"George (dicegeorge)" wrote in message
...
i've just glued some pink fire-proof plasterboard to the new metal beam
but have realised i've done it the wrong way round,
i've glued the pink side which should be on the outside..

does this matter?

should i rip it down and do it the other way round
or is it ok?


Sorry to say this, but. It is one of those materials that is directional.
The proofing part is on one side of the boards. The part you have exposed
is the part that quenches any heat dissipation from the proofed face. So it
needs to be applied the right way round. It will offer protection to the
metal, but not as much as it should do.

How it works is. The proofed face protects from direct flame and heat
exposure, while the filling material puffs up to cause a wider barrier and
dissipate the heat away from the metal. Thus keeping the metal cooler for a
lot longer and allowing the fire to be extinguished in a more safe
environment.

The way you have it installed, the material that should puff up and create a
heat dissipation barrier is on the outside. The heat and flame material is
now against the metal it should be protecting, and so will actually pass all
the heat is gathers directly to the metal beam.

So you need to pull it out and start again, I'm afraid. Sorry to be the
bearer of bad news. :-((