McElligotts Brand Asset

Fireproofing Systems

Passive Fire Protection

Fireproofing

Fireproofing forms an important part of a broader passive fire protection strategy used by the team at McElligotts. While passive fire protection can include systems such as fire stopping, fire resistant walls, and fire rated doors, fireproofing focuses specifically on protecting structural elements so they maintain their strength and integrity during a fire.

McElligotts delivers professional fireproofing services across major commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects throughout Australia. Our experienced teams apply specialised coating systems designed to protect structural steel and concrete from extreme heat exposure, allowing buildings and critical infrastructure to maintain stability while emergency response procedures take place.

Fireproofing systems are commonly required in environments where the consequences of structural failure during a fire would be severe. This often includes government infrastructure such as road and rail tunnels, along with major hazard facilities where hydrocarbon fire risks must be carefully managed.

Whether fireproofing systems are required during new construction or retrofitted during maintenance works, McElligotts works closely with project teams to deliver reliable and compliant protection.

Commitment to Safety

McElligotts has built a strong reputation for safety across the protective coatings and remedial construction industry. The wellbeing of workers, project partners, and the surrounding community remains the highest priority on every project.

Fireproofing works are often undertaken in complex environments such as operational facilities, confined infrastructure corridors, and large scale industrial sites. Our teams plan each stage of the process carefully to manage site access, material handling, and environmental conditions while maintaining strict safety procedures.

Drawing on more than 72 years of industry experience, McElligotts maintains rigorous safety systems that support consistent outcomes across projects of all sizes.

Featured Project

Victoria

Echuca-Moama Bridge Project

We carried out abrasive blasting and applied protective coatings to the bridge using an Akzonobel three-coat system of epoxy zinc, high-build epoxy, and polyurethane. Because access was challenging, rolling scaffolds were built for internal surfaces and additional scaffolding supported work on the external structure.

View this project

Adapted to Your Needs

Fireproofing systems must be carefully selected to suit the specific risks and structural requirements of each project. The type of protection system is normally determined through engineering design and fire safety assessments. McElligotts works closely with clients, fire engineers, and coating suppliers to ensure the selected fireproofing system meets the intended fire resistance level and operational requirements of the structure.

Liquid applied intumescent coatings are widely used across both commercial construction and hydrocarbon risk environments. These materials expand when exposed to high temperatures, forming an insulating char layer that slows the transfer of heat to the underlying structure.

Common fireproofing systems applied by McElligotts include:

  • Water based intumescent coatings for commercial structures
  • Epoxy based systems suited to industrial environments
  • MMA methyl methacrylate fire protection coatings
  • Hydrocarbon fire protection systems designed for pool or jet fire exposure
  • Intumescent systems applied to structural steel and concrete substrates

The appropriate system is determined through consultation with engineers and project stakeholders to ensure the required fire performance is achieved.

Services

Our services include addressing structural issues, advanced protective coatings, and precise applications for long-lasting durability.

  • Protective Coating Application

  • Abrasive Blasting & Painting

  • Scaffolding Access Systems

  • Specialised Coatings & Linings

  • Thermal Spray Aluminium

  • Lead Paint Removal

  • Passive Fire Protection

  • Ultra / High-Pressure Water Cleaning

  • Concrete Remediation

View all services

Compliance and Quality Assurance

Fireproofing works must comply with strict Australian and international standards to ensure structures perform as intended during a fire event. In Australia, passive fire protection is primarily governed by the National Construction Code along with testing standards within the AS 1530 series. These standards assess the fire resistance level of a structure based on its ability to maintain structural stability, integrity, and insulation during exposure to fire. Fire resistance levels are measured in minutes and can range from 20 to 240 minutes depending on project requirements.

Projects involving hydrocarbon fire risks may also require compliance with international standards such as UL 1709, which tests the ability of fire protection materials to withstand rapid rise fire scenarios commonly encountered in industrial facilities. McElligotts maintains strict quality control procedures to ensure fireproofing systems are applied correctly and perform as designed. Our teams follow detailed inspection processes that cover:

  • Surface preparation to support coating adhesion
  • Verification of environmental conditions before application
  • Controlled application procedures to meet specification requirements
  • Dry film thickness testing to confirm required protection levels
  • Inspection records to support compliance and project documentation

McElligotts is accredited under the CSIRO managed Painting Contractor Certification Program (PCCP), confirming our capability to deliver coating works to recognised industry standards. Our internal Quality Management System ensures that surface preparation and coating application are carried out in accordance with project specifications and relevant standards.