Installing fire protection to structural steelwork (GG 85)
Steel-framed buildings now (2017) account for 66% of the market in multi-storey non-domestic buildings and 88.5% of the market in single-storey non-domestic buildings in the UK. In 1981, fire protection accounted for 31% of the cost of structural steelwork, but by 2007, this was just 17%.
During this period, thin-film intumescent coatings came to dominate the market. These are water-based or solvent based paint like materials that expand when heated to form a ‘char’ which protects steel in the event of fire. The performance of this, and other forms of protection, such as insulating boards or sprayed protection, is dependent on the quality of the installation.
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries. On 3 May 2017, BRE published, Installing fire protection to structural steelwork (GG 85) written by Tom Lennon, Ian Stewart and Andy Russell.
The 8 page Good Building Guide addresses the importance of correctly installing passive and reactive fire protection to structural steelwork to ensure expected performance criteria are achieved in the event of a fire. It identifies key issues for specifiers, manufacturers, contractors and approval authorities and includes references to more comprehensive sources of information.
The guide highlights the importance of adequate testing, quality, installation and maintenance as well as the critical role played by third-party certification schemes.
Its contents includes:
- Introduction.
- Structural steel in fire.
- Regulatory requirements.
- Forms of passive and reactive fire protection to structural steelwork.
- Installation.
- Test, assessment and certification requirements.
- Third-party certification.
- Fire risk assessment.
- Liaison between all parties.
- Checklist.
- Summary.
- References.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved document B.
- BS 9999.
- Concrete vs. steel.
- Fire and rescue service.
- Fire authority.
- Fire detection and alarm system.
- Fire prevention on construction sites.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire safety design.
- Guidance for construction quality management professionals: Structural Steelwork.
- Intumescent coatings.
- Metal fabrication.
- Passive and reactive fire protection to structural steel (IP 6 12).
- Steel construction floor vibration
- Steel reinforcement
- Steel.
- Steel-concrete composite structures
- Structural steel
- The causes of false fire alarms in buildings.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- The role of codes, standards and approvals in delivering fire safety.
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.