This paper presents a comparison of results obtained by a newly developed numerical model for predicting the behaviour of structures under fire with experimental study carried out on heated and simply supported steel beam elements. A newly developed numerical model consists of three submodels: 3D beam model designed for calculating the inner forces in the structure, 2D model designed for calculation of stress and strain distribution over the cross section, including the section stiffness, and 3D transient nonlinear heat transfer model that is capable of calculating the temperature distribution along the structure, and the distribution over the cross section as well. Predictions of the calculated temperatures and vertical deflections obtained by the numerical model are compared with the results of the inhouse experiment in which steel beam element under load was heated for 90 minutes.