The main concern when addressing the fire engineering problems of a structure is to protect people and property while limiting the spread of fire. The notion of fire risk is often linked to the design of systems capable of limiting, or even inhibiting, the consequences of an incident. This risk can be expressed by the potential for fire to occur and the damage it causes, both to the people occupying the premises and to the structure itself.

Steel is a material that allows us to respond well to this problem:

• As an incombustible material, steel does not allow fire to spread
• As a material that is impervious to flames and gases, steel inhibits the propagation of toxic and deadly fumes
• Steel ensures the stability of the structure at high temperatures with adequate protection