A simple model was built to describe the well-stratified compartment fire, by which the temperature rise of steel element was investigated. Pool fire experiments were carried out in a full-scale compartment. With different plume and spill plume correlations, the temperature development of the enclosure and steel element were modeled, then the applicability of plume models and factors affecting the calculation were analyzed. Finally, such method was put to use for design fires of a steel-structured retail shop in an airport terminal building.