New Promat study outlines best fire protection for structural steel buildings

Promat publishes whitepaper on protecting structural steel

Promat has published a new whitepaper analysing the most effective methods for protecting structural steel from fire.

The company said structural steel is now a widely used construction material that must be protected to maintain its load-bearing capacity during a fire.

According to Promat, the whitepaper compares fire protection board systems with specialist intumescent coatings, identifying where each option offers advantages for specific building types and design goals.

The document also discusses how increased data requirements under the Building Safety Act have driven demand for clearer evidence of performance.

Report reviews guidance under Building Regulations

Promat explained that the paper, titled Protecting structural steel: Fire board vs intumescent paint, focuses on the application of Part B of the Building Regulations and the Association for Fire Protection’s best practice guidance.

The company said it translates technical requirements into real-world building scenarios, reviewing how both systems perform in compartmented structures and in open-plan designs.

Promat added that the document highlights the importance of maintaining compartmentation in steel-framed buildings so that any fire remains contained within a defined area.

The company noted that while structural steel is non-combustible, it can lose its strength when exposed to extreme heat and must therefore be adequately protected under Approved Document B.

Promat calls for informed design and specification

Joshua Slack, Commercial Director at Promat UK, said: “Modern methods of building continue to evolve, and structural steel is now a leading choice in construction.

“For structural steel the need to maintain structural integrity should a fire break out is critical.

“Correctly specified Passive Fire Protection will protect steel from the rapid spread of fire for a set amount of time, allowing the blaze to be tackled by firefighters.

“With different options of passive fire protection and extensive testing available it is vital that this is supported by a clear understanding of how different methods and products will perform if needed.

“In publishing this whitepaper we aim to open the discussion and raise awareness of the best systems for use in different structural steel applications and identify what best practice looks like – and how this can be evidenced by up-to-date test data.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The whitepaper provides detailed comparisons of fire protection systems that are directly relevant to architects, fire engineers and building services professionals responsible for specifying materials under the Building Regulations.

It also offers guidance for fire-protection contractors and compliance officers involved in maintaining compartmentation and verifying system performance data under the Building Safety Act.

For those overseeing passive fire-protection design in commercial and industrial projects, the document serves as a technical resource for selecting the most appropriate system based on project type and required fire resistance.