How the solution is selected
We assess the building use, protected area, fire risks, existing engineering services and the required performance before agreeing the technical solution.
What affects scope and cost
The estimate reflects system size, equipment or materials, access conditions, interfaces, commissioning and the completion documents agreed for the project.
From survey to handover
KABO GROUP can survey, design, supply, install, test and hand over the system, followed by planned maintenance where required.
From fire-resistance class to system thickness
The required fire-resistance class is set by the design according to the building use and degree of fire resistance. Steel calculations consider critical steel temperature, exposed sides, section factor and the relationship between cross-sectional area and heated perimeter.
Coating or board thickness is not selected from the R rating alone. It must remain within the tested and classified field of application of the chosen system, including profile type, primer, topcoat and exposure conditions.
Material compatibility and exposure conditions
Before work starts we verify the substrate, existing anticorrosion coating, adhesion, humidity, temperature and environmental exposure. Fire protection, primer and topcoat must form a compatible documented system.
A system intended for a dry heated interior cannot automatically be used outdoors or in humid or chemically aggressive areas. The design records exposure category, surface preparation and repair procedures.
Quality control and handover
During application we record material batches, substrate preparation, ambient conditions, consumption and intermediate measurements. Coatings are checked for thickness, continuity and adhesion; boards and penetration seals are checked as complete tested assemblies.
Handover may include work records, concealed-work records, area drawings, inspection protocols, material documentation and maintenance guidance. The exact package is agreed in the contract and design.
Reactive and non-reactive steel fire protection
Steel may be protected by thin-film reactive coatings, sprayed mortars or board encasement. Intumescent coatings expand under heat, while mortars and boards provide insulation through their physical properties.
Selection is based on whole-system cost: preparation, primer, required thickness, reinforcement or fixings, finish, access, programme and repairability. USCC guidance is used alongside regulations and manufacturer evidence.
Inputs for an evidence-based estimate
The estimate needs structural drawings, profile schedules, heated perimeter, paint area, required R classes, critical temperature and the anticorrosion system. Where information is missing, a survey defines the gaps.
The section parameter is determined for the actual profile and fire exposure. It must not be confused with the physical wall thickness of the rolled section; the two values serve different purposes.
