Oak Paneling

[Guest Ed Shephard]

I have two areas within a Grade II listed school boarding house which have oak panelling on the walls. One room is a dormitory and the other is a sitting room which forms part of a circulation space.

My fire risk assessment has identified that the oak panels need to be treated with intumescent varnish to achieve Class 1 surface spread of flame. The estate manager has tried a number of contractors who used water based substances but all have been unsuccessful because the oak panels have been treated for years with waxes and oils and the intumescents will not adhere.

The contractors have tried to remove the oil/wax with solvents but the wood is too impregnated. We do not want to remove the oak panels.

(1) Can anyone suggest a treatment which will adhere and achieve class 1 please?

(2) What can we do as an alternative in these areas to mitigate the surface spread issues?

Ed

[Tom Sutton]

Has he tried http://www.envirograf.com/ who are the leading experts in this area. There is also fine grade steel wool, wet and dry and chemical varnish remover because trying to find a practical alternative is going to be extremely difficult.