To determine how these factors affect fire resistance, all Promat products and systems have been tested at NAMAS ccredited laboratories and witnessed and approved by a representative from the Fire Research Station.Tests in accordance with BS476: Part 21 has been performed on loaded beams and columns clad with fire protection material. Steel surface temperatures are monitored with thermocouples to assess the performance of the cladding, since steel fully stressed in accordance with BS 449 or BS 5950, Part 1, begins to lose its design margin of safety at temperatures around 550oC.A range of unloaded sections have also been tested to obtain data for calculating analytically, with the aid of a computer, xactly how much protection is needed for the most common steel sections and for providing fire resistance for different time periods.

These and other tests have also demonstrated the ability of the cladding to remain in place, commonly termed as the ‘stickability’ of the material, for the maximum duration for which protection may be required.