How to tell genuine fire-retardant coatings from counterfeits
2026-04-07
To help people purchase fireproof coatings and avoid buying counterfeit or substandard products, the editor of Henan Huiquan Industrial Co., Ltd.’s Yunnan steel structure fireproof coatings has summarized methods for distinguishing genuine from fake fireproof coatings, hoping to assist consumers in identifying authentic products.
(1) Verify whether the product is accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by a national-level fire‑protection quality inspection center; you may also check online. At present, fire‑retardant coatings are subject to a type‑approval system for fire‑protection products, and any such coating sold on the market must possess both a national type‑approval certificate and a report of passing type‑inspection.
(2) According to national standards, in addition to meeting fire‑stopping requirements, the combustion performance of fire‑retardant coatings is classified into Class I and Class II. Under specified test conditions, Class I fire‑retardant coatings must have a fire‑resistance duration of at least 20 minutes, while Class II coatings must achieve a fire‑resistance duration of at least 10 minutes. Users should carefully distinguish between these classes when making their selection to prevent manufacturers from passing off inferior products as superior, which could compromise the intended fire‑protection performance.
(3) According to the author’s understanding, at present, domestic manufacturers producing fire‑retardant coatings with a Class II fire‑performance rating face production costs exceeding RMB 8,000 per ton; if the selling price falls below this level, the product quality is likely to be questionable.
(4) On-site application of fire‑retardant coatings shall follow the instructions provided on the manufacturer’s packaging; dilution with water is generally not required. Coating should be applied in two or more coats, with a minimum application rate of 500 g/m². Diluting the coating with water or applying an insufficient coat thickness can significantly compromise its fire‑resistance performance. Fire‑safety authorities should strengthen oversight at construction sites to prevent contractors from cutting corners or reducing material quantities.
(5) Qualified fire‑retardant coatings, when exposed to intense flames such as those from a blowtorch, will undergo significant foaming and expansion, with the surface forming raised blisters; no signs of charring or damage will appear within several minutes. In contrast, counterfeit or substandard fire‑retardant coatings exhibit little to no foaming, often shedding large amounts of loose particles, and the wood substrate will rapidly ignite and sustain damage.
(6) If conditions permit, a preliminary on-site inspection of the product’s quality may also be conducted: cut 2–3 small samples from the already applied substrate, or apply a small amount of the product to 2–3 pieces of 150 mm × 150 mm plywood, coating them in accordance with actual application conditions. After the coating has fully dried, examine it using an alcohol‑lamp flame. Maintain a flame height of approximately 40 mm and apply the flame for about 20 minutes, observing the degree of foaming in the coating. Under normal circumstances, when applied at the specified dosage (typically 500 g/m²), the intumescent layer of Class I fire‑protective coatings should be at least 20 mm thick, while that of Class II fire‑protective coatings should be at least 10 mm thick; the resulting foam layer must be uniform and dense.
(7) In practical applications, to ensure the fire‑retardant and other performance characteristics of fire‑protective coatings, a transparent topcoat is typically applied. The typical application rate for the fire‑protective coating is 350–500 g/m², while the topcoat is generally applied at 50 g/m².
In addition, the editor of Henan Huiquan Industrial Co., Ltd. on fireproof coatings for steel structures in Yunnan
Be sure to avoid purchasing fire‑retardant coatings simply because they seem inexpensive. Always request a receipt when making a purchase and verify that the details on the receipt match the product you’ve bought, so you can protect your rights if any issues arise. When buying fire‑retardant coatings—whether for steel structures or tunnels—pay close attention to the print on the packaging: if the lettering is faint or unclear, proceed with caution.
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