HILTI
FIREFINISH +120 CFP-SP WB
Product Application Guide
1. BASIC INFORMATION
Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB is an aqueous-based intumescent coating that is applied to help protect interior structural steel from the effects of fire. It has been tested according to UL 263 / ASTM E119 and is approved for air-conditioned interior spaces and general interior use. Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB must be protected from exposure to water and humidity.
It is important to follow the following application methods to comply with the independent fire tests that support its use. Thickness, application, and correct product finish must be guaranteed. Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB must be installed by trained and accredited installers by Hilti.
2. MATERIAL STORAGE
2.1 Storage temperature
FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB must be stored in the original unopened containers. Containers must be protected from direct sunlight and kept at a temperature between 41 °F (5 °C) and 86 °F (30 °C) during shipping and storage. Exposure to temperatures up to 104 °F (40 °C) is tolerable for a maximum of 4 weeks. The product must not be stored at freezing temperatures.
2.2 Shelf life
If stored correctly, Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB has a shelf life of 9 months. Do not use expired product.
3. SITE REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Required services
Prior to application, the applicator must ensure that the services, safety, and conditions required for the application process are available. These requirements will include some or all of the following: power, ventilation, climate, water, scaffolding, masking, lighting, waste disposal, as well as spray pumps with up-to-date maintenance service and adequate spare parts.
3.2 Application temperature
FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB should only be applied when the ambient and surface temperature is between 50 °F (10°C) and 95 °F (35°C). The steel surface must be dry and its temperature should ideally be 9 °F (5°C) above the dew point. The steel surface temperature must always be a minimum of 5 °F (3°C) above the dew point to prevent condensation from forming on the steel. The dew point can be determined with any available dew point meter on the market.
A minimum ambient and surface temperature of 50 °F (10°C) must be maintained before, during, and for a minimum of 24 hours after application. If necessary for the work program, the contractor must provide enclosed spaces, airflow, and adequate temperature and humidity levels in the application areas.
3.3 Humidity
Relative humidity can be determined with any hygrometer available on the market. If relative humidity exceeds 75%, precautions must be taken to prevent condensation from forming on the steel surface during application. FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB dries by water evaporation, which can increase the humidity of the surrounding area. Adequate ventilation must be provided and maintained during the application and curing process to ensure proper drying. Sufficient air exchange is the most significant factor for achieving good and fast drying.
According to good painting practices, application should not be carried out in deteriorating conditions, such as when the temperature is below 10 °C (50 °F) or when there is a risk of condensation forming on the steel.
Caution: Do not apply FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB on wet surfaces or if there is condensation.
4. SAFETY
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Protective clothing
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
Additional tips for respiratory protection:
- Ensure adequate ventilation at the workplace
- Respirator equipment in case of high concentration
Environmental precautions
Do not pour Fire Finish +120 CFP-SP WB into drains, watercourses, or soil. Consult with regulatory bodies or your company's personnel for disposal methods that comply with local, state, and federal safety, health, and environmental regulations.
5. SURFACE PREPARATION
5.1 Primer
FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB must always be applied over an approved primer system that has been applied to a sand-blasted clean steel surface. The primer must be applied following the manufacturer's recommendations and must be fully cured.
For a list of approved primers, contact Hilti Technical Service Department. Organic and inorganic zinc silicate primers are not suitable for use with FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB.
5.2 Clean surfaces
Before applying FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB, the following conditions must be excluded:
- Unprimed or poorly primed steel
- Unapproved or unknown primer
- Primer not properly cured
- Organic or inorganic zinc silicate primer
- Galvanized steel, unless suitably prepared with a compatible primer
- Condensation or frost on the steel surface
- Oil, grease, dirt, dust, or any other contaminant that may inhibit adhesion to the steel surface.
6. EQUIPMENT
To optimize aesthetics, the preferred application method is airless spraying. For touch-ups and repairs, Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB can also be applied with a brush or roller.
6.1 Airless spray pump (airless equipment)
An airless spray pump capable of operating with a minimum fluid pressure of 2,000 psi (140 kg/cm²) and a volume delivery of > 1 gal/min (4 l/min) must be used. Consult the pump manufacturer for exact recommendations.
Warning: FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB requires the removal of all mesh filters commonly found in many airless sprayers before application. Typically, there are three: a suction filter, a pre-pump filter, and the spray gun filter. If the spray gun nozzle uses a "diffuser bar", this must also be removed.
If a filter remains in the sprayer system, it will cause the mesh to filter out some ingredients of FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB and cause blockages around the filters.
6.2 Hoses
High-pressure hoses with a minimum internal diameter of 3/8" (10 mm) must be used. The maximum hose length should not exceed 150 feet (45 m).
Note: Do not use a whip hose where the hose is < 3/8", as this reduces pressure.
6.3 Spray gun and nozzle
A contractor-grade spray gun capable of handling a minimum fluid pressure of 2,000 psi (140 kg/cm²) must be used. Recommended nozzle sizes are 221, 223, 225, 321, 323, 325, 421, 423, 425, 521, 523, 525, 621, 623, and 625. For optimal aesthetics, use nozzle sizes 317 or 319 and ensure that FireFinish CFP-SP WB is within its expiration date.
6.4 Brush or application roller
A high-quality latex brush or a short-nap roller must be used.
6.5 Masking
All areas that will not receive the coating must be covered, typically with polyethylene plastic sheeting and masking tape.
