Passive and reactive fire protection to structural steel (IP 6 12)
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Passive and reactive fire protection to structural steel (IP 6/12) was written by Tom Lennon and Danny Hopkin and published by BRE on 19 January 2012.
Traditional fire-protection materials such as insulating boards, spray protection materials, flexible blankets and concrete encasements are passive in that, upon application, they inherently possess the required insulation. Reactive systems are those whose insulating properties are developed during a fire. Intumescent coatings are the most common example of reactive systems.
This 8-page information paper collates the available information on passive and reactive fire protection to structural steelwork. It covers:
- The types of product available.
- Specification.
- The advantages and disadvantages of different types of product in relation to the construction process, technical performance in tests and performance in real fires.
- The importance of third-party certification schemes for manufacturers and installers.
It is intended for use by those responsible for specifying fire protection, main contractors, building control authorities and installers, and provides information on the options available for designers, ranging from the use of unprotected steelwork to the selection of products for extreme events such as hydrocarbon fire exposure.
Its contents are:
- Background.
- Introduction.
- Unprotected steel structures.
- Partially encased steel sections.
- Protected steel sections.
- Application and third-party certification schemes.
- Fire testing and assessment.
- Performance in real fires.
- Sources of further information.
- References.
- Further reading
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Approved document B.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Fire in buildings.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire.
- Installing fire protection to structural steelwork (GG 85).#
- Intumescent coatings.
- Passive fire protection is a vital tool in any fire strategy.
- Steel.
Featured articles and news
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.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.
A carbon case for indigenous slate
UK slate can offer clear embodied carbon advantages.
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.