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Philippines · Steel Structures & PEB

Fire-rated steel · Philippines

Fire-rated steel that clears BFP review

The right rating. The right thickness. Applied before the steel leaves our plant.

Your fire protection engineer sets the rating, the Bureau of Fire Protection checks it before the permit and again before occupancy. We engineer the coating to that rating member by member – so the steel is compliant, the paint bill is not inflated and the inspection goes smoothly.

Get a fire protection solution Request technical consultation Calculate coating requirements
  • 1 h · 2 h · 3 h · 4 hRatings as written in Philippine fire safety plans – checked against each product's tested data, never estimated.
  • RA 9514 · Revised IRR 2019Fire resistance by type of construction and occupancy, documented for the FSEC and FSIC.
  • DFT per memberDry film thickness read from the approved loading table for every section size – not one blanket figure.
  • Shop-applied in our plantCoated under cover with the steel, then packed for the sea voyage – less work on a humid Philippine site.
  • Inspectable recordsBlast, primer, climate and DFT readings recorded member by member, ready for the inspector.
  • Recognised manufacturersInternational, Hempel, Jotun or PPG systems – chosen for the certificate your project team accepts.

Quick project inquiry

Continues to the project form below – nothing is sent until you submit it.

Why fireproof steel

Steel does not burn – but it does soften

A steel frame will not feed a fire, yet a long fire heats it until it can no longer carry the roof and floors. Fire protection buys the minutes the code asks for.

Under the Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514) and its Revised IRR, the structural frame of most occupancies – malls, schools, hospitals, offices, factories with mezzanines, car parks – must keep its strength for a stated time. The building's fire protection engineer writes that time into the fire safety plan, the BFP reviews it for the Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) before the building permit, and inspects it again for the Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) before occupancy.

In a building fire the gas temperature follows the standard fire curve (ISO 834, ASTM E119, AS 1530.4) and passes 800 °C in under 25 minutes. Unprotected steel members heat up quickly – thin, light sections fastest – and their yield strength and elastic modulus fall progressively above about 400 °C.

A member fails when it reaches its critical steel temperature: the temperature at which its reduced strength equals the load it carries in the fire. Critical temperatures are typically in the range of about 500–620 °C, depending on the load ratio and the member type, and are set by the structural fire design (EN 1993-1-2, AS 4100 Section 12, AISC 360 Appendix 4).

Passive fire protection insulates the steel so that it stays below its critical temperature for the period the building code requires – giving time to escape, for fire fighting and for structural stability.

Standard fire curve at 30 min
≈ 840 °C
Typical critical steel temperature
≈ 500 – 620 °C
Steel yield strength near 600 °C
≈ 47 % (EN 1993-1-2)

Gas temperature: ISO 834 standard fire curve. Steel: unprotected member, simplified heat transfer of EN 1993-1-2 §4.2.5.1 (αc = 25 W/m²K, εm = 0.7, ksh = 1). The coating graphic is illustrative – expansion and performance are product-specific.

Fire resistance performance

Engineered for different fire resistance requirements

Select a rating to see where it is typically required, how it is tested and which systems are usually considered. The required thickness always depends on the member, its critical temperature and the product's approved data.

R6060 minutes of load-bearing capacity in the standard fire test
Typical applications
Offices, schools, retail and many multi-storey buildings; the most common building requirement.
Testing & classification
EN 13381-8 / EN 13501-2 (R 60) · UL 263 (1 h) · AS 1530.4 (FRL 60/–/–) · BS 476-20/21
Systems usually considered
Thin-film intumescent – water-based or solvent-based, shop or site applied.
Technical documentation
Fire rating schedule · ETA / UL design / assessment report · loading table · ITP · DFT records
Engineering considerations
Light sections with high section factors can need several times the thickness of heavy sections for the same rating.

The required coating thickness depends on:

  • Steel section factor (Hp/A, A/V, ksm or W/D)
  • Critical steel temperature from the structural fire design
  • Fire exposure – cellulosic or hydrocarbon, 3 or 4 sides
  • The coating product and its tested section shapes
  • Approved test and assessment data accepted in the project's country

We do not publish one DFT per rating – the same rating can need 0.3 mm on a heavy column and several millimetres on a light beam.

Systems

Our fire protection coating solutions

Four routes to a fire rating – chosen for the building, the exposure, the appearance and the cost. Product-specific data comes only from the manufacturer's approved documentation.

