A winner for all involved, He Tohu, The Document Room is a striking project that has won a multitude of awards and accolades for Studio Pacific Architecture and others.

He Tohu not only showcases three of NZ's most significant documents, but also the near-invisible FireZone 92 clear intumescent coating. Designed for interior timber linings, the coating provided the group fire ratings required for the CNC-cut interior timber linings. 

The FireZone 92 system comprises two coats of waterbased FireZone 92 Intumescent Basecoat which is then protected by a coat of water based clear FireZone 92 Clear Topcoat. The system is applied by an approved applicator — in He Tohu’s case, Chris Geany Painting Ltd of Wellington.

He Tohu needed to achieve a Group 2-S fire rating on the ceiling, while the walls needed a Group 3 rating. Matching wall and ceiling finish was achieved using just the FireZone 92 Topcoat on the walls and applying the full system on the ceiling.

The FireZone 92 clear intumescent coating system offered three key advantages for the project:

1. Low VOC — meaning it is more environmentally friendly than traditional intumescent coatings, and can be used  where off-gassing solvent based product could not be considered
2. Simple application
3. No specially heated apparatus required for application

New updates for FireZone 92

In order to stay ahead of the game, Zone has also just released a new flat version of the topcoat which enhances the system's appeal to designers yet again. The system can also be applied over many interior stains or to previously varnished timber. This is achieved by applying a coat of FireZone 92 Adhesion Primer prior to the rest of the system.

While the system remains strictly an interiors product, a new double topcoat specification has been added to provide enhanced durability and protection from atmospheric moisture. FireZone’s distributor, Zone Architectural Products, now advises that the system can be used in wind lobbies and internal semi-exposed areas.

The FireZone 92 system has taken intumescent clear coats to another level in multiple projects of all sizes and across New Zealand.