Steel Fire Protection: 4 Methods for Structural Safety Steel structures are widely used in industrial, commercial, and large-scale buildings because of their strength, flexibility, and dependable structural performance. However, when exposed to extreme heat, structural steel can lose strength and stiffness. This is why steel fire protection is an important consideration when designing and constructing buildings where specific fire-resistance requirements apply. The objective of structural fire protection is straightforward: slow the transfer of heat to structural steel and help maintain its load-bearing capacity