Thin-film intumescent coating (illustration)A

Cellulosic · buildings

Thin-film intumescent coating

Water-based or solvent-based acrylic coatings applied like paint over a compatible primer. In a fire they expand into an insulating char.

Typical applications: Exposed and architectural steel, offices, retail, schools, airports, warehouses

Surface appearance: Smooth, paint-like finish; steel profile stays visible; topcoat in any colour

Compatibility & certification: Primers and topcoats approved by the intumescent manufacturer for that system

  • Slim and light – no extra load
  • Shop or site application; covers connections and cellular beams
  • Low-VOC water-based grades for occupied buildings
  • Thickness and cost rise sharply at long ratings and high section factors
  • Water-based grades need dry interiors or a topcoat; humidity slows drying
  • Transport and handling damage needs touch-up
Epoxy intumescent coating (illustration)B

Cellulosic & hydrocarbon · industry

Epoxy intumescent coating

Two-component, high-solids epoxy systems – very hard and durable. Building (cellulosic) grades reach long ratings; dedicated grades are tested for hydrocarbon pool and jet fires.

Typical applications: Oil & gas, petrochemical and LNG plants, offshore, exterior and high-traffic steel; long cellulosic ratings

Surface appearance: Thick, hard film; architectural finish possible with topcoat

Compatibility & certification: Certification must match the fire scenario – a cellulosic approval does not cover hydrocarbon fire

  • Durable in C5 / exterior conditions; impact resistant
  • Fast cure – suitable for shop and module yards
  • Hydrocarbon (UL 1709) and jet-fire (ISO 22899-1) tested products
  • Higher material cost per litre; plural-component equipment
  • Mesh reinforcement required for some products and details
Cementitious fireproofing (illustration)C

Sprayed · concealed & industrial

Cementitious fireproofing

Sprayed fire-resistive materials (SFRM) – cement or gypsum binders with mineral aggregates or fibres – applied directly to steel.

Typical applications: Concealed beams and decks, long ratings, car parks, industrial and petrochemical structures (dense grades)

Surface appearance: Textured; usually hidden behind ceilings or linings

Compatibility & certification: Primer only where the spray manufacturer approves it – some products need bare steel

  • Lowest cost per m² at long ratings
  • Fast over large areas and complex shapes
  • Wet trade on site – curing time, overspray protection
  • Low-density grades are easily damaged; inspection of thickness and density (ASTM E605)
Customised fire protection systems (illustration)D

Engineered for your project

Customised fire protection systems

Mixed solutions where one system is not the best answer everywhere – for example intumescent on exposed steel, boards on columns in public areas and sprays above ceilings.

We design from:

  • Project location and the authority's accepted approvals
  • Fire resistance per element
  • Steel section factors from the member schedule
  • Environment and durability (ISO 12944 category)
  • Applicable standards and certification route
  • Budget and programme
  • Application method – factory, site or both

Compare fire protection systems

Engineering-based coating thickness design

Precision engineering. Optimized coating consumption.

The required dry film thickness is not a number per rating – it is calculated member by member. Getting it right avoids both non-compliance and paying for coating that adds nothing.

Avoid excessive consumptionHeavy sections need far less coating than light ones for the same rating; one blanket thickness wastes material.
Reduce unnecessary costGrouping members by section factor and using the right critical temperature can lower the total volume.
Ensure complianceEvery thickness traces back to the product's approved loading table and certification.
Plan the projectVolumes, coats and drying time feed the fabrication and coating programme.
Support documentationThe DFT schedule becomes the inspection reference and part of the handover dossier.
MarkTypeDimensions (mm)kg/mLength mQtySidesCustom Hp mmDFT from approved data (mm)Remove

Example rows – replace with your member schedule. Areas from plate geometry (root radii ignored) or from kg/m when given (ρ = 7850 kg/m³).

MarkA mm²Hp mmHp/A m⁻¹ksm m²/tW/D lb/ft/inCoating area m²Required DFT
Total coating area0

Preliminary calculations are provided for estimation purposes only. Final coating thickness and fire protection system selection must be verified against the approved product documentation, applicable project requirements and relevant engineering assessments.

Standards library

International fire protection standards

Fire test standards, classification standards, structural fire design codes and product approval routes are different things – a project usually needs one of each.

Fire test standardInternational

ISO 834-1

Fire-resistance tests – Elements of building construction

Defines the standard (cellulosic) time–temperature curve used by most national fire tests.

