The aim of this work is introduce to the international scientific community the recently
released Brazilian Standards for the design of steel structures under fire situations. They are:
‘‘Steel Structures Fire Design'' (NBR 14323/1999) and ‘‘Fire Resistance Requirements for
Building Construction Elements'' (NBR 14432/2000). The aim of structure fire design is to prevent the structure from collapsing, allowing enough time for safe evacuation of building occupants, safe fire fighting operations and reduction in damage to neighboring construction.
NBR-14323 provides a simplified method for calculation of fire resistance design for steel structural elements. NBR-14432 presents prescriptive recommendations for minimum fire
resistance time of construction elements. This Standard also waives fire resistance time requirements depending on building height and area, fire protection devices and occupancy. They also allow the use of alternative methods of fire safety engineering. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Click here for full document.