H.

Describe the performance of concrete and structural steel such as universal

beams (UB) when subjected to fire.
Fire has great capacity to harm human life if it is not properly treated. It can lead to loss
of human property and life. Nowadays, in modern construction steel structure is more often
used, hence its response in case of fire is necessary to study to be treated properly in
design. Structural response of steel structure in case of fire depends on material
degradation, loss of stiffness and strength, thermal gradient, restrains for expansion. The
effects of thermally induced forces and deformations on the performance and safety of steel
structures subjected to fire are not well understood and are not properly treated in building
codes and standards. Hence, resistance behaviour of a beam subjected to standard fire load
iso834 curve is studied and response of beam for different types of restrains is studied which
is helpful in understanding the behaviour of frame structure.
The structural strength of concrete and structural steel would be reduced when exposed
to prolonged fire. Various references can be quoted. The strength of concrete reduces with
increasing of temperature. Concrete strength can reduce to as low as 20% that of its original
strength at a temperature of 800 degrees centigrade. When steel is exposed to temperature
of 250 degrees centigrade the yield strength of hot rolled steels increases but when steel is
exposed to about 550 degrees centigrade, the steel weakens to a situation where yielding is
likely to happen.
I.
Universal beams were used to rectify the slab by transferring the load of one
side of the slab onto the UB and leaving the opening as it is. Below the slab of the
substation is a car park and there may be a possibility of fire breaking out in the car
park. What methods can be adapted to fireproof steel sections like this UB?
The fire-safety requirements are similar for both types of buildings. The only difference is
the method of protection which depends on whether the building is constructed using steel or
concrete. Fire resistance is a property of a particular building element which measures its
ability to resists the spread of fire through the material characteristics of
1. Stability (resistance to collapse or excessive deflection)
2. Integrity (resistance to passage of flames and hot gases)
3. Insulation (resistance to excessive temperature rise on exposed face)
Usually, fire resistance of a building element is expressed in terms of the minimum
period of time during which is the building element would function satisfactorily while subject
to a standard fire test. It is the onus of the designer to accord additional and appropriate
level of fire protection to materials used in the building which do not meet the required rating
of fire resistance.
In buildings, fire protection entails a series of measures that lead to the provision of
escapes, compartments and suppression systems to either prevent or mitigate an outbreak
of fire. A wide range of materials and products are available to protect structural steelwork
from fire. An appropriate type of protection can be selected based on the needs of the
development. The fire protection system can be applied using the profile, box and solid
methods. Steel beams that are designed as a composite section with the slab usually require
a three-sided protection. Vertical members such as columns usually require a four-sided

protection. Traditionally, designers would provide the fire protection in accordance to the
prescriptive fire code. Concrete encasement or concrete infill of hollow steel sections, is one
such method of fire protection for structural steelwork.
Most of these fire protection systems are proprietary systems fire-tested in approved
laboratories according to standards stipulated by the Relevant Authority, before they can be
listed in the PLS. The fire tests are carried out on a mock-up that is built for the purpose of
testing. Therefore the protection system applied at site must be similar to the set-up of the
mock-up. For instance, the intumescent paint primer used at the site must be the same as
the one used in the mock-up fire test. Hence, if the proprietary systems have to be modified
to suit the project, the system has to be re-tested at an approved laboratory. Various
methods can be adopted to protect structural steel members from fire such as through the
use of :

Fire-Rated Board Systems

Fire-rated board systems that meet the required fire resistance rating are permitted to
be used for protection to structural steel beams and columns in buildings. Such
boards are usually made from calcium silicate or gypsum plaster and are used for
cladding steelworks. The boards may vary from 15 mm to 30 mm thick and can
provide up to 4 hours of fire-rating.

Cementitious spray-reproong
Cementitious spray applied fireproofing is a form of plaster which requires only
addition of water at site to form a consistent, pump able slurry. It is then conveyed by
pumping and dispersed onto building structures by compressed air at the spray
nozzle. All these products are factory-mixed formulations consisting of dry
ingredients including aggregates or fibres, gypsum or Portland cement, and other
binders.
There are a number of spray-applied reproong products available in the market.
Some products possess fast-setting characteristics that facilitate higher field
application efficiency. The fire rating performance of these products is veried
through a series of re tests. Therefore, for the same fire rating requirement, the
spray thickness would vary according to the product manufacturers specications.
Environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature and abrasion will affect the
working life of the spray-on system, and these points have to be considered by the
designer.

Intumescent Paint
The use of intumescent coating to give fire protection to steel structure is permissible
as long as it is applied appropriately and the environment in which the structure is
subjected to is non-detrimental to the fire protective properties of the coating.
Intumescent paint coatings may be applied to give up to 120 minutes of fire
protection. Only intumescent paint products listed in the PLS are acceptable to the
Relevant Authority.