Exposed steel beam

[trevorbayliss]

I have converted the back of the house and added a new room on the back of the kitchen.

As part of the build i have taken off the plasterboard from the original back wall of the house and this will be oiled brick when the room is finished.

On this wall there is a steel holding up the back of the house when this was knocked into in the 1970's i think.

I was planning on boxing in the steel with a fake oak beam (using oak pieces for the sides and underside, however while it has all been exposed the last few weeks i am thinking it might look ok if this was painted a blackish colour.

So my question is, i know i need to paint the steel with a fire paint, but can i then paint over this paint with a standard gloss etc or do i need to buy a specific fire proof paint which is coloured to the desired colour ?

 

[Ian H]

We painted grey over the standard red oxide the steel came with.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Is that standard red paint fire proof though ? Mine is painted the same. Did BRegs have anything to say about a certificate with your paint ?

 

[Ian H]

It’s not signed off fully yet but he has seen it and not said anything about it.

Mines a steel holding a ridge in a loft conversion.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Ok i think the steel does need some fire protection with a special paint, unless it is protected by fire board. If yours is on show it should need this paint on it. I would ask him about this because even if you get a cert it can bring up issues in the future (selling etc). So worth looking into.

 

[wessex101]

The steel supporting the wall will need intumescent paint to give it fire protection. The steel supporting the roof does not need fire protection.

 

[Bilabong007]

The steel supporting the wall will need intumescent paint to give it fire protection. The steel supporting the roof does not need fire protection.

Can I ask why?

 

[wessex101]

Because it only applies to structural elements to the walls and floors (unless it is a portal frame when the walls and roof are combined). The roof usually burns out quite quickly in a fire and it does not affect the structural integrity of the main building. I assume it is to do with the building not collapsing on top of the fire brigade in the early stages of the fire.

 

[Paulg31]

It’s not signed off fully yet but he has seen it and not said anything about it.

Mines a steel holding a ridge in a loft conversion.

I agree with Wessex. if the beam is only supporting a roof in which the only access of for maintenance I wouldn't expect it to need fire protection.

Beams supporting floors and accessible roofs (e.g. plant decks) need fire protection in order to allow people to escape.