Intumescent coatings are used in the field of fire protection to prevent certain construction elements reaching the critical temperatures at which excessive damage would. occur, thus avoiding premature structural collapse. The studies presented in this thesis have been directed towards an understanding of intumeseent coatings and the process of intumescence. The kinetics and mechanism of intumeseence are discussed. The behaviour of the raw materials used in the preparation of intumeseent coatings, was studied at elevated temperatures using thermal analytical techniques, and new formulations were developed. These formulations were examined In the laboratory using various screening tests and were also subjected to a large scale hydrocarbon fire test alongside other commercially-avallable coatings. A simplified coating formulation with the minimum of ingredients required to produce good intumescent properties was developed. This formulation was subjected to various heat-radiation intensities using an ISO ignitablilty apparatus. The behaviour of the intumescence, process observed was explained by a simple theoretical model. The model of Buckmasterv Anderson and Nachman was used and several new results were derived. In particular a relationship was derived giving the time taken for the temperature at the inner surface of the coating to reach a given value. The durability of the newly-developed intumescent coatings, and methods of improving it, were also investigated.