Abstract: Intumescent coating composition for use in the spray-coating of beams and other structural members to protect them against the effect of fire and containing an epoxy resin film-forming binder and melamine phosphate spumific agent, in a weight ratio of less than 7.5:1, are improved by the inclusion therein of 1 to 15 percent by weight of inorganic fibres having a silica content of less than about 50 percent by weight of an aluminium oxide content preferably greater than about 50 percent by weight.The inorganic fibres may be mineral or ceramic and have a length of less than about 1 mm and a mean diameter of less than about 0.01 mm. The epoxy resin may be diglycidylether capable of being cured by the addition of a curing agent.