A FIRE protection paint system has been used to coat columns and beams in a refurbishment of the world's first railway goods warehouse.

Built in 1830 for the Manchester and Liverpool Railway, the building is undergoing a five year restoration programme.

It is to be converted to gallery space in the impressive Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, Liverpool Road.

The scheme, by the Manchester office of BDP includes re-roofing, internal repairs, the cleaning of the building fabric and coating of structural cast iron with the Firetex M70/M71 thin film intumescent system from Firestone, the fire protection division of Leigh's Paints.

Applied by Burnaby Cleaning Company for main contractor Shepherd Construction Firetex coatings are invaluable to designers needing to balance sensitive restoration with the requirements of the Fire Regulations.

It can provide up to two hours' fire protection to BS476 part 21: 1987.

Approved under the Certifire Scheme operated jointly by the BSI and Warrington Fire Research Centre, it provides a decorative and protective finish to the cast iron columns and beams of this monument to the Railway Age, and avoids the need for unattractive encasement schemes. is a thin film coating which many times the original thickness to foamed carbonaceous char Firetex M70 reacts at approximately 200VC, swelling to produce an insulating substance that reduces the rate of temperature increase of steel and in turn prolongs load bearing capacity.

Firetex M71 is a flame retardant decorative sealer, available in a wide colour range, which gives a moisture and abrasion resistant system with an attractive satin sheen smooth surface.

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