Fire-rated structural steel. Done right. Documented. On schedule.
Alpine Fireproofing applies SSPC-certified intumescent fireproofing to structural steel and architecturally exposed steel for commercial and industrial projects across the Northeast. Manufacturer-approved applicator. UL-listed systems. Full DFT and fire-rating documentation.
Request a Project Estimate → Or call (866) 596-0349 — speak with a fireproofing specialist today.
SSPC QP1/QP2 Certified · AMPP Senior Certified Coating Inspectors · Manufacturer-Approved Applicator · 50+ Years in Protective Coatings
WHAT IS INTUMESCENT FIREPROOFING
A thin-film coating that expands when it matters most.
Intumescent fireproofing is a paint-like coating applied to structural steel that swells dramatically up to 50 times its original thickness when exposed to the heat of a fire. The expanded char layer insulates the underlying steel, preserving its structural integrity long enough for occupants to evacuate and for fire response to control the event.
Unlike spray-applied cementitious fireproofing (SFRM), intumescent coatings are thin, smooth, and fully paintable in any architectural color making them the standard choice for architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS), the visible columns and beams in modern commercial buildings, parking structures, atriums, and public spaces where the steel is part of the design rather than hidden above a ceiling.
Properly specified and applied, intumescent fireproofing provides 1, 2, or 3-hour fire-resistance ratings to ASTM E119 / UL 263 standards, and the system carries the architectural finish quality that commercial and institutional projects demand.
Architectural finish quality
Smooth, paintable surface in any color. Suitable for architecturally exposed structural steel where appearance is part of the design.
UL-listed fire ratings
1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour fire-resistance ratings to ASTM E119 / UL 263, applied to manufacturer specifications.
Documented application
Full DFT records, mil-thickness verification, and inspection documentation by AMPP-certified coating inspectors.
WHEN INTUMESCENT IS THE RIGHT CHOICE
Built for projects where the steel will be seen and the rating must be met.
Intumescent fireproofing is the right specification when the structural steel will remain visible in the finished space, when the application requires a thin profile to maintain architectural intent, or when the project's fire-rating requirements call for a system that can be inspected, documented, and finished to the same quality standard as the rest of the building.
We apply intumescent fireproofing on:
Commercial office buildings with architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) in lobbies, atriums, and tenant spaces
Parking structures and parking decks where steel framing is exposed and requires fire-resistance ratings per code
Hotels, hospitality, and mixed-use developments with feature steel in public areas
Healthcare and institutional buildings with exposed structural steel that must meet hospital fire codes
Educational facilities: universities, K-12, performing arts centers — with visible steel framing
Industrial and manufacturing facilities requiring rated steel protection in occupied process areas
Tunnel, transit, and infrastructure projects with intumescent or hybrid fire protection specifications
Renovation and historic restoration projects where surface-mounted spray fireproofing is not viable
Have a project that needs intumescent fireproofing?
Talk to our fireproofing team today.
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS
Five steps. Documented at every stage. To the manufacturer's specification.
Intumescent fireproofing performance depends on the same disciplines that govern all high-performance protective coating: surface preparation, ambient condition control, mil-thickness compliance, and certified inspection. Alpine Fireproofing applies the SSPC-certified process refined over 50 years of industrial coating work to every fireproofing project we undertake.
Step 1 - Project specification review
We review the architect or engineer of record's specification, fire-rating requirements, applicable UL or ULC design number, and project schedule. We confirm the specified manufacturer and product, or recommend a qualified equivalent if the specification allows substitution.
Step 2 - Surface preparation
Structural steel surfaces are prepared to the SSPC standard required by the intumescent system specification typically SSPC SP-6 commercial blast for shop application or SSPC SP-3 power tool cleaning for in-place field application, with manufacturer-specified primer compatibility verified on all substrates.
Step 3 - Primer application
The manufacturer-specified compatible primer is applied to the prepared substrate at the required mil thickness. Primer compatibility is non-negotiable using a non-approved primer beneath an intumescent system invalidates the UL listing and the manufacturer's warranty.
Step 4 - Intumescent application
The intumescent coating is applied by airless spray, brush, or roller depending on substrate geometry and finish requirements to the dry film thickness required for the specified fire rating, with WFT and DFT measurements documented at the manufacturer's specified frequency. Ambient temperature, humidity, and substrate temperature are monitored throughout application.
Step 5 - Inspection, sealer, and documentation
Final DFT verification by an AMPP-certified inspector confirms compliance with the UL-listed system requirements. A manufacturer-specified sealer or topcoat is applied where required for final finish or environmental protection. Complete project documentation including DFT readings, ambient conditions, product batch numbers, and inspector sign-off — is delivered to the project owner and the AHJ.
