Effects of Fire-Related Heat Damage on Interior Architectural Paint Finishes

Research has been conducted on architectural elements damaged by fire (such as wood framing and masonry), and on fire damage to works of art, but few published works focus on interior finishes. It is not precisely known how heat from fire affects architectural finishes, more specifically historic paint. This thesis examines interior architectural paint finish samples that were taken from historic structures in the New York City area with a documented past of fires. Examination of the samples was performed using cross-sectional analysis to better understand how heat and fire-related heat have affected these samples. Further research was undertaken by analyzing additional samples of historic interior paint and subjecting them to varying temperatures, to observe how controlled high temperatures alter these finishes. The laboratory-tested samples were mounted and examined in cross-section to understand what happens to both oil-based and distemper paints as they are subjected to heat, and to compare them to the finishes sampled at fire-damaged properties.