In the UK, a wide range of generic and proprietary materials are available to provide the passive fire protection to structural steelwork. They can be divided into the following categories:

• generic materials
• sprays (cementitious or gypsum based coatings)
• boards and blankets
• intumescent coatings

All the fire protection materials and systems need to be subjected to fire tests in accordance with BS476. The Yellow Book outlines the appropriate fire test methods for assessing the physical performance characteristics of these materials. The test programmes normally involve a number of full scale loaded fire tests on beams and columns made of I-section to assess the potential fissuring, cracking or detachment of a protection system. In addition to loaded sections, some unloaded fire tests on one metre long sections are frequently required to determine the insulating performance of the fire protection materials through checking the steel temperature for different section factors, orientations and protection thicknesses.

Most of the fire protection systems, except for the intusmescent coatings, can provide up to 240 minutes fire resistance and the materials used are normally defined as being non-combustible. Some of the references providing the guidance on the application of various fire protection systems are listed below:

• BS8202-1 (1995)
• BS8202-2 (1992)
• Building design using cold formed steel sections: fire protection (SCI-P-129)
• Fire protection for structural steel in buildings, the Yellow Book (ASFP Publication)
• Guidelines for the construction of fire-resisting structural elements (BRE Publication)
• On-site measurement of intumescent coatings (ASFP TGN 003: P1)
• Structural fire design: Off-site applied thin film intumescent coatings (SCI-P-160)

The choice of the fire protection system is generally determined the following factors: appearance, durability, environmental factors, space, construction programme and cost.