This paper investigates the efficiency of coating layers used for thermal protection of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) strengthened Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. An experimental program was carried out on 36 RC beams protected by using different coating layers of Perlite, Vermiculite, Portland Cement (PC) mortar, clay and ceramic fiber. The tested beams were exposed to 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600°C for 2 h, left to cool gradually, then tested to failure. The obtained results demonstrated that exposure to elevated temperature without protection reduces the residual flexural strength of RC beams by 20-66%, depending on the degree of temperature. Protecting RC beams by a 30 mm-thick layer of the tested materials was demonstrated to be efficient in reducing heat transfer through 2-h exposure to 600°C, and thus provide higher fire rating. Protection layers of cement mortar, Aswan clay, Vermiculite, Perlite and ceramic fiber blanket, showed residual flexural capacity equal to 61%, 68%, 72%, 73% and 74% that of the control beam, respectively. Moreover, using double coating layers of ceramic fiber followed by Perlite plaster, Vermiculite plaster, PC plaster or Aswan clay, with overall total thickness of 50 mm was demonstrated to give better protection, and maintain residual flexural capacity only 5% less than the flexural capacity of control beams.
