Holistic Behaviour of Concrete Buildings in Fire

by Colin Bailey, 2002

This paper discusses various modes of structural behaviour of a concrete building when subjected to a fire, based on observations from a full-scale test. The tested building was constructed using elements formed from normal and high-strength concrete and was designed for 60 minutes fire resistance, using the UK design Code. Both the UK and European codified design methods suggest that concrete spalling within the fire compartment should have been nominal and could effectively be ignored during the design. However the test showed that spalling of the floor slab was extensive and exposed the bottom steel reinforcement. Although concrete spalling considerably reduced the flexural strength of the slab, collapse did not occur. This could be attributed to the slab behaving in compressive membrane action, which is currently not considered in codified design methods. The test also showed significant lateral displacement of external columns due to thermal expansion of the heated slab. The main observations from the test show that designers will need to understand the behaviour of entire structures in fire, to ensure that premature collapse will not occur.

Precast Concrete Hollow Core Slabs in Fire
By Tom Lennon, BRE

Following concerns expressed in the media in relation to the performance of hollow core slabs in fire two full-scale fire tests have been carried out at BRE's Cardington test facility. The objectives of the experimental programme were to assess the adequacy of this form of construction in terms of the functional requirements of Approved Document B of the Building Regulations. This paper explains the background to the work, describes the test parameters in some detail and summarises the main results and conclusions from the project.

Concrete and Fire
by The Concrete Center, 2004

National Building Studies Technical Paper No. 7
The Thermal Expansion of Concrete
by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1951

Considerable divergence exists between the values reported of the thermal expansion of concrete. This report describes an investigation made by the Building Research Station, with the collaboration and support of the Institution of Civil Engineers, in order to obtain further information on the thermal expansion of concretes made with various British aggregates and with different cements and conditions of curing. The results were discussed in conjunction with those found in the literature.

National Building Studies Technical Paper No. 4
Investigation on Building Fires
Part I: Estimation of Maximum Temperatures
Part II. Colour Changes in Concrete
by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1950

This report, the first of a series of Technical Papers in the National Building Studies under the general heading "Investigations on Building Fires", contains two papers. The first paper deals with the estimation if the maximum temperature attained in building fires from examination of the debris. The second paper discusses the visible changes in concrete or mortar exposed to high temperatures.