ATOL Construction applies intumescent coatings to structural steel off site, in the shop, so the frame arrives already protected. We work for steelwork fabricators and main contractors across London, the South East and the rest of the UK as an approved applicator for Nullifire, Envirograf and PERLIFOC systems.
Shop application gives us control that site work never will: stable temperature and humidity, verified primer compatibility, and film thickness recorded member by member instead of chased at height off a scaffold. Every beam and column is checked against the loading schedule and its section factor, and leaves with its achieved dry film thickness recorded, so the certification pack is complete before the steel is loaded.
Fire protection ends up on the critical path more often than anyone plans for. Moving it into the shop takes it off the site programme altogether. Steel arrives protected, follow-on trades are not waiting for areas to be released, and there is no scaffold, encapsulation or overspray protection to pay for.
Why Choose Offsite Intumescent Coating in the UK
- Programme: coating runs in parallel with groundworks and foundations rather than after erection, which usually takes weeks out of the sequence.
- Weather: thin film intumescents need controlled temperature, humidity and dew point to cure properly. A shop gives you that in January as well as June.
- Evidence: readings are taken on the ground, member by member, against the steel schedule. Verifying thickness at twelve metres is slow and rarely as thorough.
What an off-site package with ATOL actually involves:
- Specification check: we review the fire strategy, loading schedule and section factors before pricing, and flag anywhere the specified rating and section size do not work with the proposed system.
- Primer compatibility: most disputes on shop-applied work start with the primer. We confirm the fabricator’s primer is compatible with the intumescent, or specify one that is.
- Application and inspection: wet film thickness during application, dry film thickness once cured, recorded per member and signed off under our third-party certification.
- Topcoat and handling: where steel is exposed we apply the decorative topcoat in the shop, and advise on lifting points, packing and transport so the coating survives the journey.
UK Local Offsite Intumescent Coating Services
Where off-site coating usually makes sense:
- Exposed structural steel: feature frames and atria where finish quality matters and site application would mean masking everything around it.
- Fast-track programmes: where the steel package is short but the programme is tight and there is no window for a spray gang on site.
- Occupied or restricted sites: hospitals, schools, listed buildings and city-centre plots where solvent, overspray and scaffold access are all problems.
Send us the steel schedule and the fire strategy and we will come back with a priced package, the system we would use and the test evidence behind it.
Off-site coating is not automatically the right answer. Connections, site welds and any steel knocked in transit still need making good once the frame is up, and that work has to be priced and inspected properly or the certification has a hole in it. We will tell you where a hybrid approach, shop coat plus a site visit for connections and remedials, costs less and certifies better than either on its own.
- What we coat: beams, columns, bracing, plate girders, hollow sections and cellular beams, to the sizes the shop can handle.
- Ratings: 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes, at the thickness the tested system requires for each section factor and critical temperature.
- Systems: Nullifire, Envirograf and PERLIFOC, with test evidence and assessment reports supplied in the handover pack.
- Making good: a site visit after erection to coat connections and repair transit damage, recorded the same way as the shop work.
- Certification: a per-member record of system, wet and dry film thickness and inspection, issued as a signed fire protection log book.
That record is what building control or an approved inspector will ask for, and it is far harder to assemble after the event than during.
Most of our work comes through fabricators and main contractors we have already delivered for, on projects including the ABBA Arena, the British Library extension and the Royal Albert Hall. We would rather give you an honest view of whether off-site suits your package than win the enquiry and find out later that it did not.
Our teams are fully trained and certified to the highest industry standards, holding CSCS, IPAF, and PASMA certifications. We are also accredited by Constructionline, Safe Contractor, SMAS, and CHAS, ensuring compliance, safety, and quality in all our projects.
With teams stationed across the UK, we provide a reliable mobile onsite service, ensuring prompt and efficient support wherever you are
We offer free, no-obligation quotes to help you make informed decisions about your project. Our team will assess your needs and provide a detailed, transparent estimate, ensuring you know exactly what to expect. With ATOL Construction, you can trust that there are no hidden costs, just honest and competitive pricing.
With teams across the UK, we offer a mobile onsite service to meet your needs wherever you’re based, ensuring prompt and efficient support nationwide.
How does offsite intumescent coating improve quality control?
Applying intumescent coatings offsite allows for stringent quality control measures. The controlled environment ensures consistent application thickness, proper curing and adherence to specifications, resulting in superior fire protection performance compared to on-site application.
What fire protection ratings can you achieve with offsite intumescent coatings?
We can achieve a range of fire protection ratings, including 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes, depending on the specific requirements of your project. Our experts will work with you to determine the appropriate level of protection needed and ensure it is met through precise application and testing.
What types of structures can be coated offsite?
We can apply intumescent coatings offsite to a wide range of steel structures, including beams, columns, trusses and prefabricated steel components. This method is particularly beneficial for elements that will be integrated into larger construction projects requiring stringent fire protection.
What is offsite intumescent coating and why is it beneficial?
Offsite intumescent coating involves applying fire-protective coatings to steel structures in a controlled environment before they are transported to the construction site. This method offers numerous benefits, including enhanced quality control, reduced on-site disruptions, cost efficiency and weather-independent application
Is offsite intumescent coating affected by weather conditions?
No, one of the main advantages of offsite intumescent coating is that it is performed in a controlled indoor environment, making it unaffected by adverse weather conditions. This ensures consistent quality and timely completion of the coating process.
How does offsite coating reduce construction costs?
Offsite coating reduces the need for extensive on-site activities, minimising disruptions and potential delays. This leads to significant cost savings by streamlining the construction process, eliminating weather-related issues, and reducing labour costs associated with on-site application.
How do you ensure compliance with fire protection standards?
Our team of professionals is highly trained and certified to apply intumescent coatings according to industry standards and regulations. We perform rigorous QA testing to ensure that all coatings meet or exceed the required fire protection specifications, providing our clients with peace of mind.