Are you in line with the global initiative to build and maintain a better, safer environment? Air Quality in the work environment – hospitals, schools, offices, commercial and residential buildings – is a big area of concern.
Clumpy, toxic cementatious coating
The WELL Standard* states“Pollutants generated indoors can lead to a variety of symptoms and health conditions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), combustion byproducts and airborne particulate matter are known to trigger nausea, headaches, asthma, respiratory irritation and allergies. While ambient outdoor air is often better quality, natural ventilation methods, operable doors and windows, and general building envelope infiltration can diminish indoor air quality if external air quality parameters are poor.”
READ THE MSDSof the Products being used on your project.When considering required fire protection, old technology such as Spray Fire Resistant Materials (SFRM) may not meet all or any of these acceptable conditions:
Formaldehyde levels less than 27 ppb.
Total volatile organic compounds less than 500 μg/m³.
Carbon monoxide less than 9 ppm.
PM₂.₅ less than 15 μg/m³.
PM₁₀ less than 50 μg/m³.
Ozone less than 51 ppb.
0Radon less than 0.148 Bq/L [4 pCi/L] in the lowest occupied level of the project.
Carbon monoxide levels less than 35 ppm.
PM₂.₅ less than 35 μg/m³.
Nitrogen dioxide less than 100 ppb.
Formaldehyde less than 81 ppb.
A recent report from Mount Sinai Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine Work Safely with Spray-on Fireproofing states:
Those who burn, prepare, grind, sift or sell [gypsum] are, as I have often observed, afflicted with great difficulty breathing… -Bernardino Ramazzini
Big changes in intumescent technology made “green” fire retardant paint possible. Contego intumescent changes fireproofing from the LEED nightmare associated with most fire protection products to a valuable LEED points generator.
You might know the history; environmentally friendly fireproofing was an oxymoron. Most fire retardant paint formulas were toxic, carcinogenic, and laced with high concentrations of VOCs. Those products are poisonous in the can and on the surface. This translates to very toxic in burn conditions.
HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Caution!
Causes eye irritation
Causes skin irritation
Causes severe respiratory tract irritation May cause risk of lung disease (i.e. silicosis and/or lung cancer)
Clean latex-based, non toxic intumescent coating
Do we really want to use this obsolete technology in our hospitals, schools, commercial & residential buildings?
Pressure treated fire resistant lumber (PTFR) is among the worst. According to USDA studies, the PTFR process is destructive to the lignins in the wood and would dissolve attachments, like screws and nails, unless they are stainless steel.
Then there are cellulosic and cementatious fireproofing materials. We’ve all seen them; they look like oatmeal when applied. The litigation list concerning these materials is lengthy and focused primarily on the constant deposition of tiny fibrils that get into the breathable air and are then inhaled straight into the lungs. Complaints in the majority of lawsuits have been centered on mesothelioma and other forms of cancer involving the respiratory system. In addition, when reading the MSDS of most intumescent coatings, the section on health risks contain clear warnings of both acute and chronic brain damage and damage to the central nervous system. Not exactly environmentally friendly.
The reason for these unhealthy toxic problems is simple. The components that make various fireproofing technologies work— whether cellulosic spray-on materials, cementatious products, mastics or intumescents—are inherently unhealthy.
This was one of the big drivers when Contego began designing cutting edge solutions for the green market niche. The challenge was to find alternatives that performed as well or, in most cases, better than what was already out there, without the risks from the past formulations. This research led to our current formulation of ZERO VOCs (ASTM D4017) and ZERO TOXINS (BSS 7239-88).
Contego meets all the Benchmarks for LEED certification, Living Building Challenge, WELL Standard and Google Red List Material Standard.
GREEN isn’t the only advantage of Contego Fire Barrier Intumescent Latex. It applies at a fraction of the thickness (and weight) needed for a latex intumescent in the past. It’s finish is as smooth as paper, pure white in color and is formulated to accept any topcoat.
That’s why we at Contego say…”White is the new Green”. Air Quality in SFRM fireproofing materials are a PROBLEM, Contego’s IFRM fireproofing is the SOLUTION! Get more information here.
*The WELL Building Standard is administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment.
Are you concerned about the future of projects where cementitious or cellulosic fireproofing has been applied? You should be.
An interesting set of recommendations and precautions has been offered by Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York (link to download at end below). In addition to Mt. Sinai, other major medical entities worldwide are identifying the fireproofing materials that many refer to as “oatmeal” as a probable source of various pulmonary disorders.
This is because these types of fireproofing materials are highly friable. Grab a section and pull it off. It typically isn’t hard to do. Note all of the fine particulate that breaks off with the section. When you consider how much of that “oatmeal” material gets shed into the breathable air, it’s no surprise that medical problems could ensue.
The good news is the human body is resilient. However, concerns were originally raised in a study from 1988 by the USDOC and NIST regarding SFRMs (Spray-On Fire Resistant Materials) containing asbestos and others that didn’t. It also discusses both SFRMs and insulation materials, so it should be clear that each product has to be evaluated on its own merits (or risks).
