FAQs: Can you paint on top of fire retardant paint? (2023)

RDR Technologies is proud to be an industry leader within the fire retardent community. Our goal is to offer the best in class products for each code requirement and substrate. If you have a need for a special type of fire retardant, or you are not sure which product you need, you can always call or email us. Beyond this, we are happy to talk with inspectors and code officials to determine proper products for your project. Because of our dedication to people trying to find the right fire retardant product, we regularly get asked a lot of questions. One of the most common we hear a lot is "Can you paint on top of fire retardant paint?" Let's answer that question right now!

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Can You Paint Over Fire Retardant Paint?

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The short answer is yes, you can paint over it. The longer answer is "Be careful!" You want to tread lightly when it comes to painting over fire retardant paint with too many top-coat layers of regular paint. If you go over it too many times, this over-saturation of your flame-retardant paint can interfere with its effectiveness.

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There's more, though. You may not even need to paint over it, so don't assume you must do so in order to have a finished product you think is aesthetically pleasing. It is important to keep in mind that flame retardant paint comes in many different decorative color options. If you make the right product choice for your situation, you can love the look and function of the paint. As well, there are certain additives that can be used to make other paints flame retardant. This means making regular paint better, not going over fire retardant paint with regular paint. If your purpose of painting over the fire-retardant paint is to change your walls' color, it would be safest to use one of these two options rather than paint over protective fire-retardant paint.

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The product performs as a barrier between the fire and any material under the paint, allowing the underlying material to remain protected from flames longer. Fire retardant paint slows the flame spread and enables fires of a small scale to extinguish on their own. You should be very hesitant to give up this amazing ability just to change the color of a wall or steel beam. That being said, if you do need to change the look of a space, we have the products in our online catalogue in order to do so safely and efficiently.

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We hope this answered your question. If you have any further follow-up, we're happy to speak with you until you feel comfortable and confident with your online purchase. Call us at 405-306-3062 or email us at doug@rdrtechnologies.com. We will always do our best to not only get you the correct product but also educate you about your best options. We are here for you!

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FAQs

Can you paint over fire proofing? ›

Can fireproofing products be painted? When applying paint as a top coat or color coat over a product, it is required that the paint be non-bridging water-based latex. The paint should be applied over the material with the minimum amount required so as to avoid saturating the material.

How long does fire retardant paint last? ›

How long does fire resistant paint last? Fire resistant paints need to be maintained and recoated per the manufacturers guidelines. Most fire resistant paints last between 30 and 120 minutes according to their ATSM fire rating.

How do you remove fire retardant paint? ›

Wash retardant off as soon as possible. Some of these products may discolor metal. Dampening a stained surface with water, and then scrubbing it with a wet, stiff-bristled brush dipped in borax has been effective. Power washers may drive the red colorant into the surface of the wood and should generally be avoided.

Do flame retardants wear off? ›

Fabrics that have been treated with flame retardants are usually certified for one year. If you wash them in your washing machine like any other fabrics the chemicals dissipate over time, which is a good argument for buying used clothing.

What is fire resistant vs fire retardant paint? ›

Resistant is defined as a material that is inherently resistant to catching fire (self-extinguishing) and does not melt or drip when exposed directly to extreme heat. Retardant is defined as a material that has been chemically treated to self-extinguish. There are many textiles that can be “treated”.

Is fire retardant paint worth it? ›

In short, yes! Fire retardant paint stops the spread of a fire, slows the spread of a fire, reduces a fire's intensity, and reduces the smoke a fire produces. This product saves lives!

How long does fire retardant last in wood? ›

Unlike spray on coatings, dips and intumescent coverings, fire retardant-treated wood can last the lifetime of the building.

How long does heat resistant paint take to dry? ›

Several light coats will give a better finish than one heavy coat. The paint film will harden once the article has been heated up for the first time. Drying time: Surface dry 15 minutes, dry to handle 1 hour.

Can you spray your house with fire retardant? ›

Fire Gel Retardant to your home with a regular garden hose. Simply follow the instructions and coat eaves, walls, windows, roofs, surrounding landscape, and even vehicles. Barricade can be applied many hours before a fire approaches allowing you and your family to retreat to a safe place until the threat passes.

Why is fire retardant pink? ›

The retardant allows water to adhere to vegetation, or whatever it is dumped on, to form a barrier and prevent it from catching on fire. The pink colour is added to the mix to allow for other aircrafts to identify where the substance has already settled.

