Question 1

What is the Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP)™?

Accepted Answer

The ICP™ is NanoTech's patented, high-performance ceramic additive — a powder engineered to manage heat. Dispersed into coatings, sealants, and other base materials, it gives them the ability to reject, contain, or slow the transfer of heat. It is the core platform behind all three NanoTech product lines.

Question 2

How is the ICP™ different from traditional insulation fillers?

Accepted Answer

Unlike conventional fillers that simply add bulk, the ICP™ is engineered for heat control. It enhances surface emissivity and lowers thermal conductivity, so coated surfaces reject heat rather than merely reflect it — making ICP-enhanced products more efficient and more durable.

Question 3

Is the ICP™ a coating or an additive?

Accepted Answer

The ICP™ itself is a ceramic additive. It becomes part of a finished product — a coating, sealant, or composite — when dispersed into a base material. That flexibility lets NanoTech formulate solutions for roofing, industrial insulation, and fire mitigation from one platform.

Question 4

How does the ICP™ improve energy efficiency?

Accepted Answer

By combining low thermal conductivity with high emissivity, the ICP™ helps surfaces manage heat more effectively — reducing thermal load, lowering cooling demand, and minimizing energy waste. On roofs this can translate into reduced HVAC demand and lower long-term operating costs.

Question 5

Can the ICP™ be used in both hot and cold environments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The ICP™ is designed for thermal management across extreme temperatures — whether rejecting heat from sun-exposed surfaces or slowing heat loss from high-temperature systems — with stable performance across a wide range of applications.

Question 6

Is the ICP™ safe for use in occupied spaces?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The ICP™ is integrated into water-based, low-VOC coatings that are odorless once cured and contain no hazardous fibers. Unlike fiberglass or mineral wool, there is no fiber exposure or irritation, so ICP-enhanced products can be applied indoors and outdoors in occupied environments.

Question 7

Has the ICP™ been independently tested?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Products built on the ICP™ platform undergo third-party testing for thermal performance, safety, and durability. The specific standards depend on the product and application — see Certifications, Testing & Standards below, and the technical documentation library for test reports.

Question 8

Has the ICP™ received any recognition?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TIME named NanoTech's Insulative Ceramic Particle™ technology to its list of the 200 Best Inventions of 2024, in the manufacturing and materials category.

Question 9

Which products use the ICP™?

Accepted Answer

All three NanoTech systems are built on the ICP™ platform: Cool Roof Coat (reflective roof coating), Wildfire Shield (fire-protective timber coating), and Cool Touch (industrial insulative coating).

Question 10

What is the Cool Roof Coating System?

Accepted Answer

Cool Roof Coat is a high-performance, water-based acrylic roof coating built on the ICP™ platform. It delivers high solar reflectance and reduces heat absorption, cutting HVAC load and extending roof life — applied directly over your existing roof with no tear-off.

Question 11

How is it different from a standard white roof coating?

Accepted Answer

Conventional cool roof coatings rely on reflectance alone. NanoTech's system adds the ICP™ to actively reject heat through high emissivity as well, so it keeps performing even as the surface ages or gets dirty — delivering more consistent energy savings over time.

Question 12

Can it be installed without removing my existing roof?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cool Roof Coat is designed to restore and protect aging roofs by applying directly over qualified substrates — avoiding full tear-offs, disposal costs, and operational disruption.

Question 13

What roof types can it be applied over?

Accepted Answer

Cool Roof Coat adheres to TPO, EPDM, PVC, metal, built-up roofing (BUR), modified bitumen, and spray polyurethane foam (SPF). Compatibility is confirmed during a free roof assessment.

Question 14

What types of buildings benefit most?

Accepted Answer

Commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities — especially flat or low-slope roofs in hot, cooling-dominant climates where HVAC costs and roof degradation are the biggest concerns.

Question 15

How much can it cut my energy costs?

Accepted Answer

HVAC savings of up to 50% are reported on qualifying low-slope commercial roofs in cooling-dominant climates. Actual savings depend on building size, insulation, occupancy, and roof condition, and are confirmed during the site assessment. Typical payback is 3–5 years from energy savings alone.

