At Contego we are frequently asked to provide an educational service for architects, contractors and applicators so they can have a better understanding of why Contego is the preferred passive fire retardant coating throughout the world. Contego often provides this presentation in the form of a “Lunch and Learn Seminar”. This popular presentation is designed to help those who specify and apply fire protection materials for steel, wood, foam, concrete and most other substrates.
Contego developed a new generation of intumescent paint technology that has re-scripted the entire product category. As a result, Contego has been inundated with requests for Lunch and Learn presentations. Since Contego is a small, privately owned business, doesn’t advertise, doesn’t go to trade shows and has never sent out any unsolicited direct mail, nobody knew about us except for those that found us web surfing or had a direct word of mouth referral. Eighty-five percent of our business is repeat business from those that have previously utilized our product, so demand for Lunch and Learn presentations used to be manageable. While we have done many of the presentations over the years, recently requests outnumber what we have been able to do by perhaps 200 to 1, so we came up with a virtual Lunch and Learn. All of the content from a typical Lunch and Learn on Contego intumescent is here in the video below, you are just missing the ability to ask questions (you can always call or email with those) and, of course, the sandwich.
However, what you WILL get from watching the video presentation is a lot of very interesting information about intumescent paint technology in general and Contego intumescent specifically. Contego has a rich portfolio of advantages over other intumescents/passive fire barriers that will be important to almost every project you have now and into the future. As you watch this, be prepared to forget almost everything you’ve learned about intumescent paint technology.
Why should steel be protected from fire? After all, it is extremely strong, hard and non-flammable–These are true values of steel, but what is not commonly known is that steel loses 50% of its strength when it reaches 1100°F (600°C). At this temperature the steel goes “plastic” meaning it gives up its ability to support a structure. An image of steel failing due to heat is the horrible picture implanted in most adult minds of the World Trade Center collapsing due to the failure of the steel when exposed to the 2000°+F (1093°C) temperature caused by the jet fuel fire.
Contego intumescent fire retardant is the best way to protect steel.
All steel structures should be protected from fire and heat to help maintain their strength and create adequate egress time for those inside the structure. Protecting the building itself is important, but saving lives is more important.
There are several ways to protect steel, none of which are as thorough and acceptable as an intumescent fire retardant latex coating like CONTEGO.
Alternate spray protectors, such as cementatious coatings, are less expensive but are dirty to apply, have an ugly finish and are easily fractured away from the treated substrate. Covering steel with drywall is an effective but costly and time-consuming method of protection, in addition to taking up considerably more space.
Here are the 5 most important benefits of using Contego Fire Barrier Latex Intumescent to protect steel:
1. Contego is applied like regular paint. Unlike some other intumescents or cement-based materials that require high-pressure sprayers and certified applicators, Contego works with a standard paint sprayer, brush or roller—lowering the applied cost considerably.
2. Contego is non-toxic. It makes no sense to protect a substrate from fire while poisoning the atmosphere around it. Contego may be the only VOC-free intumescent product that generates non-toxic smoke during a fire.
3. Contego has an incredibly smooth finish. Standard application results in a beautifully smooth Level 3 Architectural Finish. Contego can be top-coated with any quality acrylic enamel for surface protection and decorative purposes. Unlike many intumescents, top-coating Contego actually increases its fire resistance by 20% or more.
4. Contego is tested and re-tested by certified labs around the world. When Contego states it will provide a certain protection time (1, 2, 3 hour) by using a specified thickness, those claims are supported and confirmed by independent laboratory tests. You can view these tests on our structural steel page by clicking here.
5. Contego is thin-film. This means most projects treated with Contego (versus competitors) will require less product, thereby reducing the overall cost.
These are just a few of the remarkable benefits of using Contego intumescent fire retardant on steel. You can review some of the projects that have chosen Contego to protect their expensive structures (some of which are located in the harshest environments in the world) on our Gallery page. You can also request an information kit of Contego intumescent fire retardant by clicking here.
https://contegointernational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/contego-logo-redder.png00Lisa Schwartzhttps://contegointernational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/contego-logo-redder.pngLisa Schwartz2014-07-15 19:27:302024-07-17 15:24:18The five most important reasons why Contego intumescent fire retardant is the best way to protect steel.
