Protecting the Tallest Building in the Balkans

Latest Generation of Intumescent Fire Protection for the New Symbol of the Serbia Capital

The Kula Tower in Belgrade, Serbia, is a 40-floor, 168-metre high, mixed-use skyscraper hosting a hotel and luxury residences, currently under construction as part of the Belgrade Waterfront project. Designed by architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, when completed in 2022, it will be the tallest building in, Serbia and the Balkans region, and the tower will have a direct approach to a waterfront promenade, and will be connected with the old city through a public plaza.

Sherwin-William passive fire protection experts worked with the steelwork fabricator, MAEG, who they had cooperated with previously on similar projects, to ensure the steelwork the Podium, the Canopies and the Crown was protected against fire for the designated 90 and 120 minutes. The need for fast application times, to keep to the production schedule, and for damage free on-site installation of the coated steelwork were also requirements.

Solution

The solution to provide the required damage resistant PFP coating involved the newest product from the Sherwin-Williams Firetex range of intumescent coatings, Firetex FX6002. The specification called for Firetex C69 primer, Firetex FX 6002 methacrylate intumescent coating and Acrolon 7300 topcoat. The epoxy blast primer is ideal for shop application and the acrylic urethane topcoat has excellent damage resistance and good colour retention. This system has been tested to provide up to 2 hours fire protection over an extended period.

Outcome

According to MAEG, the super-fast drying new generation intumescent coating was easy to apply and allowed for a high speed of production, and damage free on-site installation, and will allow the tower to achieve its required fire protection. The durable topcoat will also help to maintain the good visual appearance of the building’s exposed steelwork.

The Sherwin-Williams Difference

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine delivers world-class industry subject matter expertise, unparalleled technical and specification service, and unmatched regional commercial team support to our customers around the globe. Our broad portfolio of high-performance coatings and systems - including protective liquid and powder, fire protection and resinous flooring - excel at combating corrosion and help customers achieve smarter, time-tested asset protection. We serve a wide array of markets across our rapidly growing international distribution footprint, including Bridge & Highway, Energy, High Value Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Processing, Marine, Rail, Power and Water & Wastewater.

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