Question 16

How does it handle ponding water?

Accepted Answer

Cool Roof Coat is waterproof and engineered to resist ponding-water conditions. It does not soften or fail where standing water is present.

Question 17

Is it certified and code-compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cool Roof Coat is CRRC-rated and meets Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1, and IECC requirements, and is approved for Miami-Dade County. Many utilities offer rebates for qualifying cool-roof installations.

Question 18

What warranty is available?

Accepted Answer

Cool Roof Coat is backed by No Dollar Limit (NDL) warranty options of 10, 15, or 20 years. Exact terms depend on the system specification and are detailed during the assessment.

Question 19

How durable is the coating?

Accepted Answer

The formulation resists UV degradation, ponding water, and thermal cycling — performing from Houston summers to northern winters. It is engineered to maintain high reflectance for the life of the coating rather than fading within 5–7 years like many conventional products.

Question 20

How long does installation take, and is the building disrupted?

Accepted Answer

Most commercial roofs are completed in days, depending on size and condition. The process is low-odor and non-disruptive, so there is no need to vacate the building.

Question 21

What is Wildfire Shield?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire Shield is a non-sacrificial, fire-protective coating built on the ICP™ platform. It acts as a high-temperature thermal barrier that shields timber infrastructure — utility poles, bridge timbers, and rail trestles — from wildfire damage.

Question 22

How does it protect timber from wildfire?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire Shield uses high reflectance, high emissivity, and low thermal conductivity to slow heat transfer into the wood, so the substrate resists ignition under flame impingement and radiant heat — across multiple fire events, not just the first. Because it is non-sacrificial, it stays in place and keeps protecting rather than burning away.

Question 23

How is it different from intumescent or cementitious coatings?

Accepted Answer

Unlike intumescent coatings that must swell when heated, or thick cementitious layers, Wildfire Shield does not rely on heat activation and is designed to maintain integrity across repeated exposures — without the cracking or flaking common to cementitious systems.

Question 24

What substrates can it be applied to?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire Shield is designed for timber substrates — including utility poles (Douglas Fir, Southern Yellow Pine, Western Red Cedar), bridge timbers, rail trestles, and structural wood members. It is also compatible with creosote- and CCA-treated timber, as well as legacy pentachlorophenol-treated lumber still in service.

Question 25

What fire testing does it meet?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire Shield is tested per ASTM E119 (fire-resistance of building construction and materials) and achieves ASTM E84 Class A results — Flame Spread 0 and Smoke Development 0.

Question 26

What temperature can it withstand?

Accepted Answer

NanoTech's product documentation describes Wildfire Shield protecting against temperatures up to 3,272°F (1,800°C) without producing smoke or VOCs. For specification and code purposes, fire performance is verified by its ASTM E119 fire-resistance rating and its ASTM E84 Class A result.

Question 27

Can it be applied to in-service utility poles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Wildfire Shield can be field-applied to both new and in-service poles without removing them from the line — no outage is required during installation.

Question 28

Can structures be inspected after coating?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Wildfire Shield dries to a white finish (custom colors available) that lets inspectors visually assess poles and structures without removing cladding. After a fire event it can be inspected visually and, if damaged, recoated in localized areas — in most cases the timber beneath remains structurally sound.

Question 29

Is it used on public infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) uses Wildfire Shield for passive fire protection on timber lagging along highways and bridges, and it has been deployed on utility and rail infrastructure across the Western US.

Question 30

Is it environmentally safe?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire Shield is water-based and low-VOC. Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in the technical documentation library for detailed environmental and safety information.

Question 31

How long does the protection last, and how often must it be recoated?

Accepted Answer

Recoat intervals depend on the substrate, exposure, and environment. Contact NanoTech for maintenance and recoat recommendations tailored to your specific application.

Question 32

What is Cool Touch?

Accepted Answer

Cool Touch is an ICP-engineered, spray-on industrial insulating coating. It replaces traditional fiberglass-and-jacketing systems on pipes, vessels, and equipment — helping prevent corrosion under insulation (CUI) while keeping surfaces touch-safe.

