Vermitex^® ‘TH’

(Interior & Exterior applications)

Product Description

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ is a Vermiculite Special Cement blend plus trace chemical additives and lightweight polymer microspheres which has been formulated to provide passive fire protection to elements of building construction: Interior elements requiring a high degree of mechanical impact resistance, Severe Industrial and Coastal Marine Environments (Refer AS 2312 Section 2).

Recommended Uses

Application may be carried out by hand but preferably by mechanical means to interior or exterior steel, concrete and other substrates generally without the aid of mechanical reinforcement (1). Vermitex^® ‘TH’ may be applied to a multitude of backgrounds to enhance the Fire Resistance Level (FRL) of building and construction elements in exterior conditions and at the same time provide an extremely hard and durable finish. This Data Sheet addresses application to both Interior and Exterior elements.

Product Characteristics

Tested Properties

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ thickness range

Application Instructions

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ is a mill-mixed compound that can be sprayed onto substrates requiring protection at the corresponding thickness stipulated by the Manufacturer (refer Thickness Tables over). The element being protected should be free from: mill scale, heavy rust, oil, excessive dust or any other substance which may impair proper adhesion of the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ to the background. (2)

Mechanical reinforcement would not be normally required for interpolated thickness specified in the Thickness Tables, however it is highly recommended that, in Severe Industrial and Coastal Marine Environments and where exposure to flexural stresses, vibrations, thermal expansion as well as construction movement is present, the Designer specify the installation of mechanical reinforcement to follow the contour of the element, with the mesh located approximately 2/3 through the spray thickness. All reinforcement shall be Galvanised and equal to: Flat or Corrugated Expanded Metal Lath with or without longitudinal ribs/stiffeners and Hexagonal or Square Mesh (minimum 1.0 mm wire). Substitution with stainless steel wire mesh is acceptable.

Vermitex^® ‘TH’, when applied in well ventilated areas to a thickness of 25 mm, will dry in 2-3 weeks. Please note that Vermitex^® ‘TH’ is prone to frost damage and temperatures surrounding the areas being sprayed should not be allowed to fall below 4°C for at least 12 hours, after installation. The material can be applied to a thickness of 20 mm in one application, thicker applications are possible, however this will depend on the state of the background being sprayed, its water-uptake capacity and the experience of the applicator. Multiple coatings will achieve a smooth and even textured finish, however a new coating should only be applied over one that has partially set. Where this is not possible the last coating surface should be left with a ‘deep & rough texture’ or purposefully scratched. When ‘Trowelling’ or ‘Ruling’ is unavoidable the applicator should not ‘overwork’ or ‘polish’ the sprayed material.

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ may be painted with suitable sealers and paints. Consult the LAF Group for compatibility.

For severe Industrial and Coastal Marine Environments special application conditions relating to Vermitex^® ‘TH’ please refer to the third paragraph of "Bond Coat, Primer Compatibility and Corrosion prevention" as the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ cannot be relied upon as a rust preventative coating(2) in fully exposed locations.

Bond Coat, Primer Compatibility and Corrosion prevention

When applying Vermitex^® ‘TH’ to primed structural steel without the aid of mechanical reinforcement a ‘Bond Coat’ equal to Vermitex^® ‘7’ must be applied. No specific thickness is required when spraying Vermitex^® ‘7’, however coverage of between 50% and 75% of the area is required. Vermitex^® ‘7’ will enhance the adhesion of the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ to the substrate as well as facilitate application of the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ by reducing its ‘slippage’ on smooth backgrounds.

Where primers are required alkali resistant primers must be used, however the paint manufacturer should be consulted to ensure compatibility with the Vermitex^® (Refer to LAF for a comprehensive list of compatible primers). When choosing an anticorrosion primer, the relevant Standard (AS 2312) or Code pertaining to protection of iron and steel against exterior atmospheric corrosion should be consulted.

In exposed Severe Industrial and Coastal Marine Environments and in wet areas Vermitex^® ‘TH’ should not be relied upon as a rust preventative coating. Vermitex^® ‘TH’ is porous and will allow the passage of moisture through to the substrate. The substrate must be suitably primed with an approved rust preventative primer. Cement may still be prone to attack by some Chemicals and consequently the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ may also be affected. In these circumstances the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ must be topcoated with suitable sealers and paints for protection (Refer to LAF for more details).

Only stainless steel protective ‘Angle Corner Beads’ should be used for exterior applications. Vermitex^® ‘7’ and ‘TH’ may react with Aluminium and Aluminium alloys and a suitable primer is recommended (2).

Steel members and separating construction

When steel elements intersect or form part of a separating element (wall/partition, floor/ceiling, etc) care must be taken to ensure that the Insulation Criteria requirement (mandatory in some Building Codes & Standards) for separating construction is not impeded.

Coverage

One 50 litre bag of Vermitex^® ‘TH’ will cover approximately 1 m² at a nominal thickness of 50 mm (without wastage considerations).

Vermitex^® Specification (Broad Form)

Before commencing the Vermitex^® ‘TH’ application, the substrate shall be inspected by the Main Contractor to ensure all elements to be sprayed are free from any substances which impair proper adhesion of the spray material. Where necessary, the cleaning of surfaces shall be the responsibility of the General Contractor, details as outlined in the product specification under “SURFACE PREPARATION” (refer to LAF Group for further information).

All adjacent areas not requiring treatment shall be suitably protected against droppings and overspray. Vermitex^® ‘TH’ as manufactured by L & A Fazzini Manufacturing Pty Ltd shall be installed by an approved Specialist Contractor to the thickness of ..xx.. mm to provide a Fire Resistance Level of ..aaa / bbb / ccc ..(insert required thickness and FRL).. .

The Specialist Contractor shall provide all materials, accessories, spray equipment, tools, inspection services and labour to satisfactorily carry out the works in best trade practice. All workmanship and installation techniques shall comply with the Manufacturers ‘Application Instructions’, relevant Building Code Statutory requirements and applicable ASTM, BS or AS Standards.

Test Data & Assessments

Tests have been carried out in accordance with AS 1530 Part 4, BSEN 1363 Part 2 , ISO 834-1 Part 1, 6.1.1 or BS 476 Part 20 to 21. The CSIRO has referenced, analysed and assessed the test data for compliance to other International Standards. The material thicknesses stipulated in the Tables herein can be referenced against and fully comply with Australian (AS), British (BS) and American (ASTM) Standards (2).

Refer to Test Data for more information.

Note:
1. Refer to LAF for mesh requirement details and for other Vermitex^® ‘TH’ applications
2. Refer to LAF for further detailed information

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ Thickness Table

Tested to AS 1530.4 and BS 476, Part 20 Appendix D; BS 476, Part 20 to 24; ISO 834-1 Pt 1, 6.1.1; BSEN 1363 Part 2.

Health Statement

Vermitex^® ‘TH’ contains no asbestos and presents no known health hazard before, during or after application. Normal precautions relevant to the handling of cement products apply: dust mask, eye protection and covering of sensitive skin.

For more information or MSDS on Vermitex^® ‘TH’ or any other products,

please see the technical data page, or contact: L & A Fazzini Manufacturing Pty Ltd

Email:sales@lafgroup.com