One of the UK’s leading fire protection contractors has again turned to Promat UK to provide a passive protection solution for a new Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) facility in Oxfordshire.

North Shields based Intumescent Protective Coatings Ltd (IPCL) chose Promat VERMICULUX® boards to protect the structural steelwork of the new state-of-the-art Ardley facility in Oxfordshire.

“We regularly use Promat products and have always found their fire protection solutions to be reliable and effective,” says IPCL’s Sales Director, Steve McAllister.  “This project called for high specification protection and so Promat VERMICULUX® was an obvious choice. Promat was the only manufacturer that was comfortable with us using their board to protect the cold-rolled steel sections which feature in some parts of the plant. These are thinner and lighter than hot-rolled sections and so require more fire protection, but Promat advised that Promat VERMICULUX® was more than equal to the job.”

Promat VERMICULUX® boards are also resistant to moisture. “This meant that we could install them in cold and damp weather and so continue working on the project during the winter months without having to slow down. This wouldn’t have been possible if we’d chosen to use intumescent paint to protect the steelwork,” adds Steve.

“There is growing interest in using our passive fire protection products for this type of ERF project,” says Promat's Area Sales Manager, Thomas Sheridan. “Given the nature of the processes which are used, a plant such as this needs high specification protection, and we can provide a very wide range of products that are perfectly suited to this task.”

Some 4,000m2 of Promat VERMICULUX® board in various thicknesses were used on the project. Promat VERMICULUX® is a lightweight, non-combustible calcium silicate board specially designed to provide fire protection to structural steelwork, and can deliver up to 240 minutes fire resistance depending on the thickness of material used and the dimensions of the beam or column being protected.

It is resistant to moisture, will not disintegrate, warp or swell. This allows it to be installed at any time during the building programme, even before external walls have been completed and the building has been made watertight.  It is easy to work and install, and is supplied with two rebated edges to allow cross joints to be made without the need for noggings, cover strips or adhesives.

The new plant is operated by leading UK recycling, renewable energy and waste management company, Viridor. It is expected to process around 300,000 tonnes of non-hazardous, post-recycling, residual waste per year.