Development of realistic design fire time-temperature curves for the testing of cold-formed steel wall systems

Fire resistance rating of light gauge steel frame (LSF) wall systems is obtained from fire tests based on the standard fire time-temperature curve. However, fire severity has increased in modern buildings due to higher fuel loads as a result of modern furniture and light weight constructions that make use of thermoplastics materials, synthetic foams and fabrics. Some of these materials are high in calorific values and increase both the spread of fire growth and heat release rate, thus increasing the fire severity beyond that of the standard fire curve. Further, the standard fire curve does not include a decay phase that is present in natural fires. Despite the increasing usage of LSF walls, their behavior in real building fires is not fully understood. This paper presents the details of a research study aimed at developing realistic design fire curves for use in the fire tests of LSF walls. It includes a review of the characteristics of building fires, previously developed fire time-temperature curves, computer models and available parametric equations. The paper highlights that real building fire time-temperature curves depend on the fuel load representing the combustible building contents, ventilation openings and thermal properties of wall lining materials, and provides suitable values of many required parameters including fuel loads in residential buildings. Finally, realistic design fire time-temperature curves simulating the fire conditions in modern residential buildings are proposed for the testing of LSF walls.     

An effective thermal property framework for softwood in parametric design fires: Comparison of the Eurocode 5 parametric charring approach and advanced calculation models

Timber, like other structural materials such as concrete and steel, has its own Eurocode (Eurocode 5 part 1.2) for the structural fire design of buildings. However unlike other fire parts of the Eurocodes it is not widely adopted due to its inherent limitations. With the exception of a single Annex, the timber Eurocode (EN 1995-1-2) is only applicable to standard fire exposure. Annex A gives guidance on the charring rates of initially un-protected timber members in parametric fires, however in the UK the use of the Annex is prohibited by the national Annex to the code.The concrete and steel industries have undoubtedly benefited from performance based design whereby the structural fire design strategy is centred on a design fire (typically a parametric fire), which is more credible than the standard fire curve. Such an approach has resulted in more flexible, innovative buildings which have been designed based upon fundamental structural mechanics at elevated temperature, using advanced numerical models. At present however the same principals cannot be applied to the advanced fire design of timber buildings due to current limitations in the timber Eurocode. Where advanced calculation procedures are considered by the code (Annex B), much like many of the methods contained therein, the procedures are only applicable to standard fire exposure.The scope of applicability of the code stems from a fundamental problem regarding a lack of understanding of the heat transfer characteristics of timber in natural fires. The thermo-physical properties contained in the code are ‘effective’ properties. This essentially means that they are calibrated against test results to account for a lack of understanding regarding mass transfer, cracking and ablation both within the timber and char layer. Such calibrations have only been performed on timber members exposed to standard furnace conditions.To attempt to overcome this barrier and extend the scope of thermo-physical properties in the code a study has been undertaken to establish how the conductivity properties of the char layer influence the depth of char in parametric fires. Through calibration of an effective conductivity of the char layer against the parametric charring method contained in Annex A of EN 1995-1-2, it has been possible to establish a relationship between ‘heating rate’ and the effective conductivity of the char layer, in the heating phase of parametric fires. The modified conductivity model is shown to be applicable to a range of densities and moisture contents of timber and also variations in heating rate and fire load density. The latter is a direct result of the method used in the adaptation of the properties. The modified model is objectively critiqued and proposed further work is discussed in detail. The applicability of the modified model in the cooling phase of fires is also discussed.     

A Risk-Based Method of Deriving Design Fires for Evacuation Safety in Buildings

This article presents a risk-based method for building fire safety design. Because the design fire is the most critical aspect of a building fire safety design, this article uses reliability theory to derive design fires from the fire risk acceptance criteria. The fire scenarios are modeled by an event tree, where different fire protection systems are presented as pivotal events. The number of casualties is estimated by the occupant number and the probability that an untenable condition is reached before occupants evacuate to a safe location. Using the probability and consequence of each fire scenario, the expected risk to life is used to integrate the fire risk acceptance criteria into the determination of the target reliability index. A global optimization method is then applied to the reliability index to obtain the design fires for each scenario. A case study was conducted to demonstrate an application of this proposed method.     

A parametric natural fire model for the structural fire design of multi-storey buildings

A parametric natural fire model is presented, which is derived on the basis of simulations with heat balance models for realistic natural design fires, taking into account the boundary conditions of typical compartments in residential and office buildings. These so-called iBMB parametric fire curves are formulated with the help of simplified empirical equations which can easily be used for structural fire design as part of a performance-based natural fire design concept. The iBMB parametric fire curves are checked and validated by comparison with results of different heat balance models and with published fire tests from different fire research laboratories. In addition, a natural fire test in a test room with ordinary office room furnishings has been performed which supports the parametric natural fire model presented here. The application of the iBMB parametric fire curves is demonstrated by means of an example.     

