Material-scale tests involving milligrams of samples are used to optimize fire-retardant coating formulations, but actual applications of these coatings require them to be assessed with structural-scale fire tests. This significant difference in the scale of testing (milligrams to kilograms of sample) raises many questions on the relations between the inherent flammability and thermal characteristics of the coating materials and their “performance” at the structural scale. Moreover, the expected “performance” requirements and the definition of “performance” varies at different scales. In this regard, the pathway is not established when designing and formulating fire-retardant coatings for structural steel sections or members. This manuscript explores the fundamental relationships across different scales of testing with the help of a fire-protective system based on acrylic resin with a typical combination of intumescent additives, viz. ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, and expandable graphite. One of the main outcomes of this work dictates that higher heat release rate values and larger amounts of material participating in the pyrolysis process per unit time will result in a rapid rise in steel substrate temperature. This information is very useful in the design and development of generic fire-retardant coatings.

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This paper examines the deliberate state effort to develop specialised clusters and innovation systems, and identify the challenges and possible solutions in the process of developing and nurturing high-tech industries and companies in Singapore. Findings from the case studies indicate that companies born directly into high-tech industries or whose products and services have a high composition of high-tech elements are more optimistic about business prospects and tend to experience greater pace and scope of growth. They are able to leverage government support more effectively, and better benefit from resource sharing and spillover externalities generated by specialised cluster blocks (e.g. Block 71) and the innovation system present in Singapore. In view of these results, a review on government policy support for SMEs in innovation and development is critical. Companies should focus on identifying their core product strengths and leading business propositions and use them as the base to build up their innovation and technology capabilities.