Fire test standardInternational

ISO 22899-1

Determination of the resistance to jet fires of passive fire protection materials

Jet-fire test for PFP used on oil, gas and process structures.

Fire test standardEurope

EN 1363-1 / EN 1363-2

Fire resistance tests – General requirements; alternative and additional procedures

European fire test furnace conditions; EN 1363-2 includes the hydrocarbon curve.

Fire test standardEurope

EN 13381-8

Test methods for determining the contribution to the fire resistance of structural members – Reactive protection applied to steel members

Tests and assessment of intumescent coatings; produces the data behind the loading tables.

Fire test standardEurope

EN 13381-4

… – Applied passive protection products to steel members

Tests and assessment for boards, sprays and other passive products.

Classification standardEurope

EN 13501-2

Fire classification of construction products and building elements – Classification using data from fire resistance tests

Expresses results as R 30, R 60, R 90, R 120, R 180 …

Product approvalEurope

EAD 350402-00-1106

European Assessment Document – Reactive coatings for fire protection of steel elements

Route to a European Technical Assessment (ETA) and CE marking; includes durability types X, Y, Z1, Z2.

Structural design standardEurope

EN 1993-1-2

Eurocode 3 – Design of steel structures – Structural fire design

Steel properties at elevated temperature, critical temperature and section factor rules.

Fire test standardUnited Kingdom

BS 476-20 / 21

Fire tests on building materials and structures – Methods for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction

UK national fire tests, still referenced; EN 13381-8 data is widely accepted in the UK.

Fire test standardUnited States

ASTM E119

Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials

US standard fire test; ratings in hours.

Fire test standardUnited States

UL 263

Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials

UL's equivalent test; UL listed designs give the thickness for each design and W/D.

Fire test standardUnited States

UL 1709

Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel

Hydrocarbon pool-fire test for petrochemical structures.

Structural design standardUnited States

AISC 360 Appendix 4

Structural Design for Fire Conditions

Performance-based structural fire design in the US.

Fire test standardAustralia

AS 1530.4

Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures – Fire-resistance tests for elements of construction

Australian fire test; results as FRL (structural adequacy/integrity/insulation).

Structural design standardAustralia

AS 4100 Section 12

Steel structures – Fire

Limiting steel temperature and exposed surface area to mass ratio (ksm).

Fire test standardEurope

EN 16623

Paints and varnishes – Reactive coatings for fire protection of metallic substrates – Definitions, requirements, characteristics and marking

Durability and performance requirements for reactive coatings; one of the test routes accepted in Singapore.

Fire test standardUnited Kingdom

BS 8202-2

Coatings for fire protection of building elements – Code of practice for the use of intumescent coating systems to metallic substrates for providing fire resistance

Durability and weathering guidance used with BS 476-21 or AS 1530.4 data, including in Singapore.

Product approvalPhilippines

RA 9514 · Revised IRR 2019

Fire Code of the Philippines and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations

Sets fire safety requirements by occupancy, including fire resistance of structural elements; enforced by the Bureau of Fire Protection through the FSEC (before the building permit) and the FSIC (before occupancy and yearly after).

Product approvalPhilippines

PD 1096 · Rule VII

National Building Code of the Philippines – classification by type of construction

Types of construction and the fire resistance expected of the frame, walls and floors for each; read together with RA 9514.

Structural design standardPhilippines

NSCP 2015 Vol. 1

National Structural Code of the Philippines – structural design

Governs the structural design of the steel frame; the fire engineer's critical temperature uses the member loads from this design.

Product approvalSingapore

SCDF Fire Code · Table 11A

Singapore Fire Code – Regulated fire safety products and materials (Product Listing Scheme)

Intumescent coating systems for structural steel are regulated products: each needs a Certificate of Conformity from an accredited certification body before use in Singapore.

Listing a standard does not mean every product is certified to it – the certificate of the selected product states its test standard and scope.

Certification routes

Which certificate will your project accept?

The Philippines does not run its own product listing for intumescent paints, so fire protection engineers and the BFP rely on internationally recognised test evidence – most often UL listed designs (UL 263 / ASTM E119), European ETAs (EN 13381-8), BS 476 assessments or Australian AS 1530.4 reports. We confirm the route with your engineer first, then quote a product that holds it. The matrix shows what each manufacturer publishes.

