Hyundai Steel Receives Korea's First KS Certification for H-Beam That Withstands Both Fire and Earthquakes

KS certification for fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant "SHN355FR" at Incheon plant
Retains at least 67% of room-temperature strength even at 600 C
Plans to gradually expand strength and thickness ranges

Hyundai Steel has become the first company in Korea to receive KS certification for an H-beam used in building structures that can withstand both fires and earthquakes.

Hyundai Steel H-beam products. Hyundai Steel

Hyundai Steel announced on November 12 that its fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant H-beam, "SHN355FR," recently received certification under KS D 3866, the standard for hot-rolled steel sections for building structures. According to the company, its Incheon plant became the first in Korea to receive KS certification for fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant H-beams under the revised standard.

SHN355FR is a steel product with a yield strength of 355 MPa. Yield strength is the amount of force steel can withstand before it becomes permanently deformed. This product can bear a load of approximately 36 kg or more per square millimeter. It has the deformation capacity required during an earthquake, and retains at least 67% of its yield strength at room temperature even when the steel heats up to 600 degrees Celsius in a fire.

The certification is based on KS D 3866, which the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy revised and announced in July 2024. The revised standard added fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant steel sections with yield strengths of 355 to 460 MPa (SHN-FR) to the national standards, alongside the existing earthquake-resistant steel sections (SHN).

As buildings grow taller and larger, technologies that address both fires and earthquakes are becoming increasingly important. Hyundai Steel has worked to add fire resistance to its earthquake-resistant steel technology, developed over many years. The certification formally recognizes not only the product's performance but also the company's manufacturing and quality control systems.

Using fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant steel increases building safety and improves construction efficiency. According to the company, using less fireproof coating on the steel and reducing the number of construction steps can shorten construction time.

After developing SHN, the first hot-rolled H-beam for building structures in Korea, in 2005, Hyundai Steel went on to introduce a series of high-performance construction steel products, including high-strength earthquake-resistant reinforcing bars (SD500S and SD600S) and SHN460. In 2017, it launched H CORE, Korea's first earthquake-resistant steel brand.

The company plans to gradually expand the range of steel strengths and thicknesses and continue developing manufacturing technologies that combine performance and cost-effectiveness. A Hyundai Steel representative said, "The first KS certification in Korea for SHN355FR is recognition of the fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant steel expertise and manufacturing capabilities we have built up over many years. We will contribute to creating a safer built environment through continued research and development."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.