That same particulate is in the air as you can see by how much of it settles out on every surface in a structure. Once you breathe it in, it going to be in your body forever and potentially the source for a wide range of medical problems like COPD and mesothelioma. These and other diseases can cause respiratory impairment or even fatalities.
Perhaps that’s why many materials require everyone to leave the premises except the applicator. Then the applicator has to wear the “space suit” when working with those materials. This also causes massive scheduling delays and costs. One major GC in Las Vegas who primarily does nothing but projects valued at $120M+ said delaying his project by a month costs him $10M that he can never recover. Even a two week delay is obviously a $5M ding.
Carefully think about the materials you specify and use. Ask for an MSDS or SDS and read them. If many people read the MSDS or SDS documents, a lot of these products would be history.
Use a latex based intumescent coating like Contego. It is zero VOC and offers the same or better protection as cementitious or cellulosic without the possible associated medical outcomes down the line.
Contego Reactive Fire Barrier Intumescent paint has been chosen to protect the frame structures of the 48 elegant passenger capsules incorporated into the worlds largest and tallest observation wheel the Ain Dubai (Dubai Eye in English).
The passenger “pods” were designed and built by Molinari Rail of Switzerland. The steel and aluminum structures of the 48 capsules will be prepared, primed, coated with Contego High Solids Reactive Fire Barrier (RFB) then top coated. The Contego RFB application process will be handled by S.C. Omega Solutions Center S.R.L.
The Ain Dubai will be the world’s largest giant ferris wheel. It is located on the $1.6 billion dollar Bluewaters Island development, off the coast of Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence, with a projected 2018 completion date. The 48 luxury capsule “pods” of the wheel will be capable of holding 1,400 visitors at any given time and offer views of Dubai’s iconic landmarks.
Over 210 meters tall, the Ain Dubai, will eclipse the 167-meter High Roller in Las Vegas and the 190-meter (625ft) New York Wheel to be built on Staten Island. The final structure of the Ain Dubai will include around 9,000 tons of steel, almost 25 percent more than the amount of iron used to construct the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Two of the world’s largest cranes, each with a 180-meter-long boom (590 ft) and the capability to lift more than 3,000 tons are used to raise this remarkable structure. For reference, that’s a lifting capacity of close to 11 Airbus A380s. The assembled hub and spindle stretch 40 meters (130ft) across and 20 meters (65ft) high, weighing a total of 1,805 tons.
Speaking of the Ain Dubai, Omar Delawar, Chief Projects Officer at Meraas, said: “Once completed, Ain Dubai will emerge as an engineering masterpiece, the first of its kind in the industry.”
Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman at Meraas, said: “Ain Dubai reflects our ambition of creating new destinations that contribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, vision of a city where people are encouraged to create, explore and enjoy.”
https://contegointernational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/contego-logo-redder.png00Lisa Schwartzhttps://contegointernational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/contego-logo-redder.pngLisa Schwartz2017-11-29 19:55:512024-07-17 15:24:08Contego Reactive Fire Barrier Protects Ain Dubai Passenger Pods
Better Buildings = Healthier Workplace
Are you in line with the global initiative to build and maintain a better, safer environment? Air Quality in the work environment – hospitals, schools, offices, commercial and residential buildings – is a big area of concern.
Clumpy, toxic cementatious coating
The WELL Standard* states “Pollutants generated indoors can lead to a variety of symptoms and health conditions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), combustion byproducts and airborne particulate matter are known to trigger nausea, headaches, asthma, respiratory irritation and allergies. While ambient outdoor air is often better quality, natural ventilation methods, operable doors and windows, and general building envelope infiltration can diminish indoor air quality if external air quality parameters are poor.”
READ THE MSDS of the Products being used on your project. When considering required fire protection, old technology such as Spray Fire Resistant Materials (SFRM) may not meet all or any of these acceptable conditions:
A recent report from Mount Sinai Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine Work Safely with Spray-on Fireproofing states:
Those who burn, prepare, grind, sift or sell [gypsum] are, as I have often observed, afflicted with great difficulty breathing…
-Bernardino Ramazzini
Big changes in intumescent technology made “green” fire retardant paint possible. Contego intumescent changes fireproofing from the LEED nightmare associated with most fire protection products to a valuable LEED points generator.
You might know the history; environmentally friendly fireproofing was an oxymoron. Most fire retardant paint formulas were toxic, carcinogenic, and laced with high concentrations of VOCs. Those products are poisonous in the can and on the surface. This translates to very toxic in burn conditions.
HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Caution!
Causes eye irritation
Causes skin irritation
Causes severe respiratory tract irritation
May cause risk of lung disease (i.e. silicosis and/or lung cancer)
Clean latex-based, non toxic intumescent coating
Do we really want to use this obsolete technology in our hospitals, schools, commercial & residential buildings?
Pressure treated fire resistant lumber (PTFR) is among the worst. According to USDA studies, the PTFR process is destructive to the lignins in the wood and would dissolve attachments, like screws and nails, unless they are stainless steel.