Question 33

What is the maximum operating temperature?

Accepted Answer

Cool Touch is rated up to 350°F at the recommended multi-coat film build. Multi-coat application extends the effective range; for intermittent or short-duration excursions, consult NanoTech engineering for peak-temperature guidance.

Question 34

How does it prevent corrosion under insulation (CUI)?

Accepted Answer

CUI requires moisture trapped between insulation and the substrate. Cool Touch is a monolithic coating applied directly to the surface, with no gap and no jacketing to seal — so there is nowhere for moisture to accumulate, helping prevent the root cause of CUI.

Question 35

How does it protect personnel from burns?

Accepted Answer

Cool Touch reduces exposed surface temperatures toward the ≤140°F contact-safe threshold defined by ASTM C1055 and EN ISO 13732 — the hot-surface contact-burn guides that OSHA references in practice under its general duty clause — typically in 1–2 coats.

Question 36

Can it replace mineral wool or calcium silicate insulation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cool Touch provides thermal management with no metal jacketing, no banding, and no caulking, and without the moisture-retention and CUI issues of traditional systems — while making inspection far simpler.

Question 37

How does it compare on cost?

Accepted Answer

On new construction, installed cost is comparable to traditional insulation. On retrofits, Cool Touch is typically 30–50% less expensive once jacketing removal, disposal, and reduced installation time are factored in.

Question 38

Can it be applied to systems already in service?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. Cool Touch can be applied to warm (not hot) surfaces; for systems that cannot be shut down, application is scheduled during reduced-temperature windows with your operations team.

Question 39

Is it suitable for outdoor, weather-exposed service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cool Touch is UV-stable and weather-resistant, performing in direct sun, rain, and coastal environments without the moisture-intrusion problems of jacketed systems.

Question 40

What standards does it meet?

Accepted Answer

Cool Touch is tested per ASTM C177 (thermal conductivity), ASTM E1269 (specific heat), NACE/AMPP TM21423 (personnel-protection heat transfer), and ISO 9227 (neutral salt spray). Full test reports are available in the specifier pack.

Question 41

What happens if the coating is damaged?

Accepted Answer

Localized damage is repaired in the field by cleaning the area and reapplying Cool Touch. Small repairs typically need no scaffolding or specialized equipment.

Question 42

Which industries does NanoTech serve?

Accepted Answer

NanoTech serves commercial and industrial roofing, architecture and construction, transportation infrastructure (DOT), parks and recreation, railroads and right-of-way, and oil, gas, and energy facilities.

Question 43

What are common Cool Roof applications?

Accepted Answer

Roof restoration and energy-efficiency retrofits, metal-building cool roofs, and storm-resilient roofing for public facilities — typically flat or low-slope commercial and institutional buildings.

Question 44

What are common Wildfire Shield applications?

Accepted Answer

Bridge and overpass wildfire defense, wooden-infrastructure protection, defensible-space fencing, and trail and park fire protection — along with utility poles and rail trestles.

Question 45

What are common Cool Touch applications?

Accepted Answer

Personnel burn protection on hot piping, and thermal energy-loss prevention on vessels, tanks, valves, and equipment in oil, gas, and process facilities.

Question 46

How do I know which product is right for my project?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your goal: energy efficiency and longer roof life (Cool Roof Coat), wildfire protection for timber infrastructure (Wildfire Shield), or industrial insulation, CUI prevention, and personnel safety (Cool Touch). Contact our team for a recommendation tailored to your project.

Question 47

Where has Wildfire Shield been deployed?

Accepted Answer

Deployments include Caltrans highway and bridge timber lagging, utility and rail corridors across the Western US, and SpaceX launch areas.

Question 48

What certifications does the Cool Roof system carry?

Accepted Answer

CRRC-rated solar reflectance, Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1, and IECC compliance, and Miami-Dade County approval. Surface-burning and weathering performance is documented to the applicable ASTM methods. Request the specifier pack for current test reports.

