Steel’s strength and flexibility enable bold architectural design, fast project delivery and enduring structures. Despite its many advantages, steel has one critical vulnerability: It fails in fire of certain temperatures.

According to the American Institute of Steel Construction, steel can lose roughly half its load-bearing strength at 1,100°F (593°C). The organization also reports that in real-world building fires, fueled by everyday office contents such as wood, paper and furniture, temperatures can exceed this threshold in minutes. That’s why many building codes mandate passive fire protection systems on exposed structural steel. Among the most effective prove thin-film intumescent coatings that expand under heat to form a charred insulating layer. These coatings delay heat transfer, allowing steel to maintain its integrity long enough to allow more time for evacuation and emergency response.

Reprinted courtesy of Fernanda Gregati, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.