About FIRECOAT
What is FIRECOAT Exterior?
FIRECOAT Exterior is a tough, durable, water-based undercoat paint that provides built structures with exceptional protection against fire. An intumescent coating, FIRECOAT Exterior is the only paint in the world rated to BAL-40 for extreme fire protection, making it ideal for areas prone to bushfires. Light grey in colour, it is suitable for both interior and exterior applications and delivers a slightly textured finish.
FIRECOAT Exterior’s key features are its:
- outstanding fire protection: when exposed to heat, FIRECOAT Exterior forms a barrier that prevents flames igniting and spreading on external and internal combustible surfaces, giving exceptional fire resistance
- BAL-40 rating: FIRECOAT Exterior’s world-first Bushfire Attack Level rating makes it ideal for use in areas at risk of bushfires or urban conflagration
- versatility: FIRECOAT Exterior is suitable for a variety of substrates, including existing render, timber, steel, concrete, plasterboard and brick, and can be topcoated with any high-quality commercial topcoat
- ease of application: FIRECOAT Exterior is easily applied with regular sprays, rollers or brushes, which can be cleaned up afterwards with water.
What rating does FIRECOAT Exterior have?
After rigorous testing, FIRECOAT Exterior has achieved a number of standards. See our Certifications page for more details.
What is FIRECOAT Interior?
FIRECOAT Interior is a tough, durable, water-based undercoat paint for interior surfaces that provides built structures with exceptional protection against fire. FIRECOAT Interior is designed specifically for interior fire protection on materials such as timber, MDF, plywood and plasterboard.
FIRECOAT Interior’s key features are its:
- outstanding fire protection: FIRECOAT Interior reduces and slows the spread of fire, providing occupants with more time to evacuate
- attractive finish: FIRECOAT Interior offers a smoother finish than FIRECOAT Exterior (however, it is not intended for external use)
- highest flame-retardant rating: classified under stringent European tests, FIRECOAT Interior has the world’s highest flame-retardant rating for an interior paint
- ease of application: FIRECOAT Interior is easily applied with regular sprays, rollers or brushes, which can be cleaned up afterwards with water.
What rating does FIRECOAT Interior have?
FIRECOAT Interior is highly rated for fire protection. See our Certifications page for more details.
Where can I find more information on FIRECOAT products?
For detailed information, including certifications and technical data sheets for FIRECOAT Exterior and Interior, please go to our Resources page to download the relevant documents.
Where is FIRECOAT made?
FIRECOAT products are developed by scientists at UNSW Sydney and proudly manufactured in Australia.
How does FIRECOAT compare to other fire-resistant paints on the market?
In the fire resistance marketplace, FIRECOAT stands apart for its exceptional performance, durability, ease of application, price and versatility. It offers extra safety and reassurance to any user, from the DIY enthusiast to the professional builder.
FIRECOAT’s points of difference include its:
- unmatched performance: FIRECOAT is rigorously tested to confirm its effectiveness as a superior fire protection product, offering reliable safeguarding for your property
- long-lasting durability: FIRECOAT retains its effectiveness and durability even after prolonged exposure to environmental conditions
- ease of application: FIRECOAT is designed to be easy to use – it can be applied with conventional applicators and washes up with water, saving you money and time
- cost-effectiveness: being affordable and easy to apply, FIRECOAT offers a cost-efficient fire protection solution that fits every budget
- versatility: FIRECOAT is suitable for use on a wide variety of applications and substrates, including timber, aluminium, steel, concrete, plasterboard and brick, and can be coated with any high-quality commercial topcoat to achieve your preferred look and finish
- compliance with safety standards: FIRECOAT adheres to industry safety standards and regulations, guaranteeing that it meets high-quality and safety benchmarks.
FIRECOAT protection
What is BAL-40?
The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating system is an Australian standard used to assess a property’s degree of risk of exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact in bushfire-prone areas. This rating is crucial in determining the construction and building requirements necessary to protect homes and other structures from bushfires.
There are six levels of BAL ratings, as defined by the Australian standard AS 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas. Each level reflects the severity of potential exposure, with BAL-40 indicating a very high risk that requires appropriately robust and effective protective measures. Click here to learn more
Is FIRECOAT Exterior BAL-40 rated?
Yes, FIRECOAT Exterior is BAL-40 rated. This certification confirms that it provides effective protection against ignition, burning and flaming from embers, debris, flames and high heat flux, making it suitable for high-risk fire-prone areas.
Are FIRECOAT undercoats intumescent paints?
Yes. FIRECOAT undercoats are water-based, fire-resistant paints for fire protection of a variety of substrates. When exposed to flame or radiant heat, FIRECOAT paints form an outer char layer, protecting the underlying surface and slowing the spread of flames. This new polymer technology gives FIRECOAT Exterior undercoat its world-first BAL-40 rating for extreme fire protection.
