Hempel launches new steel fire protection coating designed to reduce paint consumption

Hempafire Optima 515 helps infrastructure projects maintain certified fire performance while supporting lower material consumption and material-related environmental impact where specified.

Key messages:

• Hempel launches Hempafire Optima 515 for steel structures requiring up to 150 minutes fire rating according to BS 476.
• The new coating has been developed to reduce dry film thickness requirements on relevant steel sections, helping lower paint consumption while maintaining certified fire performance.
• The product is waterborne, has very low VOC content and is supported by a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration.

Copenhagen, 30 July 2026: Hempel A/S today announces the launch of Hempafire Optima 515, the latest addition to its waterborne cellulosic passive fire protection (PFP) range. Developed for civil infrastructure projects, the new product is designed to protect interior steel structures while helping customers reduce paint consumption and total application costs.
Hempafire Optima 515 provides protection for steel exposed to cellulosic fire scenarios, offering fire ratings of up to 150 minutes. It has been tested in accordance with the BS 476 standard and certified by the third-party certification body ApplusFire.
“Passive fire protection has always been about safety, but today’s projects also require more efficient application and reduced material consumption,” says Roger Soler, Product Manager C-PFP at Hempel A/S. “With Hempafire Optima 515, we are strengthening our waterborne PFP offering for civil infrastructure projects while helping customers meet certified fire protection requirements and improve efficiency on site.”
Hempafire Optima 515 is engineered for productivity and cost efficiency across low- to mid-section factor open steel sections, which represent a large share of structural steel fire protection projects. Its advanced thermal insulation performance delivers certified fire protection with reduced dry film thickness requirements, supporting optimised material consumption while maintaining compliance.
Developed to enhance application efficiency within its class, Hempafire Optima 515 features a high 75% solids content. The product can be applied with ease at up to 1.5 mm DFT per coat and dries rapidly to a smooth, high-quality finish. This enables most steel sections to achieve the required fire protection rating in just two coats within a single working shift.
The result is a faster, more streamlined application process that reduces labour requirements, shortens project timelines, minimises downtime and lowers overall project costs, delivering greater value for both contractors and asset owners alike.
The launch is complemented by Hempafire Optima 510, a versatile solution optimised for lightweight steel sections. Together, Optima 510 and Optima 515 provide a broader solution, enabling specifiers to select the appropriate coating for different section requirements within the same project.
Both coatings feature very low VOC content and emissions and are supported by independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These declarations provide transparent, documented environmental information that may assist project teams in meeting green building certification requirements, subject to the specific criteria and assessment protocols of each rating scheme. The range is compatible with Hempel-approved primers and topcoats for waterborne PFP systems, allowing the coating system to be adapted to project requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Hempafire Optima 515 has initially been launched in the Middle East, with expansion to additional countries that follow BS 476 standards planned in the coming months.
To learn more about Hempel’s PFP offerings, go to: https://www.hempel.com/all-products/all-brands/hempafire/hempafire-optima
 

Alexandra Thiis Billing
PR Manager
Tel: + 45 40894240
Email: communications@hempel.com

About Hempel
As a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions, Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region.
Across the globe, Hempel’s paints and coatings protect and beautify buildings, infrastructure and other assets, and play an essential role in our customers’ businesses. They help minimise maintenance costs, improve aesthetics and increase energy efficiency.
We are guided by our purpose - Make our world last longer, beautifully - which is our shared call to action: to protect what matters, enhanced by colour and craftsmanship.
Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is majority owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world. www.hempel.com