Singapore CoCCertificate of Conformity under the SCDF Product Listing Scheme (PLS), issued by an accredited certification bodySCDF Fire Code · PLS
ULUL listed designs to UL 263 / ASTM E119; UL 1709 for hydrocarbon firesUL Product iQ
BS 476Assessments to BS 476-20/21; third-party certification (e.g. Certifire)UK · Middle East · Asia
AS 1530.4 / AS 4100Australian test and assessment reports, FRL to the NCCAustralia · New Zealand
EN 13381-8 / ETAEuropean Technical Assessment and CE marking under EAD 350402Europe · UK
ProductSingapore CoCULBS 476AS 1530.4 / AS 4100EN 13381-8 / ETA
InternationalInterchar 404 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ? ? ✓ETA-09/0259source
InternationalInterchar 963 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ◐BS 476-21 (product page)source ? ✓ETA-14/0043source
InternationalInterchar 1120 ?CoC confirmed per project ◐UL 263 (brochure)source ✓BS 476-20/21 · Certifiresource ◐AS 1530.4 · AS 4100source ✓ETA-20/1193source
InternationalInterchar 1160 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ? ◐AS 1530.4 · AS 4100 (product page)source ✓ETA-20/1192source
InternationalChartek 7E ?CoC confirmed per project ? ? ? ?
InternationalChartek 1709 ?CoC confirmed per project ✓ANSI/UL 1709 listedsource ? ? ✓ETA-10/0086source
InternationalChartek ONE ?CoC confirmed per project ◐UL 1709 Ed. 5source ? ? ?
HempelHempacore One 43600 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ? ◐AS 4100 – 3rd-party certified (PDS)source ✓ETA 12/0581source
HempelHempacore One FD 43601 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓Certifire (PDS)source ◐AS 4100 – 3rd-party certified (PDS)source ✓ETA 12/0581source
HempelHempacore AQ 48860 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓BS 476-21 assessment up to 90 minsource ? ✓ETA 13/1054source
JotunSteelMaster 600WF / 900WF / 1200WF ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓Certifire CF 5631 (600WF) · CF 6140 (900WF) · CF 5243 (1200WF)source ◐AS 4100 (1200WF)source ✓ETA-22/0047 · ETA-24/0831 · ETA-22/0351source
JotunSteelMaster 60SB / 90SB (QD) ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓Certifire CF 5170 (60SB) · BS 476-20/21 (90SB)source ? ✓ETA-22/0350 · ETA 24/0096source
JotunSteelMaster 1200HPE ?CoC confirmed per project ◐UL 263 exterior · UL 2431 I-Asource ✓Certifire CF 5857 (up to 180 min)source ◐AS 4100 (TDS) ✓ETA-21/1019source
JotunJotachar 1709 ?CoC confirmed per project ◐UL 1709 · UL 2431source ? ? ?
PPGPPG STEELGUARD 651 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓BS 476-20/21 assessedsource ? ✓ETA 22/0050source
PPGPPG STEELGUARD 701 / 801 ?CoC confirmed per project ? ✓BS 476-20/21 assessedsource ? ✓ETA 22/0048source
PPGPPG STEELGUARD 951 ?CoC confirmed per project ◐UL 263 · UL 2431 I-A (PDS)source ◐BS 476 (PDS)source ? ✓ETA 22/0790source
PPGPPG PITT-CHAR NX ?CoC confirmed per project ✓UL 1709 Rev. 5 · UL 2431 (UL Verify V503293)source ◐BS 476 tested (PDS)source ? ✓ETA 21/1088source

✓ = listing or certificate published by the certification body · ◐ = stated by the manufacturer (data sheet / website) – certificate supplied on request · ? = not found in public sources – ask us, the manufacturer may hold it · — = not applicable. Certificates cover specific products, ratings, section shapes and sizes; World Steel supplies the current certificate and loading table for the accepted route with every proposal.

Engineering lookup tables

Lookup tables by standard

Reference values calculated from the published formulas and tables of each standard – fire curves, steel strength at temperature, critical and limiting temperatures, section-factor conversions and rating equivalents. Coating thickness itself always comes from the selected product's approved loading table.

Time (min)ISO 834 · EN 1363-1 · BS 476-20 · AS 1530.4 (°C)ASTM E119 · UL 263 (°C)EN 1363-2 hydrocarbon (°C)
5576538948
106787041034
15739—1071
308428431098
45902—1100
609459271100
901006—1100
120104910101100
180111010521100
240115310931100

ISO 834: T = 20 + 345·log10(8t + 1). ASTM E119: published curve points (1000 °F at 5 min … 2000 °F at 4 h). EN 1363-2: T = 20 + 1080(1 − 0.325e^−0.167t − 0.675e^−2.5t). UL 1709 (rapid rise) reaches 2000 °F (1093 °C) within 5 minutes.

