Fireshield - Fire Protection Coatings

What Fireshield - Fire Protection Coatings does

Fireshield Protective Coatings Ltd is a New Zealand privately-held specialty chemical manufacturer and fire engineering consultancy, founded in 2015-2016 and headquartered in Christchurch with a regional headquarters in Wollongong (NSW, Australia) and a Victorian office in Beaumaris. The company develops, tests, and manufactures proprietary intumescent coating systems for fire protection of structural steel (30-180 minute FRR) and timber substrates (Group 1-S/Group 1 surface ratings), and claims to be the only intumescent manufacturer in NZ and Australia holding both Declare (Living Building Foundation) and Red List Free certifications. Core product lines include Steel 1001, Steel 1002, SQ476 and 920KS two-pack epoxy for structural steel, TimberClear, TimberWhite, TimberOne and Timber Whitewash for timber surfaces, and the WOODSAFE sub-brand (WFX exterior Type A/BAL-29, PRO interior, Frontwood CLT panels) for off-site impregnated fire-rated timber.

The business operates a hybrid product-and-services model. Direct product revenue comes from sales to a registered applicator network in NZ and Australia, ordered through a dedicated online portal, with coatings specified into building consent packages via Masterspec (NZ) and Ezyspec (Australia). Professional services revenue comes from in-house fire engineering consultancy: specific design solutions, PS1/PS4 certification, site inspections, and building consent documentation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company provides free quantity calculation and loading schedule services to support specification. Customers span healthcare (New Dunedin Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Northland Radiotherapy Centre), hospitality (Ramada Manukau, Ramada Victoria St West), education (Marian College, Papa Hou, Kilden Kindergarten), retirement living (Summerset Cambridge, Summerset Milldale), heritage preservation (HB Central, The Gunnery), and retail/commercial (Emporia Shopping Mall).

Fireshield employs 12 staff and is led by founder and CEO Per Olsson, a fire engineer with 30+ years of international experience across 20+ countries who also leads Halliwell Fire Research Group. Nicola Olsson co-founded the business and manages the WOODSAFE product line and CPD programmes. The company holds no disclosed institutional investment, subsidiaries, or parent company; revenue, funding rounds, and headcount growth trends are not publicly disclosed. Beyond primary NZ and Australia markets, project references include Sweden (Karolinska, Emporia, Ostermalm Market, Magasinet Cultural Centre) and Norway (Kilden Kindergarten).

Name

Fireshield - Fire Protection Coatings

Legal name

Fireshield Protective Coatings Ltd

Website

https://fireshieldcoatings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fireshield Protective Coatings develops and manufactures proprietary intumescent fire protection coatings for structural steel and timber substrates, serving healthcare, hospitality, education, heritage, and commercial construction projects across New Zealand and Australia via a registered applicator network and in-house fire engineering consultancy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Coatings

akta.pro primary industry

Fireproofing & Intumescent Coatings (IMAIAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Door, Firestop & Passive Fire Protection Inspection/Installation (IMAIAJAJ), Fire & Smoke Dampers / Firestopping / Passive Fire Protection Services (BPABAHAE)

Keywords

• Intumescent fire coatings
• Structural steel protection
• Timber fire rating
• Passive fire protection
• Fire engineering consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Intumescent Coating Product Sales: Fireshield develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary intumescent coating products for fire protection of steel and timber. Products are sold exclusively to registered and trained applicators. Sales are project-based, driven by specification in building consents. The company also supplies complementary products from global manufacturers.
2. Technical Consultancy Services: Fireshield offers fire engineering consultancy including specific design solutions, PS1/PS4 certification, site inspections, and compliance documentation for building consent packages. These services are integrated into the product specification process and support both timber and steel fire protection projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fireshield develops, tests, and manufactures proprietary intumescent coating systems used to fire-protect structural steel (30–180 minute FRR) and interior timber surfaces (Group 1-S / Group 1 ratings). The company also supplies WoodSafe off-site impregnated fire-rated timber products and Frontwood CLT panels. Beyond manufacturing, Fireshield provides in-house fire engineering consultancy including specific design, PS1/PS4 certification, site inspections, and building-consent documentation, and sells products exclusively through a registered applicator network in New Zealand and Australia.

