Intumescent Coatings and Fire Protection, London
Intumescent coatings applied to structural steel, with film thickness recorded as the work proceeds.
Intumescent coatings applied to structural steel, with film thickness recorded as the work proceeds.
GSD London is a specialist commercial painting and decorating subcontractor working for main contractors, quantity surveyors, property managers and private clients across London. Our fire protection works cover intumescent coatings applied to structural steel on site, with dry film thickness checked and recorded against the rating required. CHAS, Constructionline Gold, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
Intumescent coatings are a form of passive fire protection applied to structural steel. At normal temperatures they look like a thick paint. In a fire they swell to many times their thickness and form an insulating char that slows the rate at which the steel heats, holding its strength for the period the building's fire strategy requires: 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. They are specified where steel is exposed and a boarded or sprayed cementitious system would not suit the design.
The rating depends on dry film thickness, which in turn depends on the steel section and the coating product's loading tables. An intumescent paint contractor applies the coating in passes, measures the film as it builds, and records the readings against each member for the handover pack and the building control file. GSD London applies intumescent coatings to structural steel across London as a subcontractor to main contractors, with a compatible decorative topcoat where the steel is seen in the finished building.
Structural members that must hold their strength for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes and are not protected by the construction around them need a coating to achieve it.
Columns and beams in an atrium, a feature space or an industrial-style office, where boards or cementitious spray would hide the shape the architect wants seen.
Ceilings and linings have come down, the steel is bare, and the protection has to be reinstated before the new finishes go up.
A previous application has no records. The steel is measured, topped up where short and documented so the file can be closed.
Transfer beams, mezzanines and structural alterations bring in unprotected steel that has to match the rating of the structure around it.
Exposed intumescent has to be top-coated in a compatible system so the fire performance is kept and the steel looks finished.
We confirm the steel sections, the rating required and the thickness needed for each element.
Steelwork is cleaned, prepared and primed where the coating system calls for it.
The basecoat is applied to the required thickness, with readings taken as each area is completed.
Thickness records are compiled, the area is inspected and the documentation is issued.
We work as a subcontractor to the main contractor or for private clients. The order sits under JCT subcontract terms or individual contracts with clients. Site rules, access, welfare and the programme are set by the main contractor, and our works are planned around the sequence already agreed on site.
Readings are taken as each element is completed and logged against the steel section and the rating required. The record is issued as part of the handover pack, so there is evidence of thickness for the building control file and the building owner.
Pricing follows the drawings, the specification and the schedule of works issued with the enquiry. Where the scope is not yet fixed we price on a provisional basis and confirm it once the survey is complete. Variations are agreed in writing before the work is carried out.
Yes, subject to access and the sequence on site. Work is planned around other trades, with protection and containment to the surrounding area. Where the steel is exposed in the finished building, a decorative topcoat is applied once the basecoat has been checked.
Each area is inspected with the main contractor site team before the protection comes down. Snags are recorded and closed out in the same visit where possible. Handover records, warranties and product data sheets are issued together as part of the completion pack.
We take immense pride in our distinguished clientele, a testament to the unwavering quality and excellence that defines GSD London. From heritage to prestigious businesses, our reach spans across the vibrant tapestry of London.
Our extensive roster of high-profile clients reflects not only our commitment to delivering exceptional painting and decorating services but also our ability to meet the diverse needs of discerning individuals and esteemed establishments. We are honoured to have contributed to the aesthetic transformation of some of London's most iconic spaces, and we continue to uphold the highest standards, ensuring that each client's vision is realised with precision and sophistication.
GSD has undertaken numerous projects for Quinn over the past few years, including flagship projects for the V&A Museum and Warburg Institute both in the range of circa £300,000. Happy to recommend.
GSD completed the communal redecoration package valued at £100,000 at the Marriott Mayfair Grand Residencies, a 5* hotel. The project was completed in a tight 12-week program with GSD working with us to deliver it to a high standard. There were several hurdles to overcome throughout the job due to client changes, but each change was dealt with professionally by the project team from GSD. After the contract completion, the client praised the attention to detail provided by GSD and their outstanding work ethic in meeting the high expectations/time constraints of the project
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GSD London Ltd
Company Number: 10543768
VAT Number: 261280131
Head Office
231 St John Street,
London EC1V 4NG
