Development in advanced composite fabrication technology offers the clear prospect of cost effective application of polymer matrix composites for large load-bearing structures. However, polymer matrix composites can be severely degradated under the thermal condition caused by fire. This paper addresses the compressive load-bearing capacity for polymer matrix composite panels in naval structures and civil infrastructures under the combined thermal–mechanical condition. The failure modes arising from structural instability for single skin and sandwich panels in such combined thermal–mechanical condition are the focus in this study. The thermal field under fire heating and the degradation of mechanical properties with elevated temperature are discussed. Analytical solutions for these mechanical failure modes are presented for design considerations. The approach to the development of a quantitative methodology for fire protection design is discussed in the context of the analyses and the experiments. Design diagrams are constructed to design mechanical loads for given fire protection time, and on the opposite, to design fire protection time for given mechanical loads.