Pitt Char XP Training for Our Engineers
Specialist Painting Group’s engineers received specialised Pitt Char XP training from PPG’s Protective and Marine Coatings division. We would like to thank Jan de Boer, Peter Scott CEng MIStructE MIFireE and Paul Loftus for their time and expertise. As manufacturer approved applicators, this training is central to maintaining the highest standards of safety, application precision and performance on every project.
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What Is Pitt Char XP?
Pitt Char XP is an epoxy intumescent passive fire protection coating from PPG, used to protect structural steel in demanding industrial environments.
Epoxy intumescent coatings are a form of passive fire protection. They are applied as a relatively thick film to structural steel and, when exposed to fire, react and expand to form an insulating char. That char slows the rate at which the steel heats up, helping it keep its load bearing capacity for longer and giving people time to evacuate and emergency teams time to respond.
Because they are tough and durable, epoxy intumescent systems are widely used in demanding industrial settings such as oil and gas, petrochemical and processing facilities, where fire protection must also withstand weathering, impact and chemical exposure. Find out more about our passive fire protection service.
Why Pitt Char XP Training Matters
Passive fire protection only performs as designed when it is applied correctly. Film thickness, mixing, surface preparation and the detailing around connections and penetrations all affect how the system behaves in a fire. Manufacturer training gives applicators a detailed understanding of these requirements for Pitt Char XP, and approval schemes give clients confidence that the people applying the coating are competent to do so.
For asset owners, using manufacturer approved applicators supports compliance with the product’s certification and helps ensure the protection installed matches what was specified. Guidance on fire protection of structural steel is available from bodies such as the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.
What Our Engineers Gained
This ongoing professional development keeps our engineers equipped with the latest knowledge on fire resistant coatings. It strengthens our ability to deliver durable, compliant and high performance passive fire protection, and reinforces our reputation as trusted specialists in the protective coatings industry.
Training like this sits alongside the ICATS certification held by our operatives, giving clients a team that understands both general coating application and the specific demands of epoxy intumescent systems.
Quality Assurance on Fire Protection Projects
Every passive fire protection project should be supported by clear specification, careful surface preparation and thorough inspection. Dry film thickness readings confirm that the coating meets the thickness required for the specified fire rating, and records provide evidence for the asset owner. Our coating inspection services support this process, and our technical support team can advise at the specification stage.
Our Wider Fire Protection Expertise
SPG also holds Chartek company and applicator licences, and our team has experience applying intumescent coatings across a range of sectors. Read about our Chartek training, or see our protective coatings services.
Planning a Coating Project
Every successful coating project starts with understanding the condition of the existing coating and the steel beneath it. A survey identifies where the coating has failed, how far corrosion has progressed and whether the old system can be overcoated or needs to be removed completely. That information shapes the choice of surface preparation method and the new coating specification.
SPG supports asset owners through each of these stages, from coating inspection and specification advice through to preparation and application. Projects such as fire protection work using Pitt Char XP show how the right plan, agreed at the outset, keeps work safe, efficient and on programme.
Why Choose SPG
Specialist Painting Group has delivered industrial coating projects since 1997. Our operatives are ICATS certified, and we hold RISQS, SafeContractor, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 accreditations, giving clients the competence, safety management and quality systems they expect from a specialist contractor.
Explore the sectors we work in, or contact us to discuss passive fire protection for your structure.
