Citation

Smith CI, Kirby BR, Lapwood DG, Cole KJ, Cunningham AP, Preston RR. Fire Safety J. 1981; 4(1): 21-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper examines the factors which can cause steelwork to distort and collapse during fires. In many situations no distortion occurs and the steelwork may be reused.Laboratory based experiments are described in which the strengths of various grades of steel were determined at elevated temperatures. The effects on mechanical properties of heating steelwork to temperatures in the range 100 -- 1000[deg]C and cooling back to ambient temperature have also been assessed. It has been shown that mild and microalloyed steels are likely to show distortion or collapse if they are heated to temperatures above 600[deg]C, but no deterioration in mechanical properties occurs on cooling back to room temperature until steel temperatures have exceeded 650 [deg]C.The available data on cast and wrought iron in fires are also summarised; these materials show similar behaviour to that of steels.Metallurgical examinations of several samples retrieved from the frameworks of structures involved in fires are included.Some guidelines are presented describing the major factors to be considered when contemplating the reinstatement of a steel framework after a fire. However, decisions on reinstatement need to be taken in the light of expert engineering and metallurgical advice in each individual case. This paper is intended for guidance purposes only and is not intended to be used as a definitive reference for such decisions.