Selection of Appropriate Fire Engineering Strategy For Multi-Storey Commercial and Apartment Buil

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-storey commercial and apartment buildings
Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

storey commercial and apartment buildings
SS040a-EN-EU
Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire

engineering strategy for multi-storey commercial and
apartment buildings
This document presents guidance on the fire engineering design approaches most
appropriate for specific conditions for multi-storey office buildings.
Contents
1. General introduction to fire engineering strategies 2
2. Choice of optimum design approach 3
3. Description of methods 5
4. Conclusions 7
This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Page 1

SS040a-EN-EU
1. General introduction to fire engineering

strategies
It is possible to choose from a range of fire engineering strategies for steel and composite
buildings. Table 1.1 summarises the choices available.
Table 1.1 Options for the fire engineering of steel and composite buildings
Choice of Methodology Thermal actions Thermal modelling Structural modelling

overall (Fire behaviour) (Heat transfer) (Structural response)
strategy
Use of pre- Manufacturers data addresses all aspects of fire engineering
engineered
data from
standard tests,
(Manufacturers
Data)
A
Tabulated data Standard ISO Curve EN1994-1-2 §4.2
from EC4
B
Simplified Standard ISO Curve Steel Steel
Calculation EN1993-1-2 §4.2.5 EN1993-1-2 §4.2.3 &
Methods to the 4.2.4
Eurocodes SD004
SD005 (Critical Temperature,
Simple Engineering
Model)
Standard fire methods
C Composite
EN1994-1-2 §4.3
Advanced Steel and Composite
Calculation
Methods Finite element Finite Element
(models) analysis Modelling
D Finite difference
analysis
Simplified Parametric Curve Steel Steel
Calculation (compartment fire) EN1993-1-2§4.2.5 EN1993-1-2 §4.2.3 &
Methods to the Fire on external elements 4.2.4
Eurocodes SD004
Localized fire SD005
Performance based fire
Composite
E EN1994-1-2 §4.3
Advanced Zone Models Steel and Composite
engineering
Calculation Computational Fluid

Methods Finite element Finite Element
Dynamics (CFD) analysis Modelling
(models)
F Finite difference
analysis
Page 2

SS040a-EN-EU
Choice of optimum method depends on:

Explicit regulations
Achieving a balance between simplicity and economy of outcome
Availability of information, e.g. on fire load
Characteristics of specific building
Expertise available
2. Choice of optimum design approach

2.1 Conventional buildings
The optimum choice of approach depends on the characteristics of the specific building.
Table 2.1 provides guidance on the significance of the key criteria for conventional buildings.
In using Table 2.1, it should noted that fire regulations, the attitude of authorities to new
design methods, and relative costs (for instance of applied fire protection) can vary
enormously in different countries.
It may be possible to combine different methods for different aspects of fire safety
engineering. For example, it might be economic to use:
Manufacturers data (A) for columns and bracing and tabular data from Eurocode 4 (B)
for the composite floors.
The standard ISO curve (C) for thermal actions with advanced calculation methods (D)
for thermal modelling and structural modelling
2.2 Special features

The previous section addressed conventional multi-storey construction. Any special feature,
such as an Atrium, is likely to benefit from special consideration. This should always be
carried out in conjunction with the relevant regulatory body or bodies.
Atria
Atria are large volumes which will almost always be a single compartment. In many cases,
they will have low fire load and substantial distance between the fire loads that do exist and
structural elements. The steelwork is likely to be exposed. For all these reasons, they are
most likely to benefit from specialist treatment for fire behaviour, heat transfer and structural
response.
In many cases, smoke control is likely to be a major design issue, irrespective of the method
of construction. Economies may usually be achieved by considering both fire engineering
and smoke control in the same specialist work package.
Page 3

