How does cold affect fire protection paint, joint compounds and fire foam?

How do lower temperatures affect fire protection products?

During the cold season, there are many things that you should think about. Especially on construction sites that are not heated and when you have to store your products. Some of our products, like all chemical technology, can be affected by cold and wintry conditions.

Read our advice and tips for how to use our fire protection products in winter.

Products such as swelling pipe collars, swelling fire tape and fire discs can be used regardless of the season and temperature. However, for some products, low temperatures below 5° C, and in combination with high humidity, can affect the application, the viscosity and the adhesion of the product and thus change the final result

Looking at the thermometer only gives us the ambient temperature and that is not enough. It is also important to take into account the temperature of the substrate and where the products are stored.

• Ambient temperature: temperature at the time of application. If the temperature falls below 5° C, it can affect extrusion, application, adhesion, skin formation, drying time, etc.
• Substrate temperature: the temperature of the substrate to which the product is to be applied. If there is a large difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the substrate, it can affect how the product works with respect to, for example, application and adhesion.
• Storage temperature:  low temperature where the product is stored can affect the product. Some products can become completely unusable at low temperatures and can even freeze.

Generally when products are used at low temperatures

Humidity is closely linked to temperature. Temperature is linked to the dew point. If the ambient temperature and the substrate temperature differ, moisture forms.

The moisture in the air can condense on a cold surface. This thin layer of water may be difficult to see with the naked eye, but it can affect the product's adhesion. It is important to clean the substrate before application and use primer when needed or prescribed.

For all products, nothing sticks to frost or ice! Even if you get the product to stick to the ice. Then it comes off when the ice melts.

Another important factor is the wind chilling effect. The wind cools down and affects skin formation and curing time, which provides different conditions than during the warmer periods of the year. Conditions change from day to day so one should check daily.

Practical advice on storage and handling

Joint compounds

Not all products can be stored in a cold van overnight. Ideally, they should be stored indoors at room temperature. Products that have been stored cold can be reheated in hot water. Let the sealant slowly come up to the right temperature. Do not use excessively hot water as it may damage the product. In general, acrylic-based grouts are more sensitive to cold because acrylic is water-based. If they freeze, they can be ruined and become unusable.

Thicker sealants, or High Tack adhesives, are more difficult to use in the winter because the cold makes them get even thicker. It is always better to use a high ratio grout gun for these products eg. AA853 Hand Sprayer 310 Pro or AA873 Hand Sprayer 310 Ultra.

Fire foam

The most important piece of advice when it comes to PU foam is to never heat up the container. An aerosol is pressurized and it is very dangerous to put it on a heat source. The pressure in the container will increase as a result of the heat, which could cause it to explode. Cold containers may only be heated with lukewarm water.

1-component PU foam needs moisture for curing. Therefore, it may sometimes be necessary to moisten the surface with a flower sprayer before application. (However, not at freezing temperatures.) Especially during spring-winter when the relative humidity can be low. This way you get the best result. But remember not to apply the foam on icy surfaces.

Different temperatures affect the PU foam. Keep in mind that at lower temperatures, the container provides less volume.

Generally

Fire protection products can be sensitive to low temperatures. Fire protection boards, on the other hand, are not as sensitive. Standard products such as PU foam, fire acrylics and fire silicones are affected by temperature. It is particularly important for these products that you follow the guidelines regarding storage, application and use temperature found in the technical data sheets.

Contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to share our knowledge.