Author Topic: Painting Fire Doors (Read 12120 times)

pixxyco · « **on:** March 04, 2008, 10:19:38 PM »

Hi, can anyone tell me if the painting of fire doors with a waterbased wood paint will provide better protection than painting with an oil based wood paint.
My local authority stipulate that you have to use non-oil based paint, which is pretty crap paint, but I have not seen any info that says that oil based is more likely to cause a fire than non-oil based paint. The door manufacturer states that you can use any paint, but their not the guy from the council checking them! I'm just trying to understand the info that the council use to make their decisions.
Cheers
Pixxyco

kurnal · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2008, 10:30:43 PM »

There are no rules on painting doors unless they are standard doors whose fire performance has previously been upgraded by the use of special intumescent paints or varnishes, in which case it would be advisable to contact the manufacturers of the original upgrade products.

Oil based Paint being a hazard? I guess your council man has never tried burning off paint in order to redecorate! I may be tempted to ask for his rule in writing and then send it on to one of the larger paint manufacturers for their attention.
Paint a door? More than my jobs worth. Elf and safety rules you know. Probably Europes fault.

redbadge · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2008, 08:59:05 AM »

Either type of paint is fine, as the layer will be so thin it would be expected to burn off within seconds and will make no contribution - either positive or negative - to the performance of the door.

The only circumstance I'm aware of where there are specific rules on paint types is London Underground, where all finishes are tested not only to the normal standards i.e BS476 part 22 or BS EN 1634 part 1, but also (to a BS number I can't remember) for smoke emissions and toxicity.

wee brian · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:13:21 AM »

There may be environmental benefits from water based paints, there are probably some H&S benefits for the painter too.

As far as fire is concerend it makes no difference.

redbadge · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2008, 12:11:59 PM »

The only way that paint could affect the fire performance is if it is allowed to cover the glass in a vision panel, in which case the paint could ignite on the opposite face to the the fire. Simillarly signage should not be applied to glass panels for the same reason.

A small off of centre thought, some types of intumescent seal are water soluble - could these dissolve in paint? I suspect not but it's theoretically possible if the paint is wet for long enough!

wee brian · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2008, 12:59:08 PM »

Nah - the strip is in a pvc cover. I guess the ends might get a bit soggy.

pixxyco · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2008, 07:27:02 PM »

Cheers for the posts. I guess it is just someone at the council that decided that seeing as oil based paint is flamable, we better not use it, but probably made the decision with no actual evidence of the benifit of using non oil based paint over oil based.
My view was that by the time the fire is hot enough to set the paint on fire, the paint igniting would be the least of your worries and wouldn't make much difference!

wee brian · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:35:51 PM »

nearlythere · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2008, 10:54:25 AM »

Quote from: pixxyco

Cheers for the posts. I guess it is just someone at the council that decided that seeing as oil based paint is flamable, we better not use it, but probably made the decision with no actual evidence of the benifit of using non oil based paint over oil based.
My view was that by the time the fire is hot enough to set the paint on fire, the paint igniting would be the least of your worries and wouldn't make much difference!

What's the bet that somewhere down the line oil based paints will be banned for the very reason that it is flammable, when spilt on the floor and a blow lamp applied.
I'm sure there is a "Department for What Will We Think Up Now" somewhere on it at this very second.

John@EPL · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2008, 09:01:11 PM »

The council down here in Swansea say the same only water based paints. Its a council thing, and I think up until the new housing act enforcing HMO properties not many councils had a policy on this in domestic properties. Now from what I see the councils who didn't have a policy copy the ones from the adjacent authorities that have. So will probably be general to most councils throughout UK. I find the water based satin paints / varnishes not so bad and easier to clean the brushes afterwards. They used to be terrible but now I almost prefer them. My painter since painting a load of fire doors for me started using water based satin on everything he could.

nearlythere · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2008, 08:22:14 AM »

Quote from: John@EPL

The council down here in Swansea say the same only water based paints. Its a council thing, and I think up until the new housing act enforcing HMO properties not many councils had a policy on this in domestic properties. Now from what I see the councils who didn't have a policy copy the ones from the adjacent authorities that have. So will probably be general to most councils throughout UK. I find the water based satin paints / varnishes not so bad and easier to clean the brushes afterwards. They used to be terrible but now I almost prefer them. My painter since painting a load of fire doors for me started using water based satin on everything he could.

Is there not the potential for someone to drown in a tin of water based paint, if you don't do what it says on the tin that is?

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Author Topic: Painting Fire Doors (Read 12120 times)