The construction industry faces an increasingly complex landscape of fire safety regulations, environmental standards, and performance requirements. Today, we're proud to announce Aquimax Flameshield, a revolutionary water-based, low-VOC fire protection coating system specifically engineered for wood finishes. This innovative solution represents a significant advancement in fire-safe timber protection, offering uncompromising safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental sustainability.
Aquimax Flameshield addresses the critical needs of specialist paint contractors, construction companies, and architects who demand reliable fire protection without sacrificing environmental responsibility or worker safety. Our system is suitable for chipboard (veneered MDF) and all woods certified in class D-s2, d0, with thickness ≥ 8mm and density greater than or equal to 510 kg / m³.
In an era where building regulations are tightening and sustainability requirements are intensifying, this product delivers the performance and peace of mind that modern construction projects require.
The Safety Imperative in Timber Applications
Wood remains one of the most versatile and aesthetically appealing building materials, but its inherent combustibility presents significant fire safety challenges. Untreated timber can contribute to rapid fire spread, structural failure, and life-threatening situations. The tragic lessons learned from incidents like Grenfell Tower have fundamentally reshaped how the industry approaches combustible materials in building construction.
Fire Regulations
Modern fire safety regulations require materials to achieve specific reaction-to-fire classifications under BS EN 13501-1, with many applications demanding Euroclass B-s1,d0 performance or better. These classifications measure how materials contribute to fire development, smoke production, and flaming droplet formation under controlled test conditions.
Aquimax Flameshield has been rigorously tested and certified to meet these standards contact us to view our test report. Our comprehensive test reports demonstrate consistent achievement of required Euroclass ratings across timber substrates. Before using our Aquimax Flameshield system it is imperative that technical and safety datasheets are read.
Advantages of a Water Based System
Aquimax Flameshield represents a significant advancement in environmentally responsible fire protection. Our water-based, low-VOC formulation delivers exceptional fire performance while minimising environmental impact and health risks to workers and building occupants.
Traditional solvent-based fire retardants often contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution, pose health risks during application, and create long-term indoor air quality concerns. By contrast, the primer coats in our water-based technology eliminates these issues while maintaining superior fire protection performance.
Aquimax Flameshield Fire Retardant Paint System
Aquimax Flameshield Barrier Coat & Hardener is typically used as a primary coat for exotic and dark timbers, it used to prevent discolouration and to give a clearer finish when using the Aquimax Flameshield system. The Barrier Hardener is required with a 1:1 mix ratio, making the primary coat extremely durable. This is particularly valuable for high-traffic applications, it is not essential for a barrier coat to be applied to woods with a light colour – contact our Total Paint Shop Team for more information and suitability.
Application: 1 Coat x 80g/sqm
Typical Drying Times: 1.5 hours at 20°C with 45% - 65% humidity
Aquimax Flameshield Clear Basecoat AFS3500 represents a critical foundation step in your fire protection system, specifically engineered to delay flame propagation and significantly reduce toxic gas emissions. This essential basecoat requires a two-coat application process, with a minimum four-hour drying interval between each spray application. Due to the nature of AFS3500's formulation, sanding between the first and second coats is not required as the first layer remains tacky to the touch. However, achieving optimal protection depends on ensuring each coat is applied evenly and level across the entire surface. Once the second coat has been applied, allow the basecoat to cure for a full 6 hours before proceeding with the topcoat application. Proper curing time is essential for maximum fire protection performance and ensures optimal adhesion of subsequent coating layer.
Application: 2 Coats x 120g/sqm
Typical Drying Times: 1st coat 4 hours, 2nd coat 6 hours at 20°C with 45% - 65% humidity.
Aquimax Flameshield Clear Lacquer serves as the final protective topcoat in your fire protection system, delivering essential protection against humidity, chemical exposure, and physical wear while providing the hardness needed to seal the entire system. This 2K topcoat requires precise preparation using a 5:1 mix ratio with 20% hardener to achieve optimal performance. Critical to successful application is maintaining proper film thickness - strict adherence to datasheet specifications is essential, as over-application can compromise the entire project and prove difficult to rectify. When applying at the recommended thickness of 100g, small surface imperfections or dots may initially appear, but these will typically settle and level out naturally as the product cures. Given the unforgiving nature of this topcoat, careful attention to mixing ratios and application thickness according to the datasheets will ensure a professional finish and maximum protective performance.
Application: 1 Coat x 100g/sqm
Typical Drying Times: At 20°C with 45% - 65% humidity – 30 minutes (Dust Free), 60 Minutes (Touch Dry), 24 hours (Stackable)
Building a Safer, More Sustainable Future
The three-component system - from the optional Barrier Coat for dark timber shades, through the critical AFS3500 Clear Basecoat, to the protective Clear Lacquer topcoat - provides a complete pathway to fire-safe timber specification. Each component has been precisely engineered to work in harmony, delivering consistent performance across all approved substrates while maintaining the natural beauty that makes wood such a desirable building material. Contact our Total Paint Shop team for more specific technical information and to scope out your project requirements.