Why Modular Steel Buildings Are Fire Resistant
In commercial buildings, a fire can exceed temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes. With these extreme temperatures come major risks to personnel, property, assets, and structural integrity. One of the most important ways to reduce the risk of fires is to choose the right building materials. What are the pros and cons of modular steel buildings for fire resistance?
Are Modular Steel Buildings a Good Choice for Fire Resistance?
Steel-framed buildings can provide excellent fire resistance. Not only do they outperform wood frames, but they also provide better passive resistance to fire. That said, any building’s fire resistance depends on all materials used in construction, not just the frame.
What is fire resistance? This rating measures how well construction materials:
- Perform in intense heat
- Resist ignition
- Prevent fires from spreading
- Maintain structural integrity in a fire
Many modular steel buildings provide high fire-resistance ratings, especially when they’re designed with fire safety and thermal performance in mind.
Is Steel Fire-Resistant?
Steel is one of the best fire-resistant building materials. According to the American Institute of Steel Construction, steel is noncombustible, which means it doesn’t burn. You never have to worry about steel beams, roofing, or cladding contributing to the growth of a building fire (though conventional paints can ignite).
Steel frames are also exceptionally strong and resilient in the event of a fire. The load rating of a steel modular building depends on beam specifications, but this material retains its structural integrity well in high heat. Even at 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, structural steel maintains approximately 60% of its normal yield strength.
Considering that local building codes rarely allow engineers to get close to the max load rating of steel, this means that many properly installed steel buildings can successfully withstand fires. This outcome is even more likely when passive or active fire-prevention measures are in place, such as intumescent (fire-retardant) paint or sprinkler systems.
Fireproof Versus Fire Resistant
Despite its excellent performance in building fires, steel isn’t fireproof. No building material is completely impervious to fire. Large industrial fires can eventually reach temperatures of 1,200 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit or more. It takes more than 2,500 degrees for structural steel to melt, but issues such as creep and yield strength loss appear at much lower temperatures.
It’s also important to keep in mind that a steel building’s fire resistance depends on all of the materials used in construction. For example, some polyurethane foam insulation can catch fire, burn quickly, and spread flames through the spaces between walls while releasing toxic fumes. Fiberglass and mineral wool are better choices for fire resistance.
What Are the Advantages of Steel Modular Buildings for Fire Resistance?
The materials and design used in steel modular buildings often provide important advantages over other construction options.
Nonflammable Material
Structural steel is naturally fire-resistant. They don’t contribute to a fire or ignite when too close to a heat source. This can give employees time to react in an emergency, putting out grease fires or accidental flames with a fire extinguisher. It’s easier to contain minor fires in a steel frame building without them turning into major disasters.
This is a major advantage compared to timber building frames. Even when treated with flame-retardant chemicals, wood is flammable. Timber conducts heat instead of repelling it, quickly feeding building fires and allowing flames to spread from one area to another. The dangers are even greater with untreated wood, plywood, fiberboard, and other plant-based materials.
Cost-Effective Fire Resistance
Steel frame buildings are comparatively inexpensive to build, especially when you use a modular building template for many commercial locations. The tensile strength of structural steel allows for the rapid construction of large buildings, such as data centers, aircraft hangars, and industrial warehouses.
In contrast, working with reinforced concrete is time-consuming and expensive. Building projects can take weeks or months, increasing labor costs significantly.
That said, concrete is also an excellent fire-resistant building material with low thermal conductivity. For permanent installations, some industrial businesses (e.g., oil refineries and metal production operations) use steel beams that are reinforced with high-density concrete.
Portable Fire-Resistant Structures
When it comes to temporary or portable buildings that are fire-resistant, few options can even come close to steel modular construction. You don’t have to pour concrete pillars, spray fire-resistant insulation, install new gypsum boards, or apply special coatings to timber frames. The structure remains fire-resistant wherever you need to set up shop.
Is fire-resistance important at event venues? Over the years, there have been many fires at concerts and music festivals, sometimes caused by fireworks, bonfires, or food truck fires. These incidents led to the creation of NFPA 96, the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.
Consistent Fire Protection
Steel modular buildings are designed, engineered, and produced in a factory. This allows for even, consistent application of intumescent paint, gypsum boards, and similar fire-protective layers. Sometimes, modular construction happens on the factory floor, which provides even more precision.
Of course, traditional construction can achieve similar results, but the process takes longer and requires more oversight. There are more chances for mistakes, like installing the wrong materials for high-risk environments. Working with a modular building designer means you can trust that every component has been handled by experienced professionals.
Which Industries Benefit Most From the Fire-Resistance of Steel Modular Buildings?
Modular steel buildings are a fast and cost-effective solution for any commercial building project where excess heat or fire risks are a concern. Common examples include:
- Data centers
- Pop-up restaurants and QSR franchises
- Concert and sporting event venues
- Automotive repair shops
- CNC machining and metalworking shops
As the risk of wildfires increases, many real estate developers in fire-prone regions are also looking into the benefits of steel building construction.
Steel Modular Buildings Engineered to Your Fire-Resistance Specifications
One of the biggest benefits of steel modular buildings for fire resistance is their customizability and versatility. At Roxbox, we help our clients select the right materials for thermal control, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and other project goals. Request a quote today.