Steel is non-combustible and does not act as a fuel in a fire. That said, like all structural materials, steel’s load-carrying capacity changes when exposed to elevated temperatures. Engineers manage this through design: selecting appropriate sections, limiting loads, and applying passive fire protection so the structure remains stable for the required evacuation and firefighting periods. What makes steel a preferred structural material in fire engineering is its predictable behaviour. Because its response to temperature can be modelled and tested, designers can specify