Selected Answers

From Russell Norris of The Sherwin-Williams Paint Company on January 28, 2014:
Epoxy intumescent fireproofing can be used success ...read more Epoxy intumescent fireproofing can be used successfully anywhere. Although all epoxy fireproofing chemistries are not equal, they tend to provide both fire protection and corrosion protection with good durability. Cementitious fireproofing should always be avoided where there is a lot of moisture, chemical contaminants, vibration, risk of mechanical damage, and/or where maintenance is not of high priority. Cementitious materials will crack and absorb moisture that will accelerate corrosion under fireproofing (CUF) without being able to see it occuring. Cementitious PFP will not intumence during a fire to seal off cracks, which will allow a rapid rise in steel temperature. In addition, moisture can quickly turn to steam and cause the concrete to spall. Once contaminated, always contaminated. Epoxy fireproofing is the best investment and will provide the lowest life-cycle cost with little to no maintenance. When choosing an epoxy, it is imperative to choose one with a long track record. Intumescents in the market pass various industry test but often prove to perform poorly in the field under actual conditions.

So from another angle of thought, cementitious PFP is most successful in dry climates, on substrates that are not prone to vibration or damage, in facilities that have very good maintenance programs.

From Sinnakannu Chantana Murugan of PPG (M) on May 28, 2013:
Both epoxy intumescent and cementitious are forms ...read more Both epoxy intumescent and cementitious are forms of passive fire protection  for fire resistance. In a cellulosic fire scenario, both are equally popular. Cementitious are often chosen on the basis of cost  rather than performance. However, in  hydrocarbon, hydrocarbon pool, and pressurised hydrocarbon pool fire scenarios, epoxy intumescent are the best solution.

From Chuck Pease of MMI Tank on May 17, 2013:
Typically, cementitious intumescent is specified i ...read more Typically, cementitious intumescent is specified in concealed unconditioned spaces of structures, whereas thinner-film epoxy intumescents are applied in conditions exposed to view, PRIMARY structural components.

From Bob Wells of private consultant on May 17, 2013:
Based on my understanding, epoxy is commonly used ...read more Based on my understanding, epoxy is commonly used for offshore oil refining and gas processing--chemical industries. It also provides a level of corrosion protection for steel. Cementitious is commonly used for non-steel applications such as timber and masonry structures.

From David Shaw of Barrier Fire Protection Ltd on May 16, 2013:
Epoxy and cementitious PFP (passive fire protectio ...read more Epoxy and cementitious PFP (passive fire protection) is principally specified in petrochemical and offshore structural steel situations where protection from hydrocarbon pool and jetfire scenarios are identified in the facility fire risk management plan. The principal is to prevent the structural member from reaching it's Critical Core Temperature , the temperature at which the member will lose its structural strength - typically 400C for offshore and 527C for on-shore. There are many aspects as to selecting and specifying the most suitable product for the scenario; a whole professional discipline of fire engineering exists on this subject.

From Jay Barstow of Aeroflor Consulting Services on May 13, 2013:
      Actually, I believe ...read more       Actually, I believe (and I may be dating myself), that the cementitious coating is NOT intumescent in nature, and is sprayed on primed steel, but doesn't actually expand in the presence of heat. This was the insulation used on the WTC that allegedly delaminated from shock, thus losing its protective nature.

From Jay Barstow of Aeroflor Consulting Services on May 13, 2013:
     I would use them on struc ...read more      I would use them on structural beams to prevent heat distortion by expanding into an insulator during a fire.