Intumescent coatings were prepd. by condn. of urea, melamine and dicyandiamide with polysaccharides and polyhydroxy alcs. in presence of SiO(2) nanopowder or crystalline SiO(2), used for protecting wood and chipboard surfaces and then studied for the efficiency of the fire retarding. Under action of fire, the coatings formed a porous C structure with good thermal insulating properties.