Humidur Char, launched by Acotec, is a two-component, solvent-free, 100% solids, polyamine cured epoxy PFP system, which offers anti-corrosion and fire resistance properties by intumescent action in just one coat. A significant difference from the traditional PFP coating process, which requires up to 5 coats.
Another key benefit is that Humidur Char can be applied in one layer on minimum preparation standards, with no primer or mesh required, and will still provide the essential Passive Fire Protection on the structural steel used within the global Oil, Gas & Chemical industry. Not only does this coating enable improved cost management, but it also significantly reduces labor hours by up to 50%.
Whenever a fire breaks out on a platform, the consequences can be deadly serious. No matter how they start, hydrocarbon explosions and fires have extreme consequences for the personnel, the management, and all partnering companies involved, as assets may be destroyed and production halted. Passive Fire Protection is the number one concern of the Oil & Gas industry.
Developed and launched by Acotec - a Belgium-based industrial coating company with a global presence - Humidur Char is a brand-new single-coat PFP system that has been thoroughly tested and received Type Approval from classification society DNV.
Humidur Char passed an extensive test program and protects against (High Heat Flux) Jet Fires, Pool Fires, and can resist Gas Explosions. It has also been approved and certified by DNV for optimal surface preparation (Sa 2 ½) and minimal surface preparation (St2). No primer, mesh, or any other kind of reinforcement is required, and given that no solvents are being used, it's safer during application.
Extensive testing procedures and Type Approval from DNV
Humidur Char has been successfully tested in Jet Fire and Pool Fires and even Gas Explosions and High Heat Flux Jet Fires. All steel test beams underwent optimal and minimal surface preparation and had Humidur Char applied directly to the steel without using a primer or reinforcing mesh. The test results showed that there were no differences in fire protection properties between optimal and minimal surface preparation, which DNV has formally confirmed. It is a result that promises to shake up the entire industry.
The numerous advantages of Humidur Char
Typically, a traditional PFP coating requires lots of preparation, including the blasting of the steel and numerous coats of paint: primer, PFP coat, mesh, PFP coat again, and then the topcoat. All this is entirely unnecessary with Humidur Char, as it is a single-layer system: no optimal surface preparation, no primer, no mesh, and no waiting between layers.
Humidur Char offers essential fire protection in just one coat. The fact that the application is simplified in just one layer eliminates the risk of inter-adhesion issues and reduces the complexity of and possible errors during the job. Extremely easy to apply, Humidur Char can be trowelled or sprayed straight onto the structural component, which does not need to be grit blasted. Spray application can be conducted with standard plural pumps, so no expensive and complicated specialized PFP pumps are required.
With a wide application window in terms of humidity (max. 95%), Humidur Char can be applied at any location all over the world. In addition, the unlimited overcoating window and wet-on-wet application provide unique flexibility to the applicator. Wim Schalley, CEO of Acotec: “Partners in the Oil & Gas industry approached Acotec because they wanted a new innovative PFP coating that would reduce the downtime of their assets. Besides that, the new PFP coating must be efficient and easy to apply. Acotec took on the challenge and started to develop the revolutionary PFP coating.
After extensive testing, Humidur Char was born. Humidur Char is currently being applied to both onshore and offshore assets and, as such, has led to a significant reduction in labor hours and hence overall project costs. Yes, Humidur Char is a revolutionary one-coat solution. Our Humidur Char’s slogan is simple and straightforward: ‘Let’s face fire in one coat’.
“By combining PFP properties with Humidur, we have access to a world-class, all-in-one, single-product system that meets the highest industry testing and qualification criteria. Humidur Char carries over all the benefits from the traditional Humidur product range while simultaneously reducing the need for additional PFP layers and materials like reinforcing mesh, thus substantially reducing the cost and time for preparation and application,” says Woodside Corrosion Technology Specialist Travis Baensc.
For more information:
Humidur
www.humidur.com