Question

When using steel in a building, why must you account for its structural limits during a fire, even though steel itself does not catch fire?

Accepted Answer

Steel does not burn, but it loses its strength when it gets hot. Think of steel like a chocolate bar. When it is cold, it is hard and firm. When you hold it in your warm hand, it gets soft and starts to bend. Fire works the same way on steel. As the temperature rises, the steel gets weaker and starts to soften. If the fire stays hot for too long, the steel beams can bend or sag. If the beams bend, they can no longer hold up the weight of the floors or the roof above them. This could cause the building to collapse. Engineers must account for this by adding fireproofing, which is a special coating that acts like a heat shield to keep the steel cool for as long as possible. This extra time allows people to get out of the building safely before the steel gets too weak to do its job.

When using steel in a building, why must you account for its structural limits during a fire, even though steel itself does not catch fire?

Steel does not burn, but it loses its strength when it gets hot. Think of steel like a chocolate bar. When it is cold, it is hard and firm. When you hold it in your warm hand, it gets soft and starts to bend. Fire works the same way on ....

Community Answers

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When using steel in a building, why must you account for its structural limits during a fire, even though steel itself does not catch fire?

Steel does not burn, but it loses its strength when it gets hot. Think of steel like a chocolate bar. When it is cold, it is hard and firm. When you hold it in your warm hand, it gets soft and starts to bend. Fire works the same way on ....

Community Answers