SS040a-EN-EU
Table 2.1 Guidance on choice of design approach for a specific multi-storey building of
conventional proportions, without an atrium
Standard fire methods Performance

based methods
Manufacturers
for Composite
D. Advanced
F. Advanced
calculations.
calculations.
calculations.
calculations.
construction
B. EC4 Data
C. Simple
E. Simple
data
A.
1. Building size– floor area This is related to

per storey potential economies
which will be greater in
Small, < 200 m2 99 relation to the
additional design work
Medium 99
for larger buildings.
2
Large, >2 000 m 9 9 9 9 9
2. Building Height Taller buildings have
greater potential for
Up to 5 storeys 99 9 economy and longer fir
9 9 9 9 9 resistance periods
6+ storeys
3. Taking benefit from active Some national
fire fighting measures regulations and/or local

authorities allow the
Detection, alarm and presence of these
99
smoke exhaust measures to reduce
fire loads
Sprinklers 9 99
4. Benefit from structural Implicit reserves of

reserve strength, for example
from semi-rigid
Economically sized for connections, and
99 9
strength in cold design reduced exposure to
fire increase the
Significantly oversized for
99 9 potential value of more
strength in cold design,
advanced approaches
Additional reserve
available from behaviour
9 99
not used for cold design,
e.g. slab as membrane
Columns external to
99 9
envelope
Composite 9 9 99
5. Special features More unusual
conditions generally
Unprotected steelwork 9 99 9 require a more detailed
study
Shielded Steelwork 9 99 9
6. Access to Expertise If suitable expertise is

not available more

advanced methods
cannot be used
Page 4

SS040a-EN-EU
Standard fire methods Performance

based methods
Manufacturers
for Composite
D. Advanced
F. Advanced
calculations.
calculations.
calculations.
calculations.
construction
B. EC4 Data
C. Simple
E. Simple
data
A.
No specialist advice 99 9 9 X X X
Limited specialist advice X X
Specialist expertise 9 99 9 99
Key 99 Most economic solution
9 Probably an economic solution
Parameter does not influence this method of design
X This parameter precludes use of this method
3. Description of methods
3.1 Use of pre-engineered data for standard tests
(A and B) Manufacturers data and data from EC4
Implies standard fire, and assumed structural and thermal response based on standard tests.
Generally applied to individual structural members.
Favourable conditions:
Indeterminate fire conditions (e.g. fire load uncertain or likely to change significantly)
No potential thermal characteristics which would result in significantly reduced steel

temperatures in fire, e.g. inherent shielding of steel beams from floor slab
No potential structural characteristics which would result in significantly improved
performance in fire, e.g. reduced loads
No special design requirements such as exposed steelwork
Essential conditions for these approaches to be valid:

Manufacturers data (A) available for sections considered
General compliance with requirements for aspects of the building design such as
compartmentation (maximum volume of individual spaces), fire escape distances, etc.
Where no specialist expertise is available, these are the only methods which may be adopted
for practical design.
Outcome: Standard levels of applied fire protection.

3.2 Simplified calculation methods to the Eurocodes

Standard Fire (C) or Performance based fire engineering (E)
Use of simple calculations to model the time-temperature development of the fire (E only),
heating of individual members and/or structural response. Fire analysis applied to
compartment, but thermal and structural analyses applied to individual members.
Page 5

SS040a-EN-EU
For fire modelling:

Either a standard fire curve or performance based fire engineering may be adopted.
Determinate fire conditions (e.g. fire load clear and unlikely to change significantly)
General compliance with requirements for aspects of the building design such as
compartmentation (maximum volume of individual spaces), fire escape distances
Limited specialist expertise required.
For thermal modelling:

Known thermal characteristics for materials

Likely to be of benefit for construction details which result in significantly reduced steel
temperatures, e.g. inherent shielding of part of a beam by the floor slab
Limited specialist expertise required
For structural modelling

Members significantly over-sized providing an effective reserve of strength

Limited specialist expertise required
Essential conditions for simplified calculations to be useable:
Some specialised expertise available

Acceptance by authorities
Outcome: Potential reduced levels of applied fire protection.
3.3 Advanced calculation methods Standard fire (D) or

