destruction – no
Materials scientists from NUST MISIS have developed a new fire-resistant steel grade, as reported by the university to socialbites.ca.
Thanks to its enhanced resistance at elevated temperatures, the steel slows the degradation of load-bearing structures during a fire and creates a larger evacuation window for occupants.
“When exposed to heat, ordinary steel softens and loses strength within roughly 15 minutes. The new alloy can endure about 30 to 45 minutes,” explained Alexander Komissarov, head of the Hybrid Nanostructured Materials Laboratory at NUST MISIS and one of the project’s developers.
Conventional steel typically loses its load-bearing capacity quickly under high heat, leading to deformation and collapse in buildings. This complicates firefighting, slows recovery, and raises repair costs.
“Our aim is to preserve bearing capacity in fire conditions at temperatures between 500 and 700 °C. This occurs as fine carbide and nitride particles migrate to grain boundaries, slowing deformation and buckling,” Komissarov noted.
Currently, researchers are collaborating with Severstal to test the new steel. Komissarov said the experiments should conclude within the year.
“By late 2022, various regulations may come into effect, and starting next year finished products could enter the market. Fireproofing costs will still be higher than standard steel, but the Ministry of Emergency Situations will be able to deliver fire protection in line with fire service requirements. Presently, the steel is used with fire-retardant coatings to slow heating. Our alloy eliminates that extra layer, reducing overall design costs. For example, one ton of traditional steel costs 120 thousand rubles, with fire protection the price rises to 180 thousand rubles. Our rolled products would cost around 150 thousand rubles, saving roughly 30 thousand rubles per ton for developers,” Komissarov explained.
Beyond protection, using this steel can reduce structural weight, shortening construction times for industrial facilities, shopping centers, sports venues, and housing. The material is currently being tested for industrial buildings, with residential testing planned after initial results.
Socialbites.ca contacted the Russian Ministry of Emergencies for feedback, but officials promised a response after the material undergoes a full testing cycle by NUST MISIS researchers.
it won’t get any better
Independent metallurgy expert Leonid Khazanov contends there will be little fundamental difference between the new steel grade and existing options.
“There is no pressing need to outfit every building nationwide with fire-resistant steel; in a fire, internal elements tend to fail before the load-bearing components,” he argued.
Khazanov notes that a building’s collapse rate during a fire depends on ignition source, fire spread, exposure duration, wall and ceiling materials, and the presence of cracks. If a structure experiences intense heat for one to two hours, metal components may still fail, he cautioned.
The brigade pointed out the steel’s relatively low heat capacity leads to rapid heat dissipation, setting the critical heating threshold for these structures around 470–550 °C.
Varvara Semenova, head of LAW Architect, an industrial design firm, emphasized that adoption hinges on clear economic benefits.
“Only once the material demonstrates definitive qualitative and quantitative fire-test results, and with compatible fire protection, can a meaningful cost comparison be made.”
Semenova adds that Russia’s fire safety rules are anchored in Federal Law 123-FZ, which governs fire resistance standards for building structures. According to the law, structures must withstand fire exposure within their designated capabilities.
She concludes that the appeal of a true fire-safe material would be the ability to meet fire-resistance limits without additional protective paints or coatings, a development that would likely please the construction industry.