Value engineering

Reduce coating costs without compromising fire performance

Ten factors decide the installed cost of an intumescent system. Most of them can be engineered.

  1. Steel section factorThe biggest driver – light, thin members need much more coating. Heavier sections can reduce the total cost.
  2. Fire resistance durationR120 can need several times the DFT of R60 on the same member.
  3. Critical steel temperatureA lower load ratio gives a higher critical temperature and a thinner coating – ask the engineer to calculate it.
  4. Steel surface areaCoating is bought per litre and applied per m² – the member schedule sets both.
  5. Required DFTFrom the approved loading table, member by member.
  6. Product volume solidsLitres needed = area × DFT ÷ volume solids – high-solids products need fewer litres for the same film.
  7. Application lossesOverspray, equipment and shape losses – lower in the shop than on site.
  8. Surface preparationBlast grade and primer system required by the intumescent manufacturer.
  9. Environmental conditionsHumidity and temperature affect drying, the number of coats and the programme.
  10. Inspection requirementsDFT readings per member, hold points and third-party inspection.

Open the cost estimator Request cost optimization

Factory or site

In our plant or on your site?

Philippine sites are hot, humid and often rained on – conditions that slow intumescent curing. That is why we recommend shop application for most projects, with touch-up of bolts and handling damage after erection.

Painting shop at the World Steel factory
CriterionFactory applicationSite application
Environmental controlControlled temperature and humidity; steel temperature checkedExposed to weather; enclosures or heating may be needed
Application qualityMembers turned and coated in the best positionOverhead and difficult access; scaffolds or lifts
InspectionEvery member measured before dispatchInspection follows erection sequence
Project scheduleRuns in parallel with site worksAdds a trade after erection
TransportationCareful packing and supports neededNo transport risk to the coating
Coating damageHandling and erection damage at supports and connectionsMinimal
Touch-upConnections and damaged areas after erectionNot applicable
Overall costUsually lower – efficient application, fewer site hoursHigher site labour and access costs

The usual Philippine set-up: the full system is applied and inspected in our plant, members are wrapped and supported for the voyage, and after erection your applicator completes connections and repairs with the same product, following the touch-up procedure in our ITP.

  1. Fabrication
  2. Blast cleaning
  3. Primer
  4. Intumescent coats
  5. Topcoat
  6. DFT inspection
  7. Packing & shipping
  8. Erection & touch-up

Quality assurance

Quality you can verify

Coating quality is controlled step by step and recorded – so the fire engineer and the authority can see that every member has the thickness it needs.

  1. 01Surface preparation inspection

    Blast cleanliness and profile checked against the primer data sheet before coating.

  2. 02Primer compatibility verification

    Primer type and thickness confirmed against the intumescent manufacturer's approved list.

  3. 03Environmental monitoring

    Air and steel temperature, relative humidity and dew point recorded before and during application.

  4. 04Coating application

    Airless spray by trained applicators following the product application guide.

  5. 05Wet film thickness monitoring

    WFT checks during application to steer each coat to the target.

  6. 06Dry film thickness inspection

    Calibrated gauges, readings per member against the DFT schedule.

  7. 07Final inspection

    Visual check, topcoat, marking and release of each lot.

  8. 08Handover documentation

    Coating report, product certificates, batch numbers and DFT records in the project dossier.

Quality documentation (illustration)

Quality records delivered

  • Inspection & test plan (ITP)
  • Surface preparation records
  • Environmental records
  • Batch traceability
  • WFT reports
  • DFT reports
  • Gauge calibration certificates
  • NCR / CAR
  • Final inspection reports

Quality control at World Steel →

Industries

Where Philippine buildings need rated steel

Each occupancy under RA 9514 brings its own rating, exposure and appearance demands.

Industrial buildings

Industrial buildings

Factories and plants where escape routes, mezzanines and compartment walls need rated steel.

Typical components: Columns, rafters, crane girders, mezzanines

Standards: Local building code · EN 13381-8 / UL 263 / AS 1530.4

Steel solution →
Steel warehouses

Steel warehouses

Often unrated, but columns at fire walls, racking zones and offices may need protection.