The influence of travelling fires on a concrete frame

When building fires occur in large, open compartments they rarely burn uniformly across an entire floor plate of a structure. Instead, they tend to travel, igniting fuel in their path and burning it out as they move to the next fuel package. Current structural fire design methods do not account for these types of fires. This paper applies a novel methodology for defining a family of possible heating regimes to a framed concrete structure using the concept of travelling fires. A finite-element model of a generic concrete structure is used to study the impact of the family of fires; both relative to one another and in comparison to the conventional codified temperature-time curves. It is found that travelling fires have a significant impact on the performance of the structure and that the current design approaches cannot be assumed to be conservative. Further, it is found that a travelling fire of approximately 25% of the floor plate in size is the most severe in terms of structural response. It is concluded that the new approach is simple to implement, provides more realistic fire scenarios, and is more conservative than current design methods.     

Energy distribution analysis in full-scale open floor plan enclosure fires

Within a fast evolving built environment, understanding fire behaviour and the thermal exposure upon structural elements and systems is key for the continued provision of fire safe designs and solutions. Concepts of fire behaviour derived from research in enclosure fires has traditionally had a significant impact in general building design. At present, open floor plan enclosures are increasingly common – building design has drastically drifted away from traditional compartmentalisation. Nevertheless, the understanding of fire behaviour in open floor plan enclosures has not developed concurrently. The compartment fire framework, first conceived for under-ventilated fires in cubic compartments, has remained as standard practice. Although energy conservation within the enclosure was the basis for the current compartment fire framework that defines under-ventilated enclosure fires, little effort has been carried towards understanding the distribution of energy in design frameworks conceived for open floor plan enclosure fires. The work presented herein describes an analysis of the energy distribution established within an experimental full-scale open floor plan enclosure subjected to different fire modes and ventilation conditions. The results aim to enable the designer to estimate the fraction of the total energy released during a fire noteworthy to structural performance.     

由典型火灾论钢结构建筑防火与抗火设计

从两起钢结构火灾案例入手，以钢结构力学、耐火性实验为依据，对这两起典型钢结构火灾案例进行了分析解剖。并结合实践，从钢结构建筑火灾模型建立、主要受力构件外敷非燃材料，受力构件的结构加固，建筑防火设计等几方面阐述了钢结构的抗火设计思路，对大空间钢结构消防设计发展趋势进行了探讨。     

建筑火灾场模拟计算中的网格独立性 --建筑防火性能化设计的若干问题探讨

建筑火灾的计算机模拟是建筑防火性能化设计的重要组成部分，场模拟是建筑火灾计算机模拟的主要方法之一。在场模拟计算中网格独立性分析直接影响计算结果的误差，甚至影响计算结果是否定性合理。通过对网格独立性问题进行研究和探讨，以求科学地认识和理解场模拟计算在性能化防火设计中的正确使用。     

Post-flashover fires for structural design

One of the major difficulties in designing structures to resist fires is the selection of post-flashover design fires. This paper proposes modifications to the parametric equation for post-flashover fires given in the Eurocode. The proposal is based on design fires obtained from the COMPF2 computer program, after calibration to results from realistic test fires using judicious characterisation of the fuel in the input data. The proposed new equation gives a much better fit to the real fire data than the existing Eurocode equation, which predicts temperatures lower than those measured in tests.     

高层建筑现状分析与其火灾预防对策探讨

针对目前高层建筑存在的各种隐患和问题,从高层建筑存在的火灾特点和火灾危险性入手,分析讨论了制约高层建筑消防安全的因素,提出了高层建筑火灾的防控对策,以期指导实践,从源头上预防火灾。     

风险管理技术在火灾风险管理中的应用

本文介绍了风险管理的基本原理,探讨了如何将风险管理技术运用于火灾风险管理决策之中,为人们选择合理的管理技术、有效地预防和控制火灾、消纳火灾的经济损失提供一个理论指导。     

火灾下钢结构楼板的薄膜作用

通过对真实火灾中的足尺火灾试验和观察显示，合组合楼板和承载钢梁的建筑物的结构承载力比现行杭大设计方法的建议值高出许多。因此规范中规定所有承载钢梁都要添加被动防火保护是不必要的。现行设计方法和实际结构性能之间产生这种差异是由于设计方法中忽略了楼板的薄膜作用。本根据国外有关资料给出了几种简单计算方法，允许在钢结构杭大设计中考虑楼板的薄膜作用。从而可以更精确地评估火灾下建筑物的真实承载能力，在给定的耐火时间内能减少相当数量钢梁的防火保护。     

Optimising design decision-making for steel structures in fire using a hybrid analysis technique

Steel structures can be protected against the effects of fully-developed fires by the use of sprayed on materials, board systems and intumescent paints, etc. or by using sufficiently large unprotected elements. This paper presents how optimum decisions for the protection of steel structures in fires can be achieved in a performance-based design environment, given conflicting structural fire design decision criteria and multidisciplinary fire design stakeholder views. In particular, a novel hybrid analysis approach is proposed for combining stakeholder views on the different fire protection options and the numerical outcomes of structural fire analysis. As for the stakeholder views, reference is made to benefits and costs criteria priorities for assessing competing options resulting from a previous study from the same authors. The fire protection structural performance is numerically and probabilistically assessed according to a parametric study. The proposed approach is exemplified by making reference to a limit state structural fire design of single steel elements. A synthesis and ranking technique is then applied to integrate the qualitative results obtained in terms of benefits and costs priority scores; and the quantitative measures of failure probabilities and costs for the different fire protection options. The results show that the ranking technique accounts for multidimensionality in synthesising the structural fire design decision problem. The results also show that intumescent paints and board systems are the most cost-effective options in different stakeholder influence scenarios, given a general selection of steel structural fire protection. The hybrid technique is proposed to support an optimal and cost-effective structural fire design decision-making for buildings in a performance-based design environment.     

