Where liquid spray applications or paints are not practical due to site cleanliness, weather constraints, or immediate decorating requirements, rigid board systems offer the ultimate alternative. At FSD Maintenance, we provide specialist boarded fire protection solutions across Kent and the South East. By encasing structural steel columns, beams, service shafts, and air ducts in high-density, non-combustible calcium silicate or mineral wool boards, we create a highly durable, neat thermal shield. These dry-fix systems provide an immediate fire rating upon installation without the drying times or environmental sensitivities associated with wet trades.
Our boarded encasements are selected by contractors and architects alike for their unique mechanical and practical advantages:
Capable of delivering exceptional fire protection performance (from 30 minutes up to 240 minutes) for heavy-duty structural engineering.
As a dry-install system, boarded fireproofing eliminates the need for curing times, allowing other site trades to work simultaneously without interruption.
Once installed, the flat surface of the boards can be directly skimmed, painted, or left as a neat, finished face in commercial areas.
Utilising premium calcium silicate boards that maintain structural stability even in damp or high-traffic environments like basements and service risers.
The dense composition of fire protection boards naturally enhances the sound-dampening properties of walls, floors, and duct pathways.
Structural casings must satisfy rigorous building control audits. FSD Maintenance installs boarded systems that are fully tested and certified to BS 476 Parts 20-24 and European standards BS EN 13381-4. Our technical team calculates precise box-enclosure configurations based on the section factor (Hp/A) of the steel profiles. This meticulous compliance engineering aligns perfectly with the ASFP (Association for Specialist Fire Protection) Blue Book guidelines and UK Building Regulations Approved Document B, ensuring a legally robust sign-off.
Boarded protection is ideal if you require an immediate fire rating without waiting for paint to dry, if the weather on-site is too cold or damp for paint to cure, or if you want to completely hide the steel profile behind a neat, flat box finish that is ready for painting or plastering.
Yes, absolutely. Encasing ventilation ducts and mechanical service shafts in certified fire boards is one of the most common applications across Kent commercial projects. It prevents fire from collapsing the ductwork and traveling horizontally or vertically between building compartments.
Not at all. All modern fire protection boards utilised by FSD Maintenance are 100% asbestos-free and formulated from safe mineral components like calcium silicate, gypsum, or rock wool. They are entirely non-toxic and eco-friendly for commercial and residential internal use.
Depending on the specific design and fire rating, the boards are either shot-fired directly to the steel, attached via heavy-duty intumescent adhesives at the joints, or mounted onto a lightweight, concealed independent metal frame built around the steel column or beam.
Don’t wait for an inspection failure to secure your property. Speak directly with a Kent-based passive fire protection specialist today to discuss your project requirements or to book a comprehensive site survey.
