Fire Rated Letterplates, Linear Gap Seals, Door Seals, Fire Rated Grilles
Advanced Intumescent Technology
C H Materials stock and distribute the following intumescent materials.
No single intumescent material is suitable for every application. CHM supply intumescent materials with a range of performance characteristics as follows:
Kerafix Flexpress - A graphite based intumescent with 22:1 free expansion ratio, measured with load 15:1 ratio and 0.5.5N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 140°C. further info click here :: data sheet click here
Kerafix Flextrem - A graphite based intumescent with 52:1 free expansion ratio, measured with load 30:1 and 0.8N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 200°C. further info click here :: data sheet click here
Kerafix Flexting - A graphite based intumescent with 17:1 free expansion ratio, measured with load 10:1 and 0.4N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 200°C further info click here :: data sheet click here
Kerafix Flexlit - A vermiculite / mineral fibre based intumescent with 4:1 expansion ratio and low expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 350°C further info click here :: data sheet click here
Kerafix FXL – An ammonium polyphosphate based intumescent with 57:1 expansion ratio and zero expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 200°C further info click here :: data sheet click here
The products are available in a range of thicknesses from 0.8mm upward. Products can be supplied in sheets, narrow strips, rolls or narrow coils with or without adhesive backing. Products can be laminated with PVC foil or glass fabrics.
Fire
Testing
We can offer customers
the use of a test furnace in order to establish the most
effective product for their application. A series of indicative
tests can greatly reduce the risk of failure in expensive
accredited laboratory tests.
Applications
Door Seals
The function of a door
seal is not only to close off the gap around the perimeter
of the door leaf in fire conditions, but to control the
tendency for the door leaf to distort in fire conditions.
Control of distortion is essential where large door leaves
are used. High expansion pressure is advantageous. Kerafix
Flexpan and Kerafix Flextrem have both been used successfully
in door seal applications.
Intumescents are also used
to provide protection to ironmongery in fire doors. In
these applications, high expansion pressure can be a disadvantage
and Kerafix FXL is an ideal product.
Letterboxes
To be effective, the intumescent
used to line a fire rated letterbox must react quickly.
Kerafix Flexpress and Kerafix Flextrem works particularly well in this application.
Penetration
seals
Intumescents used for the
manufacture of pipe collars and wraps need to have high
expansion pressure in order to crush the plastic pipe
as it softens. Kerafix Flextrem and Kerafix Flexpress
have both been used successfully in pipe closer applications.
Pipe sleeves are used where
metal pipes penetrate walls – these are similar
to pipe collars but incorporate a foam to allow for expansion
of the metal. High expansion pressure is advantageous
and Kerafix Flextrem has been used successfully in pipe
sleeve applications.
Linear
Gap Seals
The most common linear
gap seal is produced from layers of fire rated foam sandwiched
between strips of intumescent. The foam is compressed
into the linear gap and in a fire the intumescent will
expand and fill the gap. Low initiation temperature is
advantageous and Kerafix Flexpress is an excellent product
for this application.
Dampers
and Air Transfer Grilles
Dampers and grilles are
very similar devices. Dampers are designed to prevent
the passage of flame and smoke through or into ventilation
ductwork. Air transfer grilles are used in doors and walls
of buildings to improve ventilation. In both applications
a fast closing action is required and an intumescent with
a low initiation temperature is essential. Kerafix Flexpress
is ideal for this type of application.
Surface
protection
The advent of mineral fibre
based intumescents has led to the development of several
new applications. Most of these applications are related
to the fire protection of surfaces. A thin, relatively
lightweight layer of intumescent can impart the same degree
of fire protection as thick layers of conventional non-intumescent
fire protection products. Kerafix Flexlit can be used
in this type of application.