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What is Fireguard E-84?
FireGuard E-84 is an innovative, water-based intumescent paint designed specifically for the fire protection of structural steel.
This thin-film coating creates a fire resistant barrier on various building surfaces, including gypsum, wood, and steel. It meets ASTM E-119 and ASTM E-84 standards, and it is certified by Guardian Fire Test Laboratories Inc.
Key features
Fireguard E-84 offers excellent fire resistance performance on steel and meets several fire rating standards. As an intumescent paint, Fireguard E-84 develops a protective char that expands when exposed to heat, protecting your most critical assets.
Fireguard E-84 meets the following ASTM E-119 standards:
| Material | Results |
| Heavy Steel Column | 2 hours |
| Heavy Steel Beam | 1 – 2 hours |
| Medium Steel Column | 1 – 2 hours |
| Medium Steel Beam | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| Light Steel Column | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| Light Steel Beam | 1 – 1.5 hours |
Additionally, it achieved an ASTM E-84 Flame Spread of 0 and a Smoke Index of -5, which means it’s a Class A or 1 (the highest standard).
The finish is smooth and flat, and the coating comes in white. It has a relatively high volume solids percentage, which means there’s a low amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Fireguard E-84 has a shelf life of up to 1 year from the production date. The IPP Magazine research team has also collected the following information from the Shields Industries technical data specs.
| Category | Detail |
| Price per Gallon | N/A |
| Standards | ASTM E-119, ASTM E-84, NFPA 251, UL 263, ULC-101-07 |
| Finish | Smooth/Flat |
| Color | White |
| VOC Levels (g/l) | 3.6 |
| Volume Solids (%) | 54 |
| Dry Times | 24 Hours to Recoat |
| Coverage Rates at 1 mil DFT (ft²/Gal) | 866 |
It’s important to consider the fire rating standards, VOC levels, and volume solids to ensure you’re EPA, ASTM, NFPA, and UL compliant.
How to use Fireguard E-84
Surface preparation
Before you apply Fireguard E-84, it’s important to perform proper surface preparation according to NACE, SSPC, and/or AMPP standards. Steel surfaces should be cleaned and removed of all oil, grease, and loose particles.
The substrate should be primed with a compatible primer before application.
Application
FireGuard E-84 can be applied by brush, roller, sprayer. The paint should be mixed thoroughly for at least 5 minutes. Apply in multiple coats to achieve wet mil thickness — up to 25 – 30 mils per coat. At 1mil, the coverage rate is 866ft²/ gal.
Additionally, make sure safety precautions are taken to wear protective equipment such as gloves, respirators, goggles, and ensure adequate ventilation before application.
Temperature
Temperatures that are too hot or two cold are not compatible with FireGuard E-84. The coating also adheres better in lower humidity environments. According to the safety data sheets, you should not apply this coating in environments that will be exposed to freeze/thaw cycling or are above 140° F (60° C) without a resilient top coat.
Drying times
It takes 24 hours to recoat, and 4 – 5 days before this Fireguard can be top-coated.
You can learn more on the Shields Industries website.