China Baowu Iron and Steel Group, the world’s largest steel producer, is a global leader in diverse activities that include industry, science, and trade. The company’s headquarters are in Guangdong, China, and its facilities create specialist steel products for sectors such as automotive, aerospace, nuclear power, and energy transportation. With broad operations and vital infrastructure, Baowu prioritizes fire safety to ensure continuous production and asset protection.
In 2020, CharCoat and Su Zhou New View Engineering LLC began installing CharCoat CC Cable Coating at Baowu’s Guangdong location. The project’s goal was to convert the old non-fire-rated cables to a 90-minute fire rating, ensuring compliance with strict safety regulations while reducing the danger of fire spread.
Project scope and challenges
Extreme temperatures, combustible ingredients, and complicated gear make steel-making facilities hazardous. Baowu believed that protecting important cable corridors and manufacturing areas was critical to keeping operations running and guaranteeing worker safety.
Key challenges include protecting non-fire-rated cable systems, ensuring cable integrity in high-temperature environments up to 850°C, adhering to IEC standards for both interior and exterior applications, and minimizing installation disruption.
Why use CharCoat CC Cable Coating?
China Baowu chose CharCoat CC because of its established performance and distinguishing features:
- Fire Rating: 90 minutes. Certified to safeguard cables in a hydrocarbon environment per IEC 60331-21, providing fire resistance for up to 90 minutes.
- Outdoor Durability: Meets QUV requirements for outdoor applications, making it suitable for Guangdong’s diversified operations.
- Water-Based Latex Intumescent Formula: Environmentally safe, simple to apply, and prevents fire from spreading on individual or grouped wires.
- Application Versatility: Suitable for interior and outdoor installations, providing protection in vertical trays and cable constructions
Implementation and Impact
The initial phase of the initiative concentrated on factory areas and cable corridors. CharCoat CC was sprayed onto cables and trays to form fire breaks, preventing fires from spreading over vital channels.
- IEC Standards Compliance: The coating adhered to IEC 60331-21 guidelines for worldwide fire safety compliance.
- Minimized operational downtime: Su Zhou New View Engineering LLC handled the project with accuracy, guaranteeing no impact on steel production lines during installation.
Results and Benefits.
- Improved Fire Safety: CharCoat CC creates a strong 90-minute fire barrier, keeping crucial cables operable even under high temperatures.
- Asset Protection: Baowu prevented fires from spreading along cable networks, reducing the danger of catastrophic damage to machinery and infrastructure.
- Cost Savings: Passive fire prevention technologies, such as CharCoat CC, need less maintenance than active systems, leading to long-term savings.
- Operational Continuity: The installation process did not significantly impair steel production activities.
CharCoat CC Cable Coating
CharCoat CC is a superior passive fire protection solution for electrical cables and penetration seals in industrial settings. Its water-based, latex-intumescent solution absorbs a lot of heat and can protect cables for up to 90 minutes in high-temperature or hydrocarbon-rich conditions. CharCoat CC is a reliable solution for both interior and outdoor fire protection applications, having received IEC and FM certifications.
Key features include compatibility with grouped and bundled cables, as well as effectiveness in cellulosic and hydrocarbon environments. Durable for both indoor and outdoor usage, having QUV certification for outdoor applications.
By using CharCoat CC Cable Coating, China Baowu Iron and Steel Group has adopted a proactive approach to improving fire safety and preserving vital assets. This collaboration between CharCoat, Su Zhou New View Engineering LLC, and Baowu emphasizes the value of passive fire prevention in high-risk industries such as steel fabrication.
With the continuing project at Baowu’s Guangdong location, CharCoat CC continues to provide dependable and cost-effective fire protection, assuring the safety and efficiency of one of the world’s largest steel manufacturing plants.
Is your facility fireproof?
Whether you manage a steel manufacturing plant or any other high-risk industrial site, CharCoat CC Cable Coating is the ultimate solution for asset protection and worldwide safety compliance.
