Purpose-written or commercially available finite element software could be used to assess the structural response under fire conditions. As with all design methods, the use of the finite element method is an approximation of the real behaviour. Before such software is used the designer should be adequately experienced to identify the assumptions and approximations embedded within the software and the assumptions and approximations in the actual use of the software. Any software used must be able to model geometric and material nonlinearities.

• General principles
• Conceptual model
• Assessment of failure
• Sensitivity assessment
• Validation