Hempel Introduces New Steel Fire Protection Coating to Reduce Paint Consumption

Hempel A/S has announced the launch of Hempafire Optima 515, the latest addition to its waterborne cellulosic passive fire protection (PFP) portfolio. Developed for civil infrastructure projects, the new coating is designed to protect interior structural steel while reducing paint consumption, lowering application costs, and improving overall project efficiency.

Hempafire Optima 515 is designed to protect structural steel in cellulosic fire scenarios, providing fire resistance for up to 150 minutes. The coating has been tested in accordance with the BS 476 standard and has received third-party certification from ApplusFire.

“Passive fire protection has always been about safety, but today’s projects also require more efficient application and reduced material consumption,” says Roger Soler, Product Manager C-PFP at Hempel A/S. “With Hempafire Optima 515, we are strengthening our waterborne PFP offering for civil infrastructure projects while helping customers meet certified fire protection requirements and improve efficiency on site.”

Hempafire Optima 515 is engineered to improve productivity and cost efficiency for low- to mid-section factor open steel sections, which make up a large part of fire protection applications for structural steel. Its advanced thermal insulation technology provides certified fire protection while requiring lower dry film thicknesses, optimising material consumption and reducing application costs without compromising regulatory compliance.

Hempafire Optima 515 is designed to improve application efficiency, featuring a high solids content of 75%. The coating can be applied at up to 1.5 mm dry film thickness (DFT) per coat and dries quickly to deliver a smooth, high-quality finish. Its fast-curing properties enable most steel sections to achieve the required fire protection rating in just two coats during a single working shift.

Hempafire Optima 515 streamlines the application process by reducing labour requirements, shortening project timelines, minimising downtime, and lowering overall project costs. The launch complements Hempafire Optima 510, which is designed for lightweight steel sections, allowing specifiers to choose the best fire protection coating for different structural steel requirements within the same project.

Both coatings have very low VOC content, are backed by independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and are compatible with Hempel-approved primers and topcoats for waterborne PFP systems. Hempafire Optima 515 is initially available in the Middle East, with expansion into additional markets following BS 476 standards planned for the coming months.

Source: Hempel