Does the grade of steel used affect its response to a fire?
Common structural steel grades exhibit similar deterioration of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. Thus all structural grades perform in essentially the same way. Over the years, there have been efforts in several countries to introduce a “fire resistant” steel grade into construction. This type of steel reportedly has somewhat improved properties at elevated temperatures. However, the use of this steel remains very limited in construction, mainly because improved mechanical properties of steel at elevated temperatures, in general, do not translate into significant increases in the fire resistance of respective building elements and systems.