Product overview

Fireshield is a fire protection coatings company offering a portfolio of intumescent coating products and fire-rated timber solutions. The core offering consists of two main product lines: (1) Timber Surface Coatings including TimberClear, TimberWhite, Timber Whitewash, and TimberOne for providing Group 1-S/Group 1 fire ratings on interior timber surfaces; and (2) Structural Steel Fire Rating Solutions including Steel 1001, Steel 1002, SQ476, and 920KS epoxy for 30 to 180 minute fire resistance on structural steel. Additionally, Fireshield offers WOODSAFE branded fire-rated timber products (WFX for exterior, PRO for interior, and Frontwood CLT panels) that use off-site impregnation technology. The product ecosystem is supported by complementary top coats, sealers, bolt caps, and a consultancy/specification service. The company also provides technical support tools including quantity calculators and attachment guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WOODSAFE: Impregnated fire rated timber product line including WFX exterior cladding and PRO interior solutions
• TimberClear
• TimberWhite
• TimberOne
• Frontwood Panel

Products and services

• Steel 1001 Water-based single-pack intumescent coating for interior structural steel providing 30–60 minute fire resistance rating. Green Star, Declare and Red List Free certified; sold to registered applicators in NZ and Australia.
• Steel 1002 Single-pack waterborne intumescent coating for structural steel protection, listed as part of the Green Star product range alongside Steel 1001.
• Fireshield 920KS High-build 2-pack epoxy intumescent coating for interior and exterior structural steel, providing up to 180 minute FRR. Solvent-free, Green Star and AgBB emissions Class A+ certified.
• Fireshield SQ476 Single-pack solvent-based intumescent coating for interior structural steel providing up to 120 minute fire resistance rating.
• TimberClear Clear waterborne intumescent basecoat system for interior timber surfaces providing Group 1-S/Group 1 fire rating and structural timber members up to 60 min FRR. Used with approved TimberClear Top Coats to complete the system.
• TimberWhite Pigmented waterborne intumescent coating for interior timber surfaces providing Group 1-S/Group 1 and up to 60 min FRR. Environmentally friendly with Red List and Declare certification.
• TimberOne Waterborne intumescent coating system with a translucent finish designed to reduce yellowing on light coloured timbers while highlighting natural grain. Provides Group 1-S fire rating for interior timber surfaces.
• Timber Whitewash Whitewash intumescent coating for timber surfaces, Red List Free and environmentally friendly, used in Green Star-rated projects.
• WOODSAFE WFX Off-site impregnated fire-rated timber for exterior cladding (cedar) with certified Type A and BAL-29 ratings and Group 1-S surface rating. Treatment is applied off-site and lasts the lifetime of the timber.
• WoodSafe PRO Off-site timber impregnation treatment providing certified Group 1-S rating for timber substrates in interior dry areas. Can be stained or oiled in any colour.
• Frontwood CLT Panel CLT (cross-laminated timber) panel manufactured from solid Spruce and pre-treated off-site with WoodSafe PRO for Group 1-S fire-rated solution. 12–60mm thick with optional clip fixing system and zero VOC.
• Fireshield Consultancy + Spec Service Specific design consultancy for alternative-solution building code compliance: fire engineering, specification support, PS1/PS4 Producer Statement certification, site inspections, and consent documentation for building consent packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Intumescent coatings maintain structural stability for up to 180 minutes during fire events
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFireshield partners with Fire Protection Association Australia to reach industry professionals through educational events, publications, and professional development programmes. FPA is a key channel for industry networking and credibility in the Australian fire protection market.
• Fire Protection Association New Zealand (FPANZ)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFireshield partners with Fire Protection Association New Zealand to engage with fire engineering professionals and promote industry best practices in intumescent coating specification and application. Supports professional development and networking events.
• NZIA (New Zealand Institute of Architects) - Approved CPD ProvidercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFireshield is an approved CPD (Continuing Professional Development) provider for NZIA, offering architects accredited presentations on intumescent coating specification, fire protection at design phase, and surface finish ratings. This positions Fireshield as an educational partner to the architectural community.
• eBossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFireshield partners with eBoss, an online building product specification platform used by architects and specifiers in New Zealand. This partnership ensures Fireshield products are easily accessible and specifiable through digital specification tools.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden ABcoreTechnology or IntegrationFireshield products are tested and assessed by RISE, a Swedish state-owned research institute and ILAC accredited laboratory. RISE collaborates with universities, industry, and the public sector to drive sustainable development and performs fire testing and industry assessment for Fireshield's product range.
• Exova Warrington FirecoreTechnology or IntegrationExova Warrington Fire is an independent ILAC accredited fire testing and assessment facility used by Fireshield for product testing and certification. Assessed Fireshield products to BS476, EN13381-8, and AS1530.4 standards for compliance with NZ and Australian building codes.
• Warrington CertificationcoreTechnology or IntegrationWarrington Certification provides independent certification and assessment services for Fireshield products, ensuring they meet relevant building code requirements and standards for fire protection in New Zealand and Australia.
• BRANZcoreTechnology or IntegrationBRANZ is an independent New Zealand research organisation providing testing and assessment for Fireshield products in accordance with NZ building code requirements and standards.
• MasterspeccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFireshield specifications are listed in Masterspec under sections 6734FS (Timber Coatings), 6742FS (Steel Coatings), 4221FW (Exterior WOODSAFE Systems), and 5124FW (Interior WOODSAFE Systems), enabling architects and specifiers to easily incorporate Fireshield products into building specifications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Contego International: US-based specialist in thin-film intumescent coatings for structural steel and timber, including clear and pigmented systems. Closely comparable to Fireshield's TimberClear / TimberWhite thin-film product positioning for exposed architectural applications.