Contego Intumescent Paint Lunch & Learn
At Contego we are frequently asked to provide an educational service for architects, contractors and applicators so they can have a better understanding of why Contego is the preferred passive fire retardant coating throughout the world. Contego often provides this presentation in the form of a “Lunch and Learn Seminar”. This popular presentation is designed to help those who specify and apply fire protection materials for steel, wood, foam, concrete and most other substrates.
Contego developed a new generation of intumescent paint technology that has re-scripted the entire product category. As a result, Contego has been inundated with requests for Lunch and Learn presentations. Since Contego is a small, privately owned business, doesn’t advertise, doesn’t go to trade shows and has never sent out any unsolicited direct mail, nobody knew about us except for those that found us web surfing or had a direct word of mouth referral. Eighty-five percent of our business is repeat business from those that have previously utilized our product, so demand for Lunch and Learn presentations used to be manageable. While we have done many of the presentations over the years, recently requests outnumber what we have been able to do by perhaps 200 to 1, so we came up with a virtual Lunch and Learn. All of the content from a typical Lunch and Learn on Contego intumescent is here in the video below, you are just missing the ability to ask questions (you can always call or email with those) and, of course, the sandwich.
However, what you WILL get from watching the video presentation is a lot of very interesting information about intumescent paint technology in general and Contego intumescent specifically. Contego has a rich portfolio of advantages over other intumescents/passive fire barriers that will be important to almost every project you have now and into the future. As you watch this, be prepared to forget almost everything you’ve learned about intumescent paint technology.
Contego… Tested Perfection
The five most important reasons why Contego intumescent fire retardant is the best way to protect steel.
Why should steel be protected from fire? After all, it is extremely strong, hard and non-flammable–These are true values of steel, but what is not commonly known is that steel loses 50% of its strength when it reaches 1100°F (600°C). At this temperature the steel goes “plastic” meaning it gives up its ability to support a structure. An image of steel failing due to heat is the horrible picture implanted in most adult minds of the World Trade Center collapsing due to the failure of the steel when exposed to the 2000°+F (1093°C) temperature caused by the jet fuel fire.
Contego intumescent fire retardant is the best way to protect steel.
All steel structures should be protected from fire and heat to help maintain their strength and create adequate egress time for those inside the structure. Protecting the building itself is important, but saving lives is more important.
There are several ways to protect steel, none of which are as thorough and acceptable as an intumescent fire retardant latex coating like CONTEGO.
Alternate spray protectors, such as cementatious coatings, are less expensive but are dirty to apply, have an ugly finish and are easily fractured away from the treated substrate. Covering steel with drywall is an effective but costly and time-consuming method of protection, in addition to taking up considerably more space.
Here are the 5 most important benefits of using Contego Fire Barrier Latex Intumescent to protect steel:
1. Contego is applied like regular paint. Unlike some other intumescents or cement-based materials that require high-pressure sprayers and certified applicators, Contego works with a standard paint sprayer, brush or roller—lowering the applied cost considerably.
2. Contego is non-toxic. It makes no sense to protect a substrate from fire while poisoning the atmosphere around it. Contego may be the only VOC-free intumescent product that generates non-toxic smoke during a fire.
3. Contego has an incredibly smooth finish. Standard application results in a beautifully smooth Level 3 Architectural Finish. Contego can be top-coated with any quality acrylic enamel for surface protection and decorative purposes. Unlike many intumescents, top-coating Contego actually increases its fire resistance by 20% or more.
4. Contego is tested and re-tested by certified labs around the world. When Contego states it will provide a certain protection time (1, 2, 3 hour) by using a specified thickness, those claims are supported and confirmed by independent laboratory tests. You can view these tests on our structural steel page by clicking here.
5. Contego is thin-film. This means most projects treated with Contego (versus competitors) will require less product, thereby reducing the overall cost.
These are just a few of the remarkable benefits of using Contego intumescent fire retardant on steel. You can review some of the projects that have chosen Contego to protect their expensive structures (some of which are located in the harshest environments in the world) on our Gallery page. You can also request an information kit of Contego intumescent fire retardant by clicking here.