We’re often asked whether our products can be painted over. Generally, we do not recommend this. This scenario has not been fire tested, so the potential issues over time or reaction in the event of a fire are unknown. Additionally, painting over our products could compromise the effectiveness of the service penetration seal.
At Quelfire, we strongly believe in building around the available test evidence. Products should only be installed as they have been tested; any slight deviation can change how the application will react in a fire scenario. Since we have not tested any system in this configuration, we cannot provide primary test evidence for painting our products.
However, there are exceptions for Quelfire Putty Pads and QF2 Fire Protection Compound:
Quelfire Putty Pads
Putty pads are installed into exposed socket boxes, which may occasionally be sprayed with paint. In these cases, we allow water-based paints, as they typically do not stick to the putty pad, leaving it unaffected. Regarding oil-based or solvent paints, we are unsure of their impact. Therefore, we recommend following best practices by masking these areas before painting. If a putty pad has been sprayed with an oil-based or solvent paint, we advise replacing it. This is because it has not been tested, and the effect on the seal’s performance is unknown.
QF2 Fire Protection Compound
When the QF2 Fire Protection Compound is installed in exposed areas, open to all elements, it is crucial to note that it is not waterproof. The plaster-based product will absorb the water and dry out, repeating this process if exposed to weathering. To waterproof QF2, you can apply a two-part epoxy paint. However, the compound must be fully dry before doing so.
Two examples of suitable paints for QF2:
Two-component water-based, epoxy resin floor and wall coating available in a range of colours
Two-component water-based epoxy system
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