7. APPLICATION
7.1 Agitation
FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB is supplied ready to use in sealed containers. FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB must be thoroughly agitated with a suitable torque mixer until homogeneous. Excessive agitation should be avoided as it can introduce air into the coating. Manual mixing with a spatula is not recommended.
7.2 Wet film thickness applied
An initial application of a minimum coalescent film thickness of approximately 12 mils (0.3mm) is recommended. This is especially recommended for re-entrant corner conditions. This allows subsequent coats to be applied with greater thickness.
Maximum wet film thickness per coat at 73 °F and 50% RH:
- By spraying: 65 mils (1.7mm)
- By brush/roller: 25 mils (0.65mm)
For optimal appearance:
- Generally recommended application thickness: 30 - 65 mils per coat*
- For re-entrant corners and angles - recommended application thickness: Up to 40 mils per coat*
*depending on climatic conditions
7.3 Multiple coats
When the specified dry film thickness needs to be built up in two or more applications, use the recommended recoat windows (see below). Before applying another coat, ensure the previous one is dry. In the case of airless spraying, several thin coats, rather than one thick coat, allow the sprayer better control of the thickness and reduce the overall drying time.
When applying multiple coats, the last two should be applied at approximately 30 mils to achieve an optimal appearance.
7.4 Drying time
Drying time depends on the wet film thickness, temperature, ambient air changes, and relative humidity.
For a 40 mil (1mm) wet film thickness coat, the following drying times at various temperatures and 50% RH serve as a guide:
40 mils @ 50% rh | Dry to touch | Drying | Recoat window | |
---|---|---|---|---|
50 °F/10 °C | 8h | 20h | 24h | |
73 °F/23 °C | 3h | 5h | 6h | |
95 °F/35 °C | 2h | 4h | 5h |
It may be possible to apply two coats in one day if the ambient temperature is equivalent to room temperature, there is good air movement and air changes, and the relative humidity is ≤ 50%.
For proper drying, adequate ventilation is necessary. Wet film thicknesses exceeding recommendations, high airflow, and low humidity conditions, or the use of expired product, can lead to cracking. Fine cracks do not affect fire performance. If they occur, they can be repaired by brushing FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB.
7.5 Documentation
For warranty purposes, document the application conditions according to ISO 12944 pt. 7 and 8.
8. CHECKING THICKNESS DURING APPLICATION
8.1 Wet film thickness (WFT)
During the application of FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB, the wet film thickness must be frequently checked with a wet film thickness gauge by inserting the teeth into the FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB. Care must be taken not to press the gauge into previously applied layers that may still be soft. The highest reading indicated on the wetted teeth is the wet film thickness of the most recent coat.
8.2 Dry film thickness (DFT)
The dry film thickness can be estimated from the wet film thickness by multiplying by 0.7. Actual coverage depends on the surface, substrate, technique, and application method. Shrinkage is not accounted for in this calculation.
9. FINAL THICKNESS CHECK
9.1 Total dry film thickness
The DFT reading should be taken as soon as the coating is hard enough to allow a reading without making indentations on the surface. DFTs can be measured using electronic gauges of the electromagnetic type available on the market. Several readings should be taken for each piece of steel to verify the uniformity of the coating thickness. The final DFT reading should be taken as soon as the Shore A hardness is >90.
9.2 FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB film thickness
The DFT of Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB can be calculated by subtracting the primer's DFT from the total DFT.
9.3 Thickness verification
Verify that the total DFT of the fire protection coating (without primer and topcoat) meets the requirements of the official approval document. Do not apply any topcoat until the DFT of Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB has been properly verified.
10. APPROVED TOPCOATS
For interior application, a topcoat is not required. If desired, a topcoat can be applied for decorative purposes.
For a list of approved topcoats, consult the Hilti Technical Service Department.
11. REPAIR
11.1 Damage to the primer and Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB
Remove damaged and unsound coatings to achieve a clean, firm edge with good adhesion. Remove all corrosive products. For small limited areas, prepare the steel surface according to SSPC SP11 without polishing. For large repair areas, the steel surface must be prepared by sandblasting to a minimum standard of Sa 2½ (ISO 8501-1:2007) or SSPC-SP6.
Sand the edges of the coating. Reapply the original primer system or another recommended by Hilti. Avoid overlapping the primer onto the surrounding RH. Reapply Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB within the recommended recoating limits of the repair primer. Apply Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB in multiple applications by brush. If a topcoat has already been applied to the existing system, minimize the overlap of fresh Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB onto the existing topcoat. Apply the topcoat as appropriate.
11.2 Damage not requiring primer repair
Depending on the severity of the damage, the damaged area can be lightly sanded to achieve a desired finish and the edges feathered or a suitable area of Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB cut out and the edges feathered. If cutting out, the primer system should not be damaged, otherwise it will be necessary to repair the damage down to the steel.
Reapply Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB to achieve the required dry film thickness using the described method. After the appropriate recoating interval, apply an approved topcoat according to the original specification.
12. WORK INTERRUPTION / CLEANING
Hilti FireFinish +120 CFP-SP WB can remain in the hose for up to 1 hour. To prevent the material from hardening in the nozzle, the gun should be submerged in a bucket of water. If the downtime is longer than 1 hour, clean all application equipment with water. Run water through all hoses and equipment until they are clean. Do not allow Hilti FireFinish+120 CFP-SP WB to set in the hose, pump, gun, or nozzle.
The performance data presented herein reflect expectations based on tests conducted in accordance with recognized standard methods. Product sales are subject to Hilti's terms and conditions of sale. No agent, employee, or representative of the company or its affiliated companies is authorized to modify this statement.