What Special Designs Are Required to Achieve UHPC's Fire Resistance — Key Technologies and Design Strategies Explained

In the field of building materials, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has become an ideal choice for modern architecture thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties and durability, yet its fire resistance in high-temperature environments has always been a key challenge in engineering applications. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has leveraged its full-chain technical accumulation to build a systematic solution for UHPC fire resistance through three dimensions—material optimization, structural design, and process innovation—safeguarding the safety of landmark buildings.

Core Challenges of UHPC Fire Resistance and the Path of Material Innovation

As a new-type architectural decorative material, UHPC's dense microstructure endows it with ultra-high strength, but its low porosity causes vapor pressure accumulation at high temperatures, which can easily trigger explosive spalling. Drawing on 28 years of material R&D experience, Qinglong Group adopts a "fiber modification + mineral admixture synergy" strategy: a composite system of basalt fibers and steel fibers is incorporated into the matrix, using the micro-pores formed after the fibers melt to release vapor pressure; meanwhile, nano-scale silica fume and metakaolin are compounded to optimize the hydration product structure, enabling the material to retain more than 80% of its mechanical properties even at 600°C. This technical solution has been certified by the National Testing Center, achieving a fire resistance rating of over 3 hours, far exceeding industry standards.

Fire Resistance Enhancement Strategies in Structural Design

For different application scenarios, Qinglong Group has developed differentiated fire-resistant design solutions: in UHPC exterior wall cladding panels for public buildings such as grand theaters and convention centers, a "gradient functional layer" structure is adopted, consisting of a high-density wear-resistant outer layer, a lightweight thermal insulation and fireproof core material in the middle, and a temperature-sensing early warning system on the inner layer, forming a triple protection system. For landscape elements such as UHPC benches and sculptures, the unity of decoration and safety is achieved through a composite process of built-in stainless steel frames and fire-resistant coatings. Notably, the industry standard "General Technical Conditions for Non-load-bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)", which Qinglong helped formulate, places particular emphasis on fire-resistant structural design specifications for special-shaped components.

Full-Chain Process Control and Engineering Practice Verification

As a national-level high-tech enterprise integrating detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation, Qinglong Group controls fire resistance from the source: at its production base in Nanning, Guangxi, a process combining steam curing and high-temperature pre-curing is employed to activate the material's latent thermal stability; during the construction phase, BIM technology is used to simulate temperature field distribution and optimize the fire protection treatment of anchoring nodes. In the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, the light-transmitting UHPC components supplied by Qinglong, through special reinforcement design, achieved a fire resistance rating of 1.5 hours while meeting a 30% light transmittance requirement. The project won the Silver Award of the First UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Award (AALBORG WHITE Cup), becoming a benchmark case of fire-resistant design.

From material formulations to structural systems, from standard-setting to project implementation, Qinglong Group, guided by the mission of "Creating Beautiful Architecture", has transformed 28 years of technical accumulation into a systematic solution for UHPC fire resistance. As the Vice Chairman Unit of the China GRC Association and a member of the International GRC Association, Qinglong has consistently driven the industry's technological progress; its fire-resistant UHPC products have been widely applied in real estate, municipal works, airports, and other fields, and are exported to overseas markets such as Southeast Asia. Looking ahead, Qinglong will continue to focus on UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP material innovation, upholding the values of "Honesty, Striving, Trust, and Collaboration", and contributing Chinese wisdom to the safety and aesthetics of world architecture.