Intumescent paint is a coating that reacts to heat by swelling in a controlled manner to many times its original thickness, producing a carbonaceous char formed by a large number of small bubbles that act as an insulating layer to protect a structure. The paint contains thermodynamic compounds, which increase in size when exposed to high temperatures. This forms a protective coating around a building’s framework, including steel beams and other structural elements. Intumescent coatings used on steel structure can maximize the time taken by emergency responders to extinguish flames and evacuate buildings safely.