Broad incumbents

• Jotun: Norwegian global coatings manufacturer with Jotachar intumescent epoxy products for hydrocarbon and cellulosic fire scenarios. Has a strong presence in Australian infrastructure and competes with Fireshield for structural steel projects.
• AkzoNobel (International Paint / Chartek): Global coatings giant whose International Paint brand includes Chartek epoxy intumescent systems widely specified in oil & gas, infrastructure, and commercial construction. Competes with Fireshield in structural steel intumescents but at a much broader portfolio scale.
• Promat (Etex Group): Passive fire protection specialist under Etex, offering calcium silicate boards, sprays, and intumescent coatings for steel and timber. Competitor in fire-rated timber and steel assemblies, particularly relevant to Fireshield's heritage and timber-construction segments.
• Hempel: Danish-headquartered global coatings supplier with intumescent (Hempafire) and protective coatings for steel infrastructure, ships, and buildings. Operates actively in Australia and competes with Fireshield in commercial and infrastructure fire-protection projects.
• PPG (Steelguard / Nullifire): Multinational coatings manufacturer with Steelguard intumescent coatings for structural steel and through its acquisition of Tikkurila broader architectural coatings. A direct competitor in intumescent steel protection and a much larger incumbent in NZ/AUS commercial coatings.
• Sherwin-Williams: Global coatings leader with Firetex intumescent product family for structural steel, distributed through architectural specification channels. Competes with Fireshield in commercial construction specifications across ANZ.

Direct peers

• Sika: Swiss construction chemicals and coatings firm with reactive resin and intumescent fire-protection systems for steel, concrete, and timber. Directly comparable to Fireshield's 920KS epoxy system and adjacent to its timber intumescent range in commercial and infrastructure construction.
• Carboline: Global manufacturer of intumescent and fireproofing coatings (e.g., Pyrocrete, Thermo-Sorb) for structural steel and process industries. Directly overlaps with Fireshield's Steel 1001, SQ476, and 920KS product lines in commercial construction and industrial fire protection.
• Nullifire: Specialist intumescent coatings brand owned by Tremco CPG, directly competing with Fireshield in structural steel fire protection. Sells water-based and solvent-based intumescent systems globally with comparable product positioning and specification-driven go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fireshield-fire-protection-coatings

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fireshield - Fire Protection Coatings