The Steel in Fire Forum

StiFF is a discussion group for researchers, specialists and design professionals interested in the behaviour of steel and composite framed structures under the influence of fire, and in the development of rational structural fire engineering design methods.

Although fire engineering research is not new, significant activity in developing computer-based methods for analyzing structural response at high temperatures started relatively recently. Much of the credit for stimulating this lies with British Steel (as it then was), and in particular Jef Robinson. It was Jef who had the vision and inspiration to see the potential of such approaches, and to understand the positive benefits for the structural steel industry of an improved understanding in this area. In the early 1980s he gave enormous encouragement to researchers, particularly those starting in this field, and facilitated an exchange of information through a small ad-hoc group of interested structural engineers and fire scientists from a variety of research organizations.

In the early days, much of the focus was on developing an understating of the principal issues, often based on experimental results. In this way the structural engineers were able to benefit from the experience of those who had undertaken a wide range of fire tests on a variety of structural configurations, mainly isolated beams and columns. In return they were able to advise the fire scientists on the detailed structural arrangements for particular tests, and help explain some of the mechanisms seen in the tests. Most of the experimental work at that time had been based on the standard test, sometimes adapted to investigate particular structural effects such as end restraint. The early analytical work reflected this, concentrating on the behaviour of isolated beams and columns. Different theoretical approaches were implemented and the results were compared both with each other and with the available test data at regular group meetings. Initial comparisons were inconsistent, but these improved as the modelling techniques were gradually refined. This early work also helped to improve the basic understanding of structural behaviour in fire, identified key parameters and influences, and at the same time began to highlight criticisms of the standard test arrangement. For more information on the Steel in Fire Forum click here to visit the website.