Surface Fire Protection Coating Global Market Report 2025

The surface fire protection coating market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.35 billion in 2024 to $2.51 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing construction activities, increasing fire safety regulations, rising awareness about passive fire protection, rise in urbanization and infrastructure development, rise in demand for high-rise buildings, and stricter insurance requirements.

The surface fire protection coating market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.4 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to stricter post-COVID building safety regulations, rising investments in infrastructure modernization, increasing demand for fire-resistant materials in green buildings, growing oil & gas and chemical industries, and heightened awareness of passive fire protection in real estate. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in eco-friendly formulations, nanotechnology integration, enhanced durability in extreme environments, advancements in smart coatings with fire-detection capabilities, and adoption of bio-based raw materials.

The forecast of 7.9% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.4% from the previous estimate for this market. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US by delaying construction projects, as tariffs on German and South Korean flame-retardant materials increase building expenses. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The growing number of fire-related accidents is expected to drive the expansion of the surface fire protection coating market. Fire-related accidents are damaging events caused by unexpected fires, often resulting in property loss, injuries, or fatalities. This rise is largely attributed to outdated infrastructure and inadequate fire safety measures, as many aging buildings lack modern fire-resistant materials and systems needed to control or prevent the spread of fire. Surface fire protection coatings play a crucial role by creating an insulating barrier that reduces heat transfer and flame spread, thereby preserving structural integrity. For instance, in November 2024, the National Security Council, a U.S.-based government agency focused on national safety, reported that the death rate from reported home fires rose to 8.7 per 1,000 incidents in 2023, representing a 16% increase from the 7.5 rate in 2022. As a result, the rising incidence of fire-related accidents is significantly boosting the demand for surface fire protection coatings.

Key players in the surface fire protection coating market are developing innovative coating technologies, such as epoxy passive fire protection (PFP) coatings, to enhance fire resistance, improve structural durability, and comply with more stringent safety standards. Epoxy PFP coatings are thick, fire-resistant layers applied to steel structures to delay fire spread and maintain structural stability during fire events. For example, in March 2025, Hempel A/S, a Denmark-based chemical company, launched Hempafire Extreme 550, a cutting-edge epoxy PFP coating designed for cellulosic fires. This product is certified for up to four hours of fire resistance and meets global standards such as EN 13381, BS 476, and AS 4100, ensuring robust protection for structural steel. The solvent-free coating is compatible with waterborne primers and topcoats, offering an environmentally friendly solution that reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 40%. It is also highly durable, resistant to mechanical wear, and maintains performance for over 25 years, even in harsh C5 environments. Additionally, the coating requires up to 40% lower dry film thickness (DFT), lowering material costs, shortening application time, and minimizing environmental impact.

In April 2022, Sherwin-Williams Company, a U.S.-based manufacturer of paints and coatings, acquired the European industrial coatings business of Sika AG for an undisclosed sum. This strategic acquisition is aimed at enhancing Sika's fire and corrosion protection capabilities, expanding its footprint in the European infrastructure market, and supporting growth through added technological expertise and service offerings. Sika AG, based in Switzerland, is a chemicals company that specializes in the production of fire and corrosion protection coating systems.

Surface fire protection coatings are specialized protective layers applied to construction materials such as steel, wood, or concrete to enhance their resistance to fire. These coatings help preserve structural integrity during high-heat events by forming an insulating barrier often through expansion when exposed to heat which slows flame spread and minimizes heat transfer.

The primary types of surface fire protection coatings include intumescent coatings, cementitious coatings, and others. Intumescent coatings expand when subjected to high temperatures, forming a thick, insulating char layer that protects the underlying material from fire damage. These coatings are available in various formulations, including water-based, solvent-based, and high-temperature resistant types. They comply with regulatory standards such as building codes, environmental regulations, and health and safety requirements. These coatings are used across a range of industries, including construction, automotive, residential, shipbuilding, and others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The escalating U.S. tariffs and rising trade tensions in spring 2025 are expected to significantly affect the chemicals sector, which is facing a disproportionate impact - particularly from tariffs on petrochemicals and intermediates, where affordable domestic alternatives are limited. Specialty chemical producers, who rely heavily on Chinese raw materials, are encountering production disruptions. Meanwhile, fertilizer manufacturers are seeing their profit margins squeezed due to tariffs on phosphate imports. In response, companies are increasing investments in R&D for bio-based alternatives, forming procurement alliances to strengthen purchasing power, and relocating production to tariff-neutral countries like Saudi Arabia.

The surface fire protection coating market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides surface fire protection coating market statistics, including the surface fire protection coating industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the surface fire protection coating market share, detailed surface fire protection coating market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the surface fire protection coating industry. This surface fire protection coating market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

Major players in the surface fire protection coating market are Sherwin-Williams, PPG Industries, AkzoNobel, Sika AG, Nippon Paint, RPM International, BASF Coatings GmbH, Axalta Coating Systems, Asian Paints, Kansai Paint, Hempel A/S, Jotun, Berger Paints, Beckers Group, Carboline, Midwest Chemicals, No-Burn, Shield Industries, Flame Control Coatings, Fire Retardants Inc.

North America was the largest region in the surface fire protection coating market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in surface fire protection coating report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the surface fire protection coating market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The surface fire protection coating market consists of sales of thermal barrier coatings, fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings and fire-retardant coatings. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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