Then there are cellulosic and cementatious fireproofing materials. We’ve all seen them; they look like oatmeal when applied. The litigation list concerning these materials is lengthy and focused primarily on the constant deposition of tiny fibrils that get into the breathable air and are then inhaled straight into the lungs. Complaints in the majority of lawsuits have been centered on mesothelioma and other forms of cancer involving the respiratory system. In addition, when reading the MSDS of most intumescent coatings, the section on health risks contain clear warnings of both acute and chronic brain damage and damage to the central nervous system. Not exactly environmentally friendly.
The reason for these unhealthy toxic problems is simple. The components that make various fireproofing technologies work— whether cellulosic spray-on materials, cementatious products, mastics or intumescents—are inherently unhealthy.
This was one of the big drivers when Contego began designing cutting edge solutions for the green market niche. The challenge was to find alternatives that performed as well or, in most cases, better than what was already out there, without the risks from the past formulations. This research led to our current formulation of ZERO VOCs (ASTM D4017) and ZERO TOXINS (BSS 7239-88).
Contego meets all the Benchmarks for LEED certification, Living Building Challenge, WELL Standard and Google Red List Material Standard.
GREEN isn’t the only advantage of Contego Fire Barrier Intumescent Latex. It applies at a fraction of the thickness (and weight) needed for a latex intumescent in the past. It’s finish is as smooth as paper, pure white in color and is formulated to accept any topcoat.
That’s why we at Contego say…”White is the new Green”. Air Quality in SFRM fireproofing materials are a PROBLEM, Contego’s IFRM fireproofing is the SOLUTION! Get more information here.
*The WELL Building Standard is administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment.
The Next Asbestos Debacle?
An interesting set of recommendations and precautions has been offered by Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York (link to download at end below). In addition to Mt. Sinai, other major medical entities worldwide are identifying the fireproofing materials that many refer to as “oatmeal” as a probable source of various pulmonary disorders.
This is because these types of fireproofing materials are highly friable. Grab a section and pull it off. It typically isn’t hard to do. Note all of the fine particulate that breaks off with the section. When you consider how much of that “oatmeal” material gets shed into the breathable air, it’s no surprise that medical problems could ensue.
The good news is the human body is resilient. However, concerns were originally raised in a study from 1988 by the USDOC and NIST regarding SFRMs (Spray-On Fire Resistant Materials) containing asbestos and others that didn’t. It also discusses both SFRMs and insulation materials, so it should be clear that each product has to be evaluated on its own merits (or risks).
That same particulate is in the air as you can see by how much of it settles out on every surface in a structure.
Once you breathe it in, it going to be in your body forever and potentially the source for a wide range of medical problems like COPD and mesothelioma. These and other diseases can cause respiratory impairment or even fatalities.
Perhaps that’s why many materials require everyone to leave the premises except the applicator. Then the applicator has to wear the “space suit” when working with those materials. This also causes massive scheduling delays and costs. One major GC in Las Vegas who primarily does nothing but projects valued at $120M+ said delaying his project by a month costs him $10M that he can never recover. Even a two week delay is obviously a $5M ding.
Carefully think about the materials you specify and use. Ask for an MSDS or SDS and read them. If many people read the MSDS or SDS documents, a lot of these products would be history.
Use a latex based intumescent coating like Contego. It is zero VOC and offers the same or better protection as cementitious or cellulosic without the possible associated medical outcomes down the line.
(You can download the Mt. Sinai recommendations here.)
Contego Reactive Fire Barrier Protects Ain Dubai Passenger Pods
The passenger “pods” were designed and built by Molinari Rail of Switzerland. The steel and aluminum structures of the 48 capsules will be prepared, primed, coated with Contego High Solids Reactive Fire Barrier (RFB) then top coated. The Contego RFB application process will be handled by S.C. Omega Solutions Center S.R.L.
The Ain Dubai will be the world’s largest giant ferris wheel. It is located on the $1.6 billion dollar Bluewaters Island development, off the coast of Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence, with a projected 2018 completion date. The 48 luxury capsule “pods” of the wheel will be capable of holding 1,400 visitors at any given time and offer views of Dubai’s iconic landmarks.
Over 210 meters tall, the Ain Dubai, will eclipse the 167-meter High Roller in Las Vegas and the 190-meter (625ft) New York Wheel to be built on Staten Island. The final structure of the Ain Dubai will include around 9,000 tons of steel, almost 25 percent more than the amount of iron used to construct the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Two of the world’s largest cranes, each with a 180-meter-long boom (590 ft) and the capability to lift more than 3,000 tons are used to raise this remarkable structure. For reference, that’s a lifting capacity of close to 11 Airbus A380s. The assembled hub and spindle stretch 40 meters (130ft) across and 20 meters (65ft) high, weighing a total of 1,805 tons.
Speaking of the Ain Dubai, Omar Delawar, Chief Projects Officer at Meraas, said: “Once completed, Ain Dubai will emerge as an engineering masterpiece, the first of its kind in the industry.”
Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman at Meraas, said: “Ain Dubai reflects our ambition of creating new destinations that contribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, vision of a city where people are encouraged to create, explore and enjoy.”