As fire safety continues to influence material specification across the UK construction sector, architects, contractors and building owners are increasingly looking beyond structural components to ensure every part of a building contributes to occupant safety. Decorative coatings are one area receiving greater attention, with mineral paint technology offering significant advantages over conventional organic paint systems.
How is KEIM different?
KEIM manufactures products using naturally occurring mineral ingredients and silicate technology, which provide an inherently non-combustible finish. Unlike traditional-based coatings, they contain no petrochemical binders that can fuel a fire, making them an increasingly attractive choice for projects where fire performance is a critical requirement.
KEIM’s interior and exterior paint systems have been independently tested to the European fire classification standard EN 13501-1 and achieve an A2-s1, d0 classification. This indicates limited combustibility, minimal smoke production and no flaming droplets during fire exposure – key characteristics that help support safer building design. These credentials are essential for residential buildings over 11 metres in height, where external materials are subject to increasingly stringent fire performance requirements.
However, fire resistance is only one part of the story. KEIM’s mineral paint chemically bonds with mineral substrates through a process known as silicification, creating a finish that becomes an integral part of the surface. This results in exceptional durability, outstanding colour stability and high resistance to UV degradation, helping to extend redecoration cycles and reduce whole-life costs.
How it works
The paints are highly vapour permeable, allowing buildings to ‘breathe’ naturally while helping to reduce trapped moisture that can contribute to substrate deterioration. Combined with their water-based formulation, absence of solvents and extremely low emissions, KEIM coatings support healthier indoor environments alongside long-term environmental performance.
For specifiers, the combination of verified fire performance, durability and sustainability makes mineral paints an increasingly compelling option across education, healthcare, transport infrastructure, commercial developments and high-rise residential projects. As building regulations continue to evolve, selecting materials that offer proven performance without compromising safety, aesthetics or longevity is becoming more important than ever.
In an industry where every specification decision matters, fire-resistant mineral paints are demonstrating that decorative finishes can play a valuable role in delivering safer, more resilient buildings.
Advantages of KEIM mineral paints and renders
- Environmentally friendly ISO 14001
- High vapour permeability
- Fire resistant to A2- s1, d0
- UV stable
- Increases light reflectivity
What we recommend
Before you start your next painting project, take a moment to read the product label and safety data sheets. They contain essential information about technical performance, ingredients, and fire resistance, helping you choose the right product for your project. Understanding what’s in your paint and how it performs ensures better results, safer use, and greater confidence that your chosen coating meets the requirements of your project.
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