Hempel Launches New Steel Fire Protection Coating

Hempel A/S launched the Hempafire Optima 515, the latest addition to its waterborne cellulosic passive fire protection (PFP) range. 

Developed for civil infrastructure projects, the new product is designed to protect interior steel structures while helping customers reduce paint consumption and total application costs.

Hempafire Optima 515 provides protection for steel exposed to cellulosic fire scenarios, offering fire ratings of up to 150 minutes. It has been tested in accordance with the BS 476 standard and certified by the third-party certification body ApplusFire.

Hempafire Optima 515 is engineered for productivity and cost efficiency across low- to mid-section factor open steel sections, which represent a large share of structural steel fire protection projects. 

Its advanced thermal insulation performance delivers certified fire protection with reduced dry film thickness requirements, supporting optimized material consumption while maintaining compliance.

“Passive fire protection has always been about safety, but today’s projects also require more efficient application and reduced material consumption,” says Roger Soler, Product Manager C-PFP at Hempel A/S. “With Hempafire Optima 515, we are strengthening our waterborne PFP offering for civil infrastructure projects while helping customers meet certified fire protection requirements and improve efficiency on site.”

Developed to enhance application efficiency within its class, Hempafire Optima 515 features a high 75% solids content. The product can be applied with ease at up to 1.5 mm DFT per coat and dries rapidly to a smooth, high-quality finish. This enables most steel sections to achieve the required fire protection rating in just two coats within a single working shift.

The result is a faster, more streamlined application process that reduces labour requirements, shortens project timelines, minimises downtime and lowers overall project costs, delivering greater value for both contractors and asset owners alike.

The launch is complemented by Hempafire Optima 510, a versatile solution optimized for lightweight steel sections. Together, Optima 510 and Optima 515 provide a broader solution, enabling specifiers to select the appropriate coating for different section requirements within the same project.

Both coatings feature very low VOC content and emissions and are supported by independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These declarations provide transparent, documented environmental information that may assist project teams in meeting green building certification requirements, subject to the specific criteria and assessment protocols of each rating scheme. 

The range is compatible with Hempel-approved primers and topcoats for waterborne PFP systems, allowing the coating system to be adapted to project requirements and aesthetic preferences.

Hempafire Optima 515 has initially been launched in the Middle East, with expansion to additional countries that follow BS 476 standards planned in the coming months.