Short answers, pulled from the story.
A certification listed fireproofing system allows a building to earn a specific fire-resistance rating that defines the duration and intensity of fire conditions the material can withstand before failing. This rating determines how long an item classed as fireproof resists specified circumstances for a set time.
Asbestos was one material historically used for fireproofing either on its own or together with binders such as cement until it was proven to cause cancer. A large removal-and-replacement industry has been established because the material caused cancer, marking a significant turning point in how society approached structural protection.
In a building fire, structural steel loses strength as temperature increases toward approximately 540 degrees Celsius. Encasing structural steel in brick masonry or concrete delays exposure to high temperatures but uses heavy materials that greatly increase the load on the steel frame itself.
Humidity probes inserted into all tested slabs verify performance under DIN4102, ASTM E119, BS476, or ULC-S101 standards. Cementitious spray fireproofing must be certification-listed and applied per UL1709 hydrocarbon test curves where such transports are permitted.
During a fire, chemically-bound water within these blocks forces steam into the chamber soaking papers to prevent ignition while keeping internal temperatures below thresholds where information destruction occurs. Paper can later undergo freeze drying processes if extinguished before exceeding critical limits.