Analysis of needs and existing capabilities for full-scale fire resistance testing

Abstract

This report uses the term "fire-induced collapse" to indicate the failure of a structure, or significant portion of a structure, that could be attributable directly to a fire event in the building. In some cases, the building may have been under construction or in process of renovation, or it may have experienced significant damage prior to the fire caused by a blast, impact, or an earthquake. A subsequent report on the collapse of the WTC towers (NIST NCSTAR 1, September 2005) found that WTC 1 and WTC 2 collapsed due to aircraft impact damage to the structure and fireproofing as well as to fire. Both effects (damage and fire) were equally important. In the absence of structural and insulation damage, a fire substantially similar to or less intense than the fires encountered on September 11, 2001, likely would not have led to the collapse of a WTC tower. On the other hand, it was concluded in NIST NCSTAR 1A (October, 2008) that WTC 7 would have collapsed from fires having the same characteristics as those experienced on September 11, 2001, even without the initial structural damage to the building initiated by the collapse of WTC 1. The Building Performance Study conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA 403, May 2002) refers to the partial collapse of WTC 5 as "fire-induced." No analysis was conducted to determine the relative roles of the initial structural damage and the subsequent fires that led to the fate of WTC 5.

Behavior of clay hollow-brick masonry walls during fire. Part 1: Experimental analysis

“…However, several limitations to these prescriptive methods for determining fire resistance exist. For instance, semi-empirical methods for fire-resistance requirements (available mainly in standard design codes) often result in overdesigning [12][13][14][15] the structural elements, costing the owner extra money and limiting design flexibility.…”

Vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures for fire and earthquake risk

“…Figure 14.1 shows an example of the column's lateral deformation due to the thermal expansion in fi re. Figure 14.1a illustrates shear failure of a column on the 6th fl oor of the US Military Personnel Records Centre building due to the fi re that occurred in 1973 (Beitel and Iwankiw 2002), and Figure 14.1b demonstrates how the thermal expansion induces lateral deformation to the columns. Although the response of reinforced concrete columns under lateral loads has been studied for many years, a remaining challenge has been the development of a reliable methodology for evaluating effects of such lateral deformation in performance of the structure in fi re.…”

Best practice guidelines for structural fire resistance design of concrete and steel buildings

“…Fire-resistant design of structural steel framing is often required, depending on the fire risks associated with the structure, the magnitude of potential losses due to structural failures caused by fire, and the accumulated performance record of similar structures in past fire incidents. While fire risks and consequences are discussed in earlier chapters, Beitel and Iwankiw (2002) provide a comprehensive review of fire-associated structural failure incidents in buildings higher than three stories.…”