Performance based fire engineering (F)
Use of calculations to model the time-temperature development of the fire (F only), heating of
individual members and/or structural response. Fire analysis applied to compartment, thermal
analysis applied to individual members and structural analyses applied to whole structural
assembly (but not necessarily the complete structure).
For fire modelling:

Methods and conditions for their use are generally the same as for simple calculation based
approaches. Choice of method is best made in conjunction with the relevant authority; for
example, zone models are generally accepted by a wider range of authorities than parametric
fires. CFD may be useful where smoke movements need to be predicted.
Page 6

SS040a-EN-EU
Determinate fire conditions (e.g. fire load clear and unlikely to change significantly)
Compartment size beyond limits imposed by standard
Specialist expertise available.
For thermal modelling:

Methods and conditions for their use are generally the same as for simple calculation based
approaches. There is seldom any significant benefit using more sophisticated analytical
approaches for steel elements; composite sections can only be addressed by advanced
methods.
Known thermal characteristics for materials – note that it may be difficult to obtain these,
particularly for intumescent coatings.
Likely to be of benefit for construction details which result in significantly reduced
temperatures, e.g. inherent shielding of part of a beam by the floor slab
Specialist expertise available
For structural modelling

Secondary structural actions (e.g. tensile membrane action in the floor slab, or semi-rigid
connections), which are ignored for normal design providing an effective reserve of
strength
Three-dimensional continuous structural floor framing system
Ideally floor construction acts compositely with the supporting beams
Essential conditions for advanced calculations to be useable:

Specialist expertise available
Acceptance by authorities
Conditions which make the use of advanced calculations mandatory:

Building does not comply with requirements for aspects such as compartmentation
(maximum volume of individual spaces), fire escape distances
Outcome: Significantly reduced levels of applied fire protection and in many cases steel can
be left unprotected.
4. Conclusions
Choice of optimum Fire Engineering Method for an individual multi-storey, commercial
building depends on a mixture of hard data and subjective experience.
Page 7

SS040a-EN-EU
Perusal of Table 2.1 and Section 3 will enable the engineer to make an informed choice of
method, without specialist knowledge.
Where more advanced calculation methods are used, the engineer will need to ensure access
to appropriate specialist expertise.
Page 8

SS040a-EN-EU
Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering
strategy for multi-storey commercial and apartment buildings
Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name Company Date
Created by Roger Plank University of Sheffield
Technical content checked by Ian Simms, SCI
Editorial content checked by
Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:
1. UK G W Owens SCI 25/4/06
2. France A Bureau CTICM 25/4/06
3. Sweden B Uppfeldt SBI 25/4/06

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 25/4/06
5. Spain J Chica Labein 25/4/06
6. Luxembourg M Haller PARE 25/4/06
Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 13/7/06

Coordinator
TRANSLATED DOCUMENT
This Translation made and checked by:
Translated resource approved by:

Page 9

Selection of Appropriate Fire Engineering Strategy For Multi-Storey Commercial and Apartment Buil

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Selection of Appropriate Fire Engineering Strategy For Multi-Storey Commercial and Apartment Buil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-storey commercial and apartment buildings

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire

2. Choice of optimum design approach 3

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

1. General introduction to fire engineering

Choice of Methodology Thermal actions Thermal modelling Structural modelling

Calculation Computational Fluid

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Choice of optimum method depends on:

2. Choice of optimum design approach

2.2 Special features

and smoke control in the same specialist work package.

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Standard fire methods Performance

1. Building size– floor area This is related to

fire fighting measures regulations and/or local

4. Benefit from structural Implicit reserves of

6. Access to Expertise If suitable expertise is

not available more

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Standard fire methods Performance

 No potential thermal characteristics which would result in significantly reduced steel

Essential conditions for these approaches to be valid:

Outcome: Standard levels of applied fire protection.

3.2 Simplified calculation methods to the Eurocodes

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

For fire modelling:

For thermal modelling:

 Known thermal characteristics for materials

For structural modelling

 Members