Fireproofing – A passive fire protection measure – refers to the act of making structures more resistant to fire or the act of applying such materials. In simple terms, Fireproofing is the application of fire retardant cementitious, fibrous, or intumescent products to bare, unprotected structural steel beams, columns or decks of a building. A structural fire can exceed temperatures of 800°C or higher, depending on the severity of the conditions. Temperatures of around 550°C will cause a decline in the load-bearing properties of structural steel. The steel will lose its yield strength and buckle, causing it to bend, twist and ultimately collapse.

Fireproofing provides resistance to fire so that critical steel structures remain standing and critical control systems continue to operate in case of fire until the fire is brought under control. Fireproofing, is used to delay (or even prevent) the failure of steel structures that are exposed to the high temperatures found during a fire. Structural fire protection ensures the stability of structural elements (such as steel beams/columns or timber beams/columns) in a building in case of fire. This is reached by applying adequate products onto the structural element, such as boards, paints or sprays.