The flexural buckling behaviour and design of stainless steel I-section columns at elevated temperatures are investigated in this paper. Finite element models able to accurately
replicate the response of structural stainless steel columns in fire are created and validated.
The models are then utilised to carry out extensive numerical parametric studies considering
a broad range of stainless steel grades, cross-section geometries, slendernesses and elevated
temperature levels. Using the results from the parametric studies, the safety and accuracy
of existing design rules provided in the European structural steel fire design code EN 1993-
1-2 for stainless steel columns in fire are assessed. It is observed that the existing design
rules provide rather scattered and inaccurate ultimate strength predictions for stainless steel
columns at elevated temperatures. For the purpose of establishing an accurate and practical
means of designing stainless steel columns in fire, a new design approach, compatible with
existing design rules in EN 1993-1-2, is proposed. The safety, accuracy and reliability of
the proposed approach are illustrated for a wide range of cases against the results obtained
through nonlinear finite element modelling. The proposed stainless steel column fire design
rules are due to be incorporated into the upcoming version of the European steel fire design
standard EN 1993-1-2.