Assessing the fire performance of existing reinforced concrete flooring systems IP 9 12
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Assessing the fire performance of existing reinforced concrete flooring systems (IP 9/12) was written by Tom Lennon and published by BRE on 27 March 2012.
During their lifetimes, buildings may be refurbished or renovated, often to provide functions not envisaged when they were originally designed. As a result, their structure may no longer achieve the required fire resistance, and defects or material degradation may mean it no longer achieves the performance assumed when it was built.
This 12-page information paper provides guidance on assessing the fire performance of reinforced concrete flooring systems, which were often used in large buildings built in the post-war period. It provides information about carrying out assessments using tabulated values from national standards and the Eurocode for the design of concrete structures, as well as experience and research by the Fire Research Station (now part of BRE Group).
It will help clients, contractors and building control bodies estimate the levels of performance provided by different forms of construction, many of which are no longer in widespread use.
The contents of the information paper are:
- Introduction.
- Concrete in fire.
- Tabulated data for reinforced concrete floors.
- Alternative forms of construction.
- Methods to enhance the fire resistance of existing floor systems.
- Conclusions.
- References.
[edit] Find out more.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved document B.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- BS 9999.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Concrete and fire safety.
- Concrete.
- Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multistorey buildings, third edition (BR 135).
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire.
- Managing fire risk in commercial buildings: A guide for facilities managers.
- Managing risks in existing buildings: An overview of UK risk-based legislation for commercial and industrial premises (FB 86).
- Reinforced concrete.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
New and updated CLC building safety guidance.
New UK National Buildings Database.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.