FE modelling and fire resistance design of concrete filled double skin tubular columns

Concrete filled double skin tubular columns (CFDST) have excellent structural behaviour. They have been used as transmission towers and have potential to be used as building columns and bridge piers. Performance of the CFDST columns under ambient temperature has been well studied, whereas fire resistance of such columns is still a major concern. A summary of a series of fire tests on CFDST columns conducted by the authors is briefly presented in the paper. A finite element numerical model is developed to analyse the fire behaviour of CFDST columns, namely thermal and structural responses under fire exposure. The model is verified by the test results and then used to perform parametric analyses. Parameters which have significant effect on the fire behaviour of CFDST columns are identified. Based on the parametric studies, suggestions on the fire resistance design of such columns are made. Practical design tables are derived for the fire resistance design of some typical CFDST columns.     

Burning behavior of two adjacent pool fires behind a building in a cross-wind

With the global move towards performance based fire design, fire safety assessment in and around buildings becomes increasingly important. However, key knowledge gaps still exist concerning the behavior of fire swirling, which may be generated if one or more accidental fires are in the passage of the vortices behind an adjacent tall building. The present study is focused on the experimental investigations of the burning behavior of two pool fires behind 1/50 scaled tall buildings with heights varying from 0.565 to 1.165 m in a cross-wind. The objective is to gain insight of the effect of the distance between the two fires (D2), the distance between the fires and the building (D1), wind speed (V), and the height of the scaled building (H) on the burning behavior. Important conclusions have been drawn about the influence of D1 and D2 on the fuel mass loss rate, the influence of D1 on fire swirling, the influence of D2 on the possible merging of the two fires and the effect of wind speed on the mass loss rate. The results suggested the existence of a critical velocity for the cross-wind on the initiation of fire swirling and an approximate value was identified for the conditions in the tests. The investigations also covered the effect of height of the scaled building on the fuel mass loss rate and the occurrence of fire swirling. This relationship was found to be also dependent on the wind speed. Analysis of the results has led to some important recommendations to enhance the fire protection of tall buildings.     

建筑电气防火设计中电线电缆的应用

在电气火灾中,电气线路引发的火灾占很大比例,而电气线路火灾的发生除了与保护电器的动作日寸间密切相关外,还与配电线缆的选择有直接关系。本文详细分析了建筑配电设计中电线电缆、敷设方式等的选择,提出了建筑电气防火设计中电线电缆的应用要点。     

Recent Lessons Learned in Structural Fire Engineering for Composite Steel Structures

The knowledge in the field of structural fire engineering has been greatly advanced through assessment of a number of real fires (WTC, Torre Windsor, Broadgate, etc.) and, especially, by the Cardington series of full scale structural fire tests. This knowledge has been used to validate and verify the use of computational finite element models that have expanded the range of structures that can be investigated under severe fire exposure. This paper presents a selection of key lessons learned by the authors through the assessment of structures in fire for real commercial building projects. The key areas of sensitivity that have been encountered are described and a discussion of each point presented. The paper is aimed at describing potential weaknesses that have been observed in the commercial work of the authors, often driven by the requirements for efficient ambient structural design. The paper concludes with some suggested advice for structural engineers aimed at increasing the general robustness of building structures. This is based on designing out as far as possible in the ambient design of a structure the potential weaknesses identified in past project work.     

消防审核工作中《建筑设计防火规范》的灵活运用

随着建筑物的功能与楼层数逐渐增加,建筑火灾的危险性以及危害性逐渐增加,建筑物一旦发生火灾,就会带来严重的财产损失和人员伤亡,建筑工程消防审核工作是防止火灾隐患的重要环节,建筑消防审核人员需要灵活地运用《建筑设计防火规范》.论文主要研究消防审计工作中《建筑设计防火规范》的灵活使用,希望能为相关人员提供一些帮助.     

大型商业步行街的人员安全疏散案例研究

商业步行街作为一种新型建筑,其人流量较大,电气线路错综复杂,严重威胁人员安全疏散.本文以某大型商业步行街为例,根据建筑特殊防火设计理念进行了分析,分别采用FDS模拟软件建立烟气流动模型,模拟不同火灾场景下的烟气流动情况,采用Building EXODUS软件对该建筑进行人员安全疏散模拟及计算,根据火灾发生时各层的温度、...