What is the red fire retardant called? ›

Known as Phos-Chek, the fire retardant has been used to fight blazes since 1963 and has been the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection in recent years.

Does vinegar remove flame retardants? ›

Such items are required by law to be flame retardant for a minimum of 50 washings. If you want to try to remove fire retardant from fire retardant treated fabric, use soap or vinegar, but best is to not buy it in the first place.

What are the dangers of flame-retardant? ›

Flame Retardants have been shown to cause neurological damage, hormone disruption, and cancer. One of the biggest dangers of some flame retardants is that they bioaccumulate in humans, causing long-term chronic health problems as bodies contain higher and higher levels of these toxic chemicals.

What is the most fire resistant paint? ›

Thus, asbestos paint is the better fire-resistant paint among all of the above options. Asbestos paints are used in residences, schools, and other public buildings as well as the Commercial establishment and maritime vessels.

Is fire retardant paint oil based? ›

Thermoguard Flame Retardant Topcoat is an oil based, decorative flame-retardant paint used to decorate and complete Thermoguard fire protection upgrading systems.

Do fire doors need to be painted with fire retardant paint? ›

8. Can fire doors be painted? Although fire doors must be fitted with fire rated hinges, locks and hardware, they do not need a special type of paint. You can paint fire doors using regular decorative paint or varnish without damaging their performance.

What color is fire retardant? ›

The flame retardant is colored crimson red to make it visible—it also comes in “fugitive color,” which disappears, and in uncolored variants.

How long does fire retardant gel last? ›

Depending on the fire conditions, applied fire retardant gels offer fire protection for periods of 6 to 36 hours. After the retained water is completely evaporated from a gel, fire resistance is lost, but can be restored by re-wetting the surface if gel material is still adherent.

Does fire retardant paint work on wood? ›

Fireproof Paint for Wood. Fire retardant paints and intumescent coatings are vital to ensure the safety and fire resistance of timber and plasterboard surfaces. It's also essential to meet British safety standard BS 476 when it comes to fire regulations for domestic and commercial buildings.

What are the benefits of fire retardant? ›

Flame retardants provide an important layer of fire protection by helping to prevent or slow the spread of fire. Flame retardants inhibit or suppress the combustion process. They reduce the amount of heat released from a fire and the potential for a fire to spread.

How can you tell if wood is fire retardant? ›

Check The Stamped Label On The Interior Or Exterior

Buyers should avoid any wood that claims to be fire-rated treated that does not bear this stamp.

How do I know if my furniture is flame retardant? ›

Your couch should have a tag stating if flame retardants are present. If you have upholstered furniture manufactured before 2015 it is likely to contain flame retardants. However, you might be able to replace the foam with healthier flame retardant-free material and keep the furniture.

Can you paint over moisture resistant paint? ›

The damp proof paint can be applied simply by using a brush, roller or spray and can dry within one hour of the application. The paint dries to a semi-gloss finish and can be painted over with ordinary emulsion paints.

Is 2 hours enough for paint to dry? ›

A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer. If you're unsure, the instructions on the paint's label can give you the best final say.

Does heat resistant paint get hot? ›

Heat resistant paints are coatings designed to usually withstand heat up to 750 degrees Celsius. These paints work best on metal industrial surfaces and are frequently used for coating incinerators, furnaces, pipework. Heat resistant paint does not react to extreme heat and gives a quality finish to high heat projects.

Is fire retardant waterproof? ›

Andek FireGard is a waterproof, fire proof paint that is an extremely durable coating that is especially useful for treating exterior wood. It also serves both as a 5-minute ignition barrier and a 15-minute thermal barrier over Spray Foam Insulation (SPF), and is one of the only coatings that can go over exterior SPF.

How do you prevent fire retardant exposure? ›

What can be done to reduce exposure to flame retardants? vacuuming with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to help remove contaminants from your home. Wash your hands and those of your children often. Hand-to-mouth contact exposes people to flame retardants.

Is fire retardant liquid or powder? ›

Fire retardants are available as powder, to be mixed with water, as fire-fighting foams and fire-retardant gels. Fire retardants are also available as coatings or sprays to be applied to an object.

Is air dropped fire retardant toxic? ›

Wildfire retardants are generally considered safe for humans, though some argue that the risks are insufficiently understood.

What's another name for fire retardant? ›

What is another word for fire-retardant?
flame-retardantfireproof
noncombustiblenon-flammable
unburnablenon-inflammable
heatprooffire resistant
flame retardantflame resistant
8 more rows

What is the new fire retardant? ›

The company's Phos-Chek LC-95A is the world's most used fire retardant. The company is transitioning to a new retardant called Phos-Chek LCE20-Fx, which the company said is made out of food-grade ingredients, making it a cleaner product.