Typical components: Portal frames, columns at firewalls, mezzanines

Standards: Code and insurer requirements

Steel solution →
Logistics centres

Logistics centres

Large compartments with offices and mezzanines – protection targeted where it is required.

Typical components: Columns, office blocks, dock structures

Standards: Building code · insurer rules

Steel solution →
Commercial buildings

Commercial buildings

Offices and retail – typically R60 to R120 with exposed, architectural steel.

Typical components: Beams, columns, cellular beams, bracing

Standards: EN 13381-8 · UL 263 · AS 1530.4

Steel solution →
Airports

Airports

Terminals with exposed long-span steel where appearance and performance-based design matter.

Typical components: Long-span roof trusses, columns, hollow sections

Standards: Project specification · fire engineering

Steel solution →
Data centres

Data centres

Compartmentation and continuity of service drive the fire strategy.

Typical components: Frames, plant platforms, cable and pipe supports

Standards: Building code · owner standards

Steel solution →
Energy facilities

Energy facilities

Hydrocarbon pool and jet-fire scenarios need epoxy systems tested for them.

Typical components: Pipe racks, vessel skirts, modules

Standards: UL 1709 · ISO 22899-1 · owner specs

Steel solution →
Infrastructure projects

Infrastructure projects

Exterior and semi-exposed steel where durability and inspection access are key.

Typical components: Bridges, stations, tunnels, walkways

Standards: Project specification

Steel solution →

Project experience

Projects and references

Fire protection case studies are added here once the project data is verified. Meanwhile, browse our steel projects in the Philippines and abroad.

Verified fire protection case studies will appear here. We publish only completed projects with confirmed data.

See the World Steel project portfolio

Knowledge centre

Fireproofing guides

Short, practical explanations for owners, architects and fire protection engineers.

01

1, 2 and 3-hour fire ratings for steel in the Philippines

What an hour rating on a Philippine fire safety plan means for a steel beam or column, how it compares with R60 or R120 on a European certificate, and why doubling the hours more than doubles the coating.

2 min read → 02

FSEC and FSIC: fireproofing in Philippine building permits

A plain guide to the two BFP documents every Philippine building needs and the fireproofing information each one expects from the steel supplier.

2 min read → 03

Intumescent or cementitious fireproofing in the Philippines

Two ways to give steel a fire rating, compared on look, durability in humid air, application, rating range and cost – with the cases where each one wins.

2 min read → 04

Fireproofing thickness per steel member: Philippine guide

From section factor to DFT schedule: the steps our engineers follow so each beam and column gets the thickness it needs – and no more.

2 min read → 05

Shop-applied fireproofing: why it suits Philippine projects

How applying intumescent in our plant before shipping saves time on humid, rainy Philippine sites – and what still has to be done after erection.

2 min read → 06

Do Philippine steel warehouses need fireproofing?

Many warehouse frames need no fire rating at all – but offices, mezzanines, firewalls and high-hazard storage often do. How to find out early.

2 min read → 07

Fireproofing cost for steel frames in the Philippines

The factors behind a fireproofing price in pesos – and the engineering choices that bring it down without touching the rating.

2 min read →

FAQ

Questions Philippine clients ask about fireproofing

Who decides the fire rating of my steel frame?

Your fire protection engineer, in the fire safety plan prepared under RA 9514 and its Revised IRR. The BFP reviews that plan for the FSEC before the building permit. We engineer the coating to the ratings in the plan; we do not set them ourselves.

Which fire test certificates are accepted in the Philippines?

There is no Philippine product listing for intumescent coatings, so projects rely on recognised international evidence – typically a UL listed design, a European ETA, a BS 476 assessment or an AS 1530.4 report. We agree the route with your engineer before quoting and send the certificate and loading table with the proposal.

Is intumescent paint or cementitious spray better for my project?

Intumescent suits exposed steel and ratings up to about 2 hours, and can be applied in our plant. Cementitious spray is usually cheaper for long ratings on steel hidden above ceilings, but it is a wet trade applied on site. Many buildings combine both.

How thick will the coating be?

It depends on each member's section factor, the rating, the number of sides exposed and the critical temperature. Heavy columns may need a fraction of a millimetre, light beams several millimetres. We issue a DFT schedule for every member size.

Can you apply the fireproofing before shipping to the Philippines?