What level of fire protection do FIRECOAT undercoat paints offer?
FIRECOAT Exterior undercoat paint is a world first, rated to BAL-40 for extreme fire protection. No other paint globally has achieved this rating. FIRECOAT Exterior has been certified to deter ignition, burning and flaming caused by windborne embers, debris, exposure to flames, and high heat flux. It provides significant protection for your property and belongings in high-risk bushfire-prone areas.
How safe are FIRECOAT undercoat paints?
FIRECOAT paints are water-based and do not contain PFAS or PFOS. They are free from halogenated flame retardants. When used as directed FIRECOAT products are safe for human handling and will not irritate eyes or skin upon contact.
Product applications
How do you apply FIRECOAT undercoat paints?
FIRECOAT products are easy to apply. Refer to our application guides for FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior for more details.
How do I know if FIRECOAT is the right paint for my project?
Every building or renovation project has its own unique considerations and compliance requirements. To ensure that FIRECOAT meets the specific needs of your project and complies with local regulations, we strongly recommend consulting a qualified building surveyor or fire engineer before purchasing. This will help ensure that FIRECOAT is the best choice for your project.
How often do I need to re-coat with FIRECOAT Exterior?
FIRECOAT Exterior is designed to last for 10 years when applied to exterior surfaces in accordance with the application guidelines, even without a topcoat. It functions as an undercoat, and under normal conditions, repainting is only necessary if the surface has been exposed to fire. We recommend periodic inspections to ensure the coating remains in optimal condition.
What colours are available for FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior?
FIRECOAT Exterior is available in light grey. You can paint over it with a topcoat of your choice to achieve your preferred colour and finish.
FIRECOAT Interior is available in white.
What if the fire starts inside the house?
Applying FIRECOAT Interior to internal walls can help reduce the spread of fire within your home, allowing you more time to evacuate and emergency services more time to arrive.
Can I apply FIRECOAT Exterior to my deck floor or stairways?
FIRECOAT Exterior is not suitable for use on trafficable surfaces such as deck floors and stairways.
Can you paint the roof and protect it?
Painting the roof with FIRECOAT may be possible, depending on the roofing material. However, most fires in roof spaces start from embers igniting gutter litter or entering through gaps. It is crucial to keep gutters clean and seal any gaps around the roof space to prevent ember penetration.
How long do FIRECOAT undercoats last?
FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior will last at least 10 years when applied to surfaces according to the application guidelines, with or without a topcoat.
Can I use FIRECOAT undercoat paints on surfaces that have already been painted with a different type of paint?
FIRECOAT can be applied over existing paint, as long as the surfaces are clean, dry, and free from dust, oil, wax, grease, dirt, resin and any loose or flaking paint. Existing coatings with poor adhesion must be completely removed. For timber surfaces, the moisture content should not exceed 15%. Refer to our application guides for FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior for more details.
How long does it take for FIRECOAT undercoat paints to dry and cure?
4 to 5 hours, based on a day of around 24°C, with good air circulation and a relative humidity below 50%. In cooler or humid conditions, allow longer drying times. Temperatures must be above 10°C during application and drying times.
Make sure the paint is thoroughly dry to touch before applying the next coat, as failure to do so may lead to cracking and peeling between coats. Full hardness is achieved after 7 days.
Refer to our application guides for FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior for more details.
How do I store FIRECOAT undercoat paints?
Store at temperatures between 5–35 °C away from direct sunlight and extreme heat. Keep containers closed when not in use. Keep products out of reach of children and pets. Refer to our application guides for FIRECOAT Exterior and FIRECOAT Interior for more details.
How do I properly dispose of leftover FIRECOAT paints and paint containers?
Do not pour leftover paint down the drain. Unwanted paint should be brushed out on newspaper and allowed to dry, and then disposed of via domestic waste collections. Empty containers should be left open in a well-ventilated area to dry out and recycled through local recycle programs once dry. Do not reuse the container unless thoroughly decontaminated.
For more information on responsible disposal of paint and packaging, visit paintback.
Product availability
Where can I buy FIRECOAT?
FIRECOAT is available at Bunnings. For the latest pricing and product availability, please visit FIRECOAT at Bunnings.
Other questions
Will using FIRECOAT products reduce my insurance premium?
No. At the moment, there are no insurance premium reductions in place, although we believe that given the efficacy of the product, it would be a logical future step.
Is my property warranted against burning if I use FIRECOAT?
No, your property is not warranted against burning in the event of a fire, because there are numerous variables in any fire situation. However, using FIRECOAT according to its application instructions will substantially improve the protection of your home against bushfire threat.