SK Battery New Construction - 2-1 Fire
Rating on Steel

A new SK Battery plant was under construction in Commerce, Georgia. This was a standard fireproofing project in some respects—given that the building was brand new and designed to adhere to modern fire safety codes— but it posed unique challenges due to the nature of its operations.

The facility was designed to produce lithium batteries—highly flammable components—intended for use in nearby car manufacturing plants operated by major brands such as Volkswagen and Chevrolet.

Ensuring the correct fire rating for this facility wasn’t just about regulatory compliance. Due to the manufacturing environment and the flammable nature of lithium batteries, there were many relevant fire safety risks to consider. A fire in a battery plant could endanger workers' lives, devastate the building, and disrupt production, leading to significant safety and financial losses.

Traditional fireproofing methods like cementitious coatings were unsuitable for this project. The constant vibrations and mechanical activity within the plant would damage such coatings, compromising the building’s fire safety.

FlameOFF Fire Barrier Paint, our intumescent coating, provided an ideal solution for meeting the facility’s fire safety requirements. This fire-resistant coating ensured long-lasting fire protection without the need for frequent re-application, even in the demanding environment of a manufacturing plant.

Approximately 16,000 to 17,000 gallons of FlameOFF Fire Barrier Paint were applied throughout the facility’s steel structures, achieving a 2-1 fire rating solution.

• Primary steel beams and columns were coated to achieve a 2-hour fire rating, ensuring robust protection for the building’s structural integrity.
• Secondary steel structures were coated with a 1-hour fire rating, offering reliable safety for remaining elements.

This approach not only met fire safety regulations but also provided a durable and efficient fireproofing solution for the SK Battery plant’s unique operational needs, ensuring long-term fire safety with minimal maintenance requirements and a refreshing, smooth aesthetic for the building interiors.

Additionally, it was important to the contractor for the application to be completed by an in-house team. The nature of Fire Barrier Paint enabled this process, meeting the contractor's criteria, and there were no issues in the application phase.