Is pink fire retardant toxic? ›

On the human side, the chemicals' material safety data sheets say that the retardants are not toxic to people but should not be ingested.

Can you use oxiclean on fire retardant clothing? ›

The coatings work to block flame invasion and suface temps to reduce damage and extend the life of FR gear. The coatings wash off over time(regardless of what the makers tell you) and Oxiclean has been effective in cleaning treated gear without wearing off the coatings.

Are all pajamas flame retardant? ›

Yellow hang tag. By law, cotton pajamas must bear a yellow hang tag warning that they are not flame resistant and must be worn snug. Look for this tag, which shows the manufacturer has created cotton pajamas in a tight-fitting shape that meets the flammability standard.

What overpowers the smell of vinegar? ›

Drop-in some essential oils: Lavender, peppermint, rosemary — whatever you've got! It'll disguise the harsh smell of vinegar instantly. Add around 30 drops per gallon of vinegar. That should do the trick.

What states have banned flame retardants? ›

Antimony trioxide newest chemical to be added to growing list of flame retardant bans
StateType of Product1Effective Date
CaliforniaChildren's products, mattresses, and upholstered furnitureJanuary 1, 2020
HawaiiAny productJanuary 1, 2008
IllinoisAny productJanuary 1, 2006
MaineAny productJanuary 1, 2006
18 more rows
Jan 20, 2021

Is fire retardant toxic to dogs? ›

Animals: There are no known adverse side effects to domestic or farm animals, which may eat small amounts of vegetation that has been covered in fire retardant.

Can you paint over fireboard? ›

fireboard is quite porous and a couple of coats of thinned down vinyl matt emulsion suffices.

Can you paint fire resistant drywall? ›

FireGuard E-84 intumescent coating is an intumescent paint that is especially recommended to reach 1 and 2 hour fire ratings on drywall / sheetrock for wall assemblies and floor/ceiling assemblies. Water-based and nontoxic, this intumescent coating is applied just like standard paints.

Can you paint fire retardant wood? ›

Fire-treated wood is typically more expensive, but it is often worth the investment long-term, especially for buildings that are more vulnerable to fire. Treated wood is similar in appearance to untreated wood, and you can paint treated wood in a similar manner.

Can you paint a fire door seal? ›

If your fire doors are protected with a simple intumescent strip only (without a cold smoke seal) they can be over painted as long as it isn't damaged by the painter's preparation. Heavy sanding or the use of chemical strippers and heat guns during redecoration must be avoided.

Can you paint fireplace refractory panels? ›

Panels can be painted with any of our Hi Temperature Paint colors purchased separatelyThese replacement fireplace refractory panels are engineered for extreme heat, have excellent thermal properties, and can be used in prefabricated and zero clearance gas or wood burning fireplaces.

Can you paint over fire foam? ›

Another tip is it's best to wait about 24 hours after the spray foam has been installed before painting it. This will give any dust that was kicked up during the installation process a chance to settle. Both open and closed cell spray foams can handle being painted.

Can you paint over fire damage? ›

You'll need to apply a good, solvent-based stain-blocking primer to prevent them from bleeding through the paint. You may be able to get by with a product such as Zinsser's Cover Stain, which is an oil-based stain-blocking primer.

How thick is fire retardant paint? ›

Fire retardant paint of required thickness(1.5 mm to 2.0 mm) for 30 minute fire rating to be apply on power cable every 1 meter length after 6 meter on Horizontal portion of cable run and complete length on Vertical portion of cable run, 1 meter length at T joint in each direction.

What is the most fire-resistant paint? ›

Thus, asbestos paint is the better fire-resistant paint among all of the above options. Asbestos paints are used in residences, schools, and other public buildings as well as the Commercial establishment and maritime vessels.

How long does fire retardant last on wood? ›

Flamex PF-2 fire retardant spray for exterior wood has a proven track record and can be used for all exterior applications. Class A rated with a Flame Spread of 25 and Smoke Developed of 70 on wood. It is recommended that the treatment be reapplied every 2-5 years…

How do you remove fire retardant from wood? ›

Dampen a stained surface with water and scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Dampen the brush and using some borax cleanser may prove to be effective. Cleaners containing enzymes have also been successful in more rapidly reducing the stickiness of the thickener in the retardant.

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