Yes, that is our recommended route. Members are blasted, primed and coated in our plant, inspected, then protected for the voyage. Your applicator completes the bolted connections and any handling damage on site.

Does the humid climate affect intumescent coatings?

Humidity slows drying and some water-based grades are for dry interiors only. For semi-exposed or coastal areas we select solvent-based or epoxy systems with a suitable topcoat, and we record dew point and steel temperature during application.

How much does fireproofing add to a steel building?

It ranges widely with the rating and the member sizes. Use the cost estimator with peso unit prices, or send the member schedule and fire safety plan for a priced proposal. Choosing heavier sections where it pays can reduce the total.

What do you need from us for a quotation?

The structural drawings or member list, the fire safety plan or required ratings per element, exposure (three or four sides), the environment (interior, semi-exposed, coastal), the approval route your engineer accepts and your programme.

How is the thickness checked?

With calibrated DFT gauges on every member against the schedule, at a frequency written in the inspection and test plan. The readings travel with the steel in the quality dossier so the BFP inspector and your engineer can see them.

Download centre

Technical documents & engineering resources

Templates from World Steel and links to the manufacturers' official product information. Project-specific test and classification data is sent on request.

DocumentCategoryTypeRev. / date
Fire protection member schedule – templateMember list with section, length, quantity, exposure, rating and critical temperature – the input for a thickness design.Engineering templatesCSV · < 1 KBA 2026-10-16 Download
DFT inspection record – templatePer-member DFT readings against the schedule, with gauge and environmental data.Inspection checklistsCSV · < 1 KBA 2026-10-16 Download
Fire protection technical questionnaireThe questions we ask to engineer a fire protection solution.Technical questionnairesDOCX · 37 KBA 2026-10-16 Download
International – passive fire protection productsInterchar and Chartek ranges on the manufacturer's website.Product brochuresWeb— Open
Hempel – Hempacore rangeHempacore intumescent coatings on the manufacturer's website.Product brochuresWeb— Open
Jotun – SteelMaster productsSteelMaster intumescent coatings on the manufacturer's website.Product brochuresWeb— Open
PPG – STEELGUARD 651Product page with data sheets on the manufacturer's website.Technical data sheetsWeb— Open
Interchar 404 – ETA-09/0259 (DIBt)European Technical Assessment with the approved DFT tables, published by DIBt.Approved thickness tablesWeb— Open
Interchar 963 – ETA-14/0043 (DIBt)European Technical Assessment with the approved DFT tables, published by DIBt.Approved thickness tablesWeb— Open
Chartek 1709 – ETA-10/0086 (DIBt)European Technical Assessment with the approved DFT tables, published by DIBt.Approved thickness tablesWeb— Open
Hempacore ONE – ETA 12/0581 (ITeC)European Technical Assessment with the approved DFT tables, published by ITeC.Approved thickness tablesWeb— Open
Approved loading tables for the selected systemIssued for the selected product and the project's certification route.Approved thickness tablesOn request— Request
Fire test and classification reportsSupplied with the proposal for the accepted approval (ETA, UL design, AS 1530.4 assessment).Fire test reportsOn request— Request
Technical and safety data sheetsCurrent TDS and SDS of every component of the proposed system.Safety data sheetsOn request— Request
Coating ITP and application procedureProject-specific inspection and test plan and touch-up procedure.Application guidelinesOn request— Request

Technical proposal

Send your fire safety plan – get a fire-rated steel proposal

Share the drawings and the ratings from your fire protection engineer. We return the system, a DFT schedule and a CIF or DDP price with the steel.

Contact
Project
Fire requirements
Files

PDF, Excel, Word, DWG, IFC or ZIP. Large files: add a download link in the requirements.

You receive a reference number on the next page and by e-mail.

One supplier for the frame and its fire rating

Steel and fireproofing engineered together, coated in our plant and delivered CIF or DDP to your Philippine site.

Request a quotation Talk to our engineering team Download technical questionnaire

Company
World Steel Construction JSC
Office
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Factory
Hai Son Industrial Park, Tay Ninh, Vietnam
Valid certifications
IAS AC472 · AS/NZS 5131 CC3 · EN 1090 EXC3 · CE
Consultation

Tara, magtayo tayo · Let’s build

Planning a steel building in the Philippines?

Buy direct from our factory with A-to-Z project support. Send the layout, site location and target date – our engineers reply with a seismic-ready frame concept, steel tonnage and a CIF or DDP price.

Request a quotation +84 902 881 833