Question 49

What fire standards does Wildfire Shield meet?

Accepted Answer

ASTM E119 fire-resistance and ASTM E84 Class A — Flame Spread 0 and Smoke Development 0.

Question 50

What standards does Cool Touch meet?

Accepted Answer

ASTM C177, ASTM E1269, NACE/AMPP TM21423, and ISO 9227, with personnel contact-burn protection referenced to ASTM C1055 / EN ISO 13732 (a 140°F threshold).

Question 51

Is Cool Touch “OSHA approved” for safe-touch?

Accepted Answer

OSHA does not publish a formal safe-touch temperature standard. The recognized hot-surface contact-burn guides are ASTM C1055 and EN ISO 13732 (both based on a 140°F / 60°C threshold), which OSHA references in practice under its general duty clause. Cool Touch is engineered to bring exposed surfaces toward that threshold.

Question 52

Are NanoTech coatings low-VOC?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NanoTech coatings are water-based. Cool Roof Coat has no reportable VOCs, and Wildfire Shield and Cool Touch are low-VOC. Consult each product's SDS for specifics.

Question 53

Does the Cool Roof coating have a hail or impact rating?

Accepted Answer

Hail and impact performance is documented to the applicable test method (for example, UL 2218 or FM 4470 Class 4). Request the current rating and test report for your specification.

Question 54

Where can I get test reports, TDS, and SDS documents?

Accepted Answer

All technical data sheets, safety data sheets, and third-party test reports live in the Technical Documentation library. White papers and case studies are also available in the Resource Library.

Question 55

Who applies NanoTech coatings?

Accepted Answer

NanoTech coatings are installed by trained, approved applicators. NanoTech provides training, certification, and support to ensure proper application and warranty compliance.

Question 56

What equipment is used to apply the coatings?

Accepted Answer

The coatings are applied with standard airless spray equipment (and brush for some fire applications) — no specialized rig is required. NanoTech is an authorized Graco distributor and offers approved applicators discounted equipment.

Question 57

What does a typical project look like?

Accepted Answer

A typical flow is assessment, surface preparation, coating application, then inspection and documentation — including dry-film thickness verification. Cool Roof and Cool Touch projects also include a final performance and spec check.

Question 58

What warranties are available?

Accepted Answer

Cool Roof Coat offers No Dollar Limit (NDL) warranty options up to 20 years. Manufacturing warranties are available through the Approved Applicator Program; exact terms depend on the system and are confirmed during assessment.

Question 59

How do I get a project assessment or quote?

Accepted Answer

Request a free assessment through the contact page or a product landing page. NanoTech will evaluate your roof, infrastructure, or system and provide a tailored recommendation.

Question 60

Do you offer training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NanoTech offers online and ongoing training through the Approved Applicator Program, plus training resources in the Resource Library.

Question 61

Where can I get technical support?

Accepted Answer

Contact NanoTech's team for technical support, product selection, and specification help. You can also use the AI-powered search on this page to find answers from our documentation.

Question 62

How do I become a NanoTech approved applicator?

Accepted Answer

Apply through the contact page to join the Approved Applicator Program. The program includes online training and certification so you can sell and install NanoTech systems.

Question 63

What are the applicator program tiers?

Accepted Answer

There are three tiers. Introductory includes online training, the ability to sell and install, and internal leads. Pro adds a website listing with Pro status, co-branded geo-fenced digital advertising, monthly sales education, and the ability to offer the manufacturing warranty. Elite adds prioritized leads, Elite website status, a co-branded case study, and sales-team co-presentation.

Question 64

What benefits do applicators get?

Accepted Answer

Training and certification, qualified leads, a website listing, co-branded marketing and geo-fenced digital advertising, the ability to offer manufacturing warranties, and discounted Graco equipment as an authorized distributor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP)™ Technology

Cool Roof Coating System

Fire Protective Coating System (Wildfire Shield)

Insulative Coating System (Cool Touch)

Applications & Industries

Certifications, Testing & Standards

Application, Warranty & Support

Becoming a Certified Applicator & Partners

Company & General