ABSTRACT
It is a legal requirement, stated formally in the Building Regulations [1], which govern all forms of building construction, that buildings in the UK be so designed as to exhibit an acceptable level of performance in the event of a fire. Essentially this is intended to ensure public safety rather than to safeguard the structure itself. Thus the main criteria are to prevent premature collapse, thereby permitting escape from the building, and to limit the spread of the fire, thus reducing the risk to surrounding properties and their occupants. The extent to which replacement of the actual steel frame would have to form part of the reinstatement of the building fabric in the event of a fire is very much a secondary issue.
