Where structural fire resistance is required in a boundary condition, it has been widely accepted that it is necessary only for the affected wall and its supporting stanchions to have a fire resistant function. A support to a gallery or a roof which also forms the function of a floor (e.g.An external wall which must retain stability to prevent fire spread to adjacent buildings (i.e.A compartment wall or the enclosing structure of a protected zone (defined by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection as an area which enables persons, air or objects to pass from one compartment to another, and which is enclosed with fire-resisting construction).Exceptions may occur where an element of structure provides support or stability to elements such as: Section 7.2(c) refers to the special provisions for the fire resistance of elements of structure in single storey buildings, with a forward reference to Appendix B of the Regulations. As a portal frame is essentially a roof, this exclusion has been understood to mean that portal frames do not need fire protection, other than in some circumstances, to prevent fire spread. Approved Document B Section 7.3, requires elements such as structural frames, beams and columns to have appropriate fire resistance, but excludes structures that support only a roof. In the UK, single storey buildings do not normally require fire resistance.

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