CREDENTIALS & MANUFACTURER APPROVALS
CREDENTIALS / APPROVALS / STANDARDS
The certifications that protect your specification.
Intumescent fireproofing is a specified system the UL listing, the manufacturer's product data, and the applicator's qualifications must align for the installation to meet code and protect the project owner. Alpine Fireproofing brings the credentials and approvals that allow the specification to be honored.
Manufacturer approvals
Sherwin-Williams Firetex® — Approved Applicator
PPG Pitt-Char® — Approved Applicator
AkzoNobel Interchar® / Chartek® — Approved Applicator
Carboline Pyroclad® / Pyrocrete® — Approved Applicator
Albi Manufacturing — Approved Applicator
Industry certifications
SSPC QP1 — Field Industrial Coating Contractor
SSPC QP2 — Industrial Coating Contractor (Hazardous Materials / Lead)
SSPC QP9 — Shop Coating Contractor
AMPP Senior Certified Coating Inspectors on staff
ABC STEP Platinum Award (2025) — Top-tier safety performance
PCA PIPP Best Exterior Commercial Restoration Project Award (2025)
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
OSHA-compliant safety program with NJ Governor's Excellence in Safety recognition
Standards we apply to
ASTM E119 — Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
UL 263 — Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
UL Designs (varies by system) — Specific UL listings for each manufacturer's intumescent system
AISC 303 — Code of Standard Practice (for AESS coordination)
SSPC Surface Preparation Standards (SP-3, SP-6, SP-10) as required by manufacturer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Intumescent fireproofing is a thin-film, paint-like coating that expands under fire to insulate the steel. It is smooth, paintable, and architectural-finish quality the standard choice for architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS). Cementitious fireproofing (SFRM sprayed fire-resistive material) is a thicker, cement-based coating sprayed on at much greater thickness. SFRM is more cost-effective for concealed structural steel above ceilings or behind walls, where appearance does not matter. Alpine Fireproofing specializes in intumescent application; we coordinate with SFRM contractors on hybrid projects where both are specified.
Intumescent systems are listed for 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour fire-resistance ratings, with the rating determined by the applied dry film thickness (DFT) for a specific UL-listed system. Higher ratings require greater DFT, and DFT requirements vary by manufacturer and product. Each project's required rating is determined by the architect or engineer of record based on building code requirements; we apply the specified system to the specified DFT and document compliance.
Both. Alpine Fireproofing performs shop application of intumescent fireproofing in our SSPC QP9-certified shop facility for fabricated structural steel components, and field application at the project site for in-place steel that cannot be shop-coated. Many projects use a hybrid approach primer and partial intumescent application in the shop, final coat and touch-up in the field after erection which is often the most schedule-efficient approach for AESS projects.
Yes. Most intumescent systems are designed to receive a manufacturer-approved decorative topcoat in any architectural color and finish including high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and flat sheens. Color selection should be confirmed with the manufacturer's compatibility chart; we coordinate this with the architect and the manufacturer at the specification stage.
Alpine Fireproofing maintains approved applicator status with major intumescent manufacturers, with active credentials updated as we add new product lines and as manufacturers update their qualification programs. We can confirm specific approval for the manufacturer and product specified on your project at the bid or pre-construction stage.
Standard project documentation includes: product data sheets and SDS for the applied system, primer compatibility documentation, ambient condition records (temperature, humidity, dewpoint) at time of application, wet film thickness (WFT) and dry film thickness (DFT) readings at the manufacturer-specified measurement frequency, AMPP-certified inspector sign-off, and a closeout package suitable for delivery to the AHJ and the project owner's permanent records.
Intumescent application is typically scheduled after structural steel erection is complete and before the building envelope and interior finishes proceed. The application sequence primer, intumescent (potentially in multiple lifts to achieve required DFT), inspection, and topcoat and the recoat windows specified by the manufacturer must be planned into the project schedule. We coordinate with the GC and CM to sequence our work around other trades and to minimize critical-path impact.
Alpine Fireproofing serves commercial and industrial construction projects across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, including the New York metro market, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Westchester and Fairfield Counties, the Philadelphia metro area, and the Lehigh Valley. We mobilize from our Paterson, NJ headquarters and operate field crews and a shop coating facility within practical reach of the entire four-state territory.
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PROJECT PROOF/PORTFOLIO FEED
Steel protected. Buildings rated. Specifications honored.
