ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the reasons that we insulate structures against fire, and the effect of fire on structures. It examines the structural fire protection design options, with practical guidance on their use. The protection of structures from fire is critical, but remains one of the most misunderstood areas of building design. The frequency of uncontrolled fire in an engineered building is low, but the consequences can be severe. Fire sprinkler systems significantly reduce the probability of uncontrolled fire in buildings. Fireproofing is used to describe insulation used for structural fire protection. There are two primary types of fire encountered within building spaces: enclosure and localized. The industry recognizes two design approaches for fire protection: standard fire resistance design and structural fire engineering. Standard fire resistance design is based on small-scale component testing and relies almost exclusively on protective insulation for structural fire protection.
