Preliminary Remarks

The renovation of existing buildings is increasingly significant for industry operators, particularly those involved in passive fire protection. Within the AMOTHERM Division of Amonn Color, the focus has been on creating tangible solutions for the challenges in fireproof refurbishment. This initiative is grounded in the need for documentable, sustainable solutions that comply with European regulations, requiring numerous fire tests to cover a wide range of practical scenarios.

The Reasons for the Project

European regulations, such as the EN 1364-1 and EN 1365-2 standards, provide precise guidelines for selecting protective measures in building refurbishment. These standards define the scope provided by specific test methods and outline the limitations and possible modifications for tested samples. This well-defined, safety-focused framework allows designers to work confidently and ensures the refurbishment process adheres to the highest safety standards.

The Amonn Proposal: AMOTHERM Brick WB

AMOTHERM Brick WB, an intumescent paint for refurbishing load-bearing and non-load-bearing construction elements like floors and walls, has been on the market since the mid-2000s, demonstrating high reliability. In 2020, a significant project was initiated to expand its “direct field of application” across Europe, focusing on typical civil buildings constructed with brickwork or non-lightweight concrete blocks.

The project is nearing completion, and AMOTHERM Brick WB now holds certifications in compliance with pertinent European standards, including:

• Non-load-bearing walls in perforated brick blocks with and without plaster
• Non-bearing walls of exposed concrete blocks
• Walls made of squared stone blocks
• Load-bearing brick-concrete floor slabs with and without plaster
• Load-bearing predalles type floors with polystyrene lightening
• Neocem type load-bearing floor slabs

The project also aimed to simplify consumption specifications. For example, many wall solutions use the same quantity of material as ceiling solutions, simplifying the application process and reducing errors. This uniformity aids fire safety professionals during inspections and the subsequent drafting of the CERT REI fire resistance certificate.

The Amonn Proposal: AMOTHERM Concrete WB

Europe has a vast heritage of traditional buildings and numerous industrial buildings made of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. To address the need for treating large surfaces, AMOTHERM Concrete WB was developed. This product is designed for typical prefabricated constructions, including beams, columns, tiles of varying sizes, and walls with PE lightening.

AMOTHERM Concrete WB complies with the following European standards:

• EN 13381-3:2015 for the computation of equivalent concrete in structural elements
• EN 1365-2 for elements located on the ceiling
• EN 1364-1 for compartmentalization

Today, AMOTHERM Concrete WB is qualified for:

• Reinforced and prestressed concrete beams/columns and slabs/walls
• Bi-ribbed type TT bearing tiles with different stem thicknesses
• Horizontal partition walls with polystyrene lightening

Comments and Conclusions

Investments in testing are significant for companies in the protective industry, as they are essential to introducing certified and dependable products to the market. While achieving certified solutions for all building variables is challenging and sometimes impractical, the goal is to provide a spectrum of solutions that meet the market’s needs within the scope of direct application.

Summary

This document outlines the importance of fireproof refurbishment of existing buildings across Europe, focusing on the AMOTHERM products, AMOTHERM Brick WB and AMOTHERM Concrete WB. These products are designed to comply with European standards, ensuring safety and reliability in various building scenarios. The emphasis is on creating sustainable, documentable solutions that simplify the application process and adhere to stringent safety regulations.