Fire engineering design of steel structures

This article reviews progress in the fire engineering design of steel structures. The problems associated with the tradiational prescriptive methods of achieving regulatory compliance are identified. The concept of a fire safety engineering approach to design is discussed in relation to the structural performance of complete buildings in fire and the development of analytical models to predict structural response at elevated temperature. Full-scale tests, observations from real fires and predictive models have all indicated that the fire resistance of complete structures is significantly better than that of the single elements from which fire resistance is universally assessed. Recent full-scale tests on an eight-storey steel framed building with composite floors have attempted to identify the alternative load paths which provide this enhanced performance and to quantify the present factors of safety. These tests are described in some detail. Conclusions are drawn from previous experience and current research, and directions for future research efforts are identified.