When fire protection needs to be thin, responsive and capable of sealing gaps, silicate-based fire-protection panels provide an effective passive fire protection solution.
Palusol® is one of the established products in this field, with decades of use in fire doors, fire-rated assemblies, bulkheads and safety cabinets. DAKEN has developed its own silicate-based fire-protection panels based on the same fundamental fire protection principle: heat activation, controlled expansion, expansion pressure and formation of a protective insulating foam.
This article compares the two products from a technical and application perspective and explains what to consider when selecting a sodium silicate intumescent fire protection panel.
How Does a silicate-based fire-protection panel Work?
The fire protection mechanism can be understood in four basic stages.
1. Heat Activation
When exposed to elevated temperatures, the panel begins to react and expand.
For DAKEN’s current product formulation, expansion begins at approximately 100°C, based on the product data provided by DAKEN.
2. Controlled Expansion
The material increases significantly in volume as the temperature rises.
DAKEN’s panel can expand by up to approximately 8 times its original volume, depending on the product formulation and test conditions.
3. Expansion Pressure
During expansion, the material generates pressure.
DAKEN’s current product data indicates an expansion pressure of up to 1.50 N/mm² at 120°C.
This pressure is important when the material is installed within a confined joint or opening because it helps the expanding material maintain contact with the surrounding components.
4. Formation of a Protective Foam
The expanded material forms a non-combustible, heat-insulating foam structure.
The foam fills and seals gaps and openings, helping to limit the passage of fire, hot gases and smoke through the protected assembly.
The evaporation of water during the reaction can also provide an additional cooling effect.
DAKEN vs. Palusol®: Key Performance Comparison
Palusol® is a silicate-based fire protection panel developed by BASF. According to BASF’s current product information, Palusol® starts to expand at approximately 100°C, can develop expansion pressure of up to 1.60 N/mm² at 120°C and can increase up to approximately 9.5 times its original size. BASF also states that Palusol® can provide fire and smoke resistance for up to 120 minutes depending on the application.
DAKEN has developed its own silicate-based fire protection panel with comparable fundamental characteristics.
| Performance | DAKEN | Palusol® |
| Material type | Silicate-based fire protection panel | Silicate-based fire protection panel |
| Expansion onset | Approx. 100°C* | Approx. 100°C |
| Expansion ratio | Up to 8×* | Up to 9.5× |
| Expansion pressure @ 120°C | Up to 1.50 N/mm²* | Up to 1.60 N/mm² |
| Protective foam | Non-combustible, heat-insulating* | Non-combustible, heat-insulating |
| Gap and joint sealing | Yes* | Yes |
| Fire door applications | Available* | Yes |
| Pipe penetration protection | Available* | Yes |
| Cable penetration protection | Available* | Yes |
| Safety cabinet applications | Available* | Yes |
* DAKEN values are based on the company’s current product data and should be confirmed against the applicable test report or certification for the specific product configuration.
The purpose of this comparison is not to suggest that one material is universally better than the other. Fire protection performance should always be evaluated according to the complete tested system, installation configuration and applicable standards.
DAKEN vs. Palusol®: Similar Fire Protection Principle, Different Product Strategy
DAKEN and Palusol® share a similar fundamental fire protection mechanism:
Heat → Expansion → Expansion Pressure → Protective Foam → Gap Sealing
However, similar technology does not necessarily mean identical products.
The performance of an intumescent panel depends on several factors, including:
- Raw material composition
- Formulation
- Manufacturing process
- Density
- Panel thickness
- Surface treatment
- Expansion characteristics
- Expansion pressure
- Installation method
- Joint geometry
- Tested fire-rated assembly
For this reason, DAKEN focuses not only on the material itself but also on providing application-specific fire protection solutions.
DAKEN panels can be supplied as:
- Full-size panels
- Strips
- Sections
- Inserts
- Customized shapes
- Application-specific components
This allows the material to be integrated into different fire protection assemblies.
What Should You Consider When Choosing an silicate-based fire-protection panel?
When selecting a sodium silicate intumescent fire protection panel, looking only at the expansion ratio is not enough.
Consider the following parameters.
1. Expansion Temperature
At what temperature does the material begin to expand?
A lower response temperature can be advantageous in applications where early gap closure is required.
2. Expansion Ratio
How much does the material expand compared with its original volume?
Higher expansion can provide greater filling capacity, but expansion ratio should always be considered together with expansion pressure and the actual application.
3. Expansion Pressure
How much pressure does the material generate during expansion?
This is particularly important for confined joints, gaps and penetration applications.
4. Fire Resistance
Fire resistance should be evaluated based on the complete tested assembly, not simply the raw material.
5. Smoke Sealing
Fire protection is not only about flames. Hot gases and smoke can also pass through small openings.
A suitable fire sealing solution should therefore address both fire and smoke.
6. Thickness and Dimensions
A thin intumescent panel can provide greater design flexibility where installation space is limited.
7. Processing and Fabrication
The material should be capable of being cut, shaped or fabricated according to the requirements of the application.
8. Environmental Durability
Depending on the application, moisture resistance, temperature stability, storage conditions and long-term performance should also be evaluated.
Why Choose DAKEN Silicate-based Fire-Protection Panels ?
DAKEN combines material development with experience in passive fire protection systems.
Our silicate-based intumescent fire protection panels are designed for applications where rapid thermal response, expansion pressure, gap sealing and heat insulation are required.
Key characteristics include:
- Expansion beginning at approximately 100°C
- Up to 8× expansion
- Expansion pressure up to 1.50 N/mm² at 120°C
- Non-combustible protective foam
- Heat-insulating performance
- Pressure-assisted gap sealing
- Customizable dimensions and shapes
- Suitable for a wide range of passive fire protection applications
DAKEN can also develop customized panel dimensions and components according to the requirements of specific fire-rated assemblies.
Conclusion
Silicate-based Fire-Protection Panels combine heat activation, expansion pressure and thermal insulation in a single passive fire protection material.
Palusol® demonstrates the established application of this technology in fire doors, bulkheads, penetration protection and safety cabinets. DAKEN has developed its own silicate-based intumescent fire protection panel using the same fundamental principle of heat-induced expansion and pressure-assisted fire sealing.
With expansion beginning at approximately 100°C, expansion of up to 8× and expansion pressure of up to 1.50 N/mm² at 120°C, DAKEN’s panel is designed for applications requiring thin-profile, high-expansion fire protection and reliable gap sealing.
For fire doors, penetration protection, fire dampers, safety cabinets, bulkheads and other passive fire protection applications, DAKEN can provide customized silicate-based intumescent fire protection panel solutions according to project requirements.
Contact DAKEN to discuss your fire protection application and panel requirements.