Passive protection against fire

Fire prevention is becoming increasingly important in the field of design and construction, and is consequently regulated by an increasing number of laws and technical standards.
To date, fire protection is regulated at EU level particularly by EEC Directive 89/106 for Construction Products and by the Eurocodes, while at national level it is regulated primarily by the Decrees of 16 February 2007 and 9 March 2007 and by the application of the New Technical Standards for Constructions, Ministerial Decree 14 January 2008.
In the latter regulatory document, fire is classed as an exceptional event, fortunately occurring rarely but to be taken into the utmost consideration at preventive level.
When an element made of steel, reinforced or pre-stressed concrete is not protected and is exposed to high temperatures, it loses its ability to withstand the stress for which it was designed. In order to delay the collapse of the element and consequently of the entire structure, it is necessary to prepare a system of passive protection against fire to increase the “resistance to fire” of the structural elements (girders, pillars, floors, ceilings, etc.) and to extend the supporting capacity by a specific length of time necessary to put out the fire and evacuate the area.

The performance and qualities of a material destined to afford passive protection of the structures are of vital importance when it comes to choosing the material and applying it.