Jotun of Norway has formed a strategic alliance with Omnifire of the UK to market the company's Steel Master intumescent coatings worldwide.

''Intumescent coatings are paint-like materials which when subjected to heat, swell to form an insulative char. This phenomenon is used to protect the integrity of a steel structure against the effects of fire thus allowing safe evacuation of public areas,'' says a spokesman for Jotun UAE. ''Modern designs often now involve the use of the steel structure as part of the architectural feature of the building. When steelwork is expressed in this manner, the only real option for fire protection is an intumescent coating system such as the Steel Master.''

''Particular areas of use would be airports, shopping malls, sports halls, office blocks, banks and schools. Recent projects completed include the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, Wong Chu Road barriers in Hong Kong, and at the Dundee Football Club and Edinburgh Road Hospital, both in Scotland.''

''The Steel Master range,'' he continues, ''offers several benefits. It is more user-friendly by being suitable for internal and external environments. Sealer coats are not required for internal applications, it can be applied on or off site, and achieve a wet film thickness up to 2,000 microns in one coat.''

''Steel Master offers outstanding resistance to water ponding. Topcoats are available in up to 16,000 colours, while water-based systems are also available for low odour application in confined spaces.''

''Jotun Middle East staff have been extensively trained and can offer specification consultancy in respect of both corrosion and fire protection, and provide detailed working specifications to meet the specific need of each project,'' the spokesman says.

''Jotun, with its range of decorative, protective, floor coating and intumescent coatings is clearly a single-source supplier for any major project, demonstrating a commitment to owners, specifiers and consultants,'' he adds.