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

SJI to Host Webinar on Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment on June 26, 2019

May 23, 2019

Several codes, standards and building rating systems now require or encourage the development of a whole building life cycle assessment for new building designs.

SSSBA and Partners to Host Free Webinar on May 16 for Infrastructure Week 2019

May 9, 2019

The steel industry is ready to meet the challenge of solving the national bridge infrastructure crisis with an innovative, cost-effective system.

CFSEI Announces Program for 2019 Expo

May 7, 2019

Registration is open for the 2019 CFSEI Expo, which takes place June 4-6 in Chicago, IL.

SJI to Host Webinar on "Nothing Flat About Steel Joists and Metal Decks on a Pitched Roof" on May 15

May 3, 2019

The webinar will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT on May 15 and will award 1.5 PDHs.

AISI Releases Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall Design Guide, 2019 Edition

April 29, 2019

The guide provides discussion and design examples of steel sheet and wood structural panel sheathed, cold-formed steel framed shear wall assemblies used to resist wind and seismic forces.