Fire Safety

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Fire Safety

Steel is noncombustible, so it does not contribute to the ignition of fires, the spread of fires, or the size and severity of fires, thus reducing risks to occupants, firefighters and property/business owners.
Unprotected steel frames can be used in a wide range of building occupancies and sizes in accordance with building codes.
For larger and higher buildings, fire resistance rated designs for steel building elements and systems are available with fire resistance ratings of up to four hours using a broad variety of fire protection materials, including concrete, masonry, gypsum board, mineral and ceramic fire boards and blankets, sprayed fire resistant materials (SFRM) and intumescent coatings.
Fire resistance rated designs are available for unprotected steel deck with concrete topping floor systems.
Fire resistance rated designs are available for unprotected concrete-filled hollow steel section (HSS) columns.
Detailed design guidance for the selection of fire resistance rated designs is available from:
The same fire protection thickness for structural steel-framed deck/concrete floor ratings as found in UL Design No. D982 is now available in either restrained or unrestrained conditions, according to tests performed at Underwriters Laboratories in 2013. Read more at"Restrained or Unrestrained?" Modern Steel Construction, Sept. 2013.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in Canada has implemented load restrictions on structural steel beams in its fire tests for several years. However, the UL has not provided clear load restriction guidelines that are applicable to the U.S. marketplace. Clarification on how to apply load restrictions in the U.S. and suggested solutions for using UL Designs for fire protection with today's steel design codes are available. Read more at"UL Design Considerations," Modern Steel Construction, October 2015.

Latest News

MRA Announces Partnership With Today's Homeowner to Support Metal Roofing Demand Among Consumers

June 15, 2018

The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) is partnering with the national home improvement show Today’s Homeowner and expert host Danny Lipford to help promote the benefits of metal roofing nationwide this season.

AISI Publishes Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual, 2017 Edition

June 13, 2018

The design manual is available in both printed and electronic formats. It consists of two volumes and is available for purchase as a set at AISI’s online Steel Store at https://shop.steel.org/c/41/manuals-and-design-guides.

Free Download of MBMA's Energy Code Compliance Guide is Available

June 6, 2018

The new e-book is filled with concise information to help contractors understand the ever-changing and complex energy code and insulation requirements for low-rise commercial buildings, with a special focus on metal buildings.

MCA Hosts Summer Meeting June 19-20

June 6, 2018

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) will host its annual summer meeting June 19-20 at the Hilton Rosemont / O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.

AISI Standards Council Small Project Fellowship Program Announces Winning Research Proposals for 2018

June 5, 2018

The program identifies and provides funding for research projects that will significantly impact the reliability, performance, and cost-competitiveness of cold-formed steel framing products in a variety of end-use applications.