the quote supposedly the others were too busy or the job was too small.

 

The quote came in at £150 per square metre for 78 square metres.

 

I cannot find a suggested cost for this on the internet, but it seems ridiculously high.

 

Has anyone had any similar work done?

 

Thanks for your help

[Ian]

@AliG

Why not do the intumescent painting yourself? If it's for internal areas of steel the cost of the paint starts at about £8 per m2 provided your primer is compatible

 

http://www.smlprotectivecoatings.co.uk/intumescent/steelmaster60wb

 

Edit: how much of the house steel structure are you looking at painting with the intumescent paint and which areas? 78 sq.m sounds like a lot!

Edited August 9, 2017 by Ian

[AliG]

There is a ridiculous amount of steel in the house.

 

Yes I looked at the price of the paint and couldn't see why any painter couldn't do it. It seems like a few days work so the price looks absurd.

[Ian]

21 minutes ago, AliG said:

There is a ridiculous amount of steel in the house.

 

Yes I looked at the price of the paint and couldn't see why any painter couldn't do it. It seems like a few days work so the price looks absurd.

@AliG

Its well worth double checking with your BCO exactly which elements of steel need a fire rating (and why). For example columns and beams that are only supporting a roof do not normally need fire protection.

 

Edit - extract from Part B of the Building Regs for houses:

 

 

Edited August 9, 2017 by Ian

[Mikey_1980]

I painted the steels in our house myself, I think it was rawlins paints I used for the paint, I worked out the M2 coverage required, painted it and then applied to the MFR for the certificate to show that we had used the recomended amount and our BCO was fine with it.  They pointed out which bits needed to be painted, and which didn't, I ended up doing alot more than what was required, just for piece of mind.  The paint is thick, and it does take alot longer to apply, and to get a good finish if it is going to be on display in any places.

[AliG]

Thanks @Ian I checked and this does exclude all the steel in the roof.

 

The house ended up with way more steel than expected. Partly driven by my requirement for concrete upper floors. The lintels for large windows are all steel beams and I also have an overhanging landing that is supported by a large amount of steel.

 

@Mikey_1980 as you say I did a bit of work on Google and found a paint supplier who will specify the exact amount of paint required for each steel and then provide a certificate. The builder should then be able to get his own painters to do the job and not a specialist. Waiting to discuss this.

Edited August 9, 2017 by AliG

[Ian]

2 minutes ago, AliG said:

Thanks @Ian I checked and this does exclude all the steel in the roof.

 

The house ended up with way more steel than expected. Partly driven by my requirement for concrete upper floors. The lintels for large windows are all steel beams and I also have an overhanging landing that is supported by a large amount of steel.

@AliG

If you have any beams that will be cased in plasterboard then that normally gives 30 minutes protection per layer of board so you wouoldn't also need to use intumescent paint on those.

[AliG]

Unfortunately as the house is three storeys high I need 60 minutes.

 

Wee added a third floor games room as there was an enormous amount of space in the roof.  This room is also open to a double height second floor room.

 

What over time has become apparent is that the BC regulations for a three storey house are enormously more onerous and expensive than for a two storey house. I have had to have a fire report written, install sprinklers in the third floor, require more fire proofing, a more robust alarm system etc. I still await the costs of fire rated glass doors which won't be pleasant. 

[AliG]

If anyone needs to do this, I found this company-

 

http://www.steel-fire-paint.co.uk

 

You give them the size of each beam and they come back ad tell you how thick the paint needs to be and then how much paint you need to buy.

 

A really excellent service, ordering from them and the builder will do the painting on a per hour rate. Should save a good 6-7000.