Stainless Steel and Fire Resistance

As a construction material, stainless steel has many advantages over other materials such as plastic, PVC and aluminium. In addition to strength and versatility, stainless steel's resistance to corrosion is usually cited as it's main advantage but one often-overlooked benefit of the material is its resistance to fire.

As steel does not burn (and does not even begin to melt until it reaches a massive 1,400°C), it does not have or require an official 'fire rating'. In countless different tests carried out by a wide range of organisations, stainless steel has been found to outperform materials such as aluminium and galvanised steel, even after it has been subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures caused by fire and heat.

The fact that stainless steel cannot be ignited means that it will not aid the propagation of spreading flames, particularly relevant in structural conflagrations. In addition to their resistance to flames and heat, stainless steels also display strong resistance to oxidation at high temperatures.

The combination of fire resistance and corrosion resistance makes stainless steel the ideal construction material in petrochemical cladding applications, in which it offers superlative protection to vital insulation components. It's also perfect for a number of other uses, including in commercial kitchens, automotive applications and frameworks for residential claddings.

The strong fire resistant qualities of stainless steel remain the same whatever form the metal takes, be it wire, strip, coil or corrugated sheets. BS Stainless is an expert supplier of professional-quality stainless steel in all its forms: please browse our website to find out more details.