Prediction of the Structural Fire Performance of Buildings.
Prediction of the Structural Fire Performance of
Buildings.
(314 K)
Bukowski, R. W.
Fire and Materials 2003. 8th International Conference.
Conference Papers. Proceedings. Organised by
Interscience Communications Limited. January 27-28,
2003, San Francisco, CA, 1-8 pp, 2003.
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Keywords:
structural engineering; fire endurance tests; fire
endurance ratings; performanced based codes;
regulations; fire endurance; World Trade Center
Abstract:
The events of 11 September 2001 demonstrated the need
for engineering methods to predict the structural fire
performance of buildings when subjected to arbitrary
design fires and to extreme events. Some capabilities
exist but lack specific data such as material properties
at elevated temperatures. Existing test methods like ISO
834 and ASTM E119 assess performance under a single,
standard exposure that was developed long ago when fuel
characteristics were quite different from today. These
tests do not provide insight into the interaction of
assemblies that were tested independently nor to the
sensitivity of the assembly to variations in
construction to the design specification that was
tested. A project is being organized as a cooperative,
global effort through CIB W14:Fire and ISO TC92 Fire
Safety with the support of the FORUM for International
Cooperation in Fire Research and the NIST Building and
Fire Research Laboratory. This wide cooperation is
emblematic not only of the interest in the response of
buildings to extreme events but also the worldwide
interest in performance based building regulation.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899