Structural Collapse Research at NIST.
Structural Collapse Research at NIST.
(3237 K)
Stroup, D. W.; Bryner, N. P.
Volume 1;
Interflam 2007. (Interflam '07). International
Interflam Conference, 11th Proceedings. Volume 1.
September 3-5, 2007, London, England, 593-604 pp, 2007.
Keywords:
fire resistance; structural collapse; structures;
building collapse; thermal exposure; building
construction; fire fighters; wooden structures;
warehouses; residential buildings; shopping centers;
steel structures; commercial buildings; vibration; large
scale fire tests
Abstract:
Approximately 20% of the fire fighters killed at
structure fires over the past ten years (not counting
the World Trade Center towers) have been as a result of
structural collapse. Predicting a potential structural
collapse is one of the most challenging tasks facing an
incident commander at a fire scene. Usually, the lack of
information on the building construction, fire size,
fire location, fire burn time, building condition, fuel
load, and other factors makes the task nearly
impossible. Over the last several years, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with
funding from the United States Fire Administration
(USFA) has been examining potential tools and techniques
for predicting structural collapse. During the course of
this research project, the effects of thermal exposure
and weight loading on various building construction
types and materials have been studied. In addition, data
on firefighter fatalities due to structural collapse
were analyzed. The use of thermal imaging equipment,
already in the hands of the fire services, to gather
temperature data from roof surfaces and use of that data
to provide warning of impending localized structural
collapse was an initial focus of the work. The research
results showed that there were many ways in which normal
fire and fire fighting activities, such as hot fire
plumes and water spray, could change surface
temperatures significantly and reduce the usefulness of
that measurement as a means of determining the safety of
structures. Other techniques that have been studied
during the course of this project include laser range
finding, motion sensing, and acoustic monitoring.
Acceleration data obtained from buildings have shown the
best potential for providing information concerning
building stability and collapse. These data have lead to
the development of a prototype for monitoring the health
of buildings. Additional research is underway to
continue development of the building monitoring system
and examine specific construction types and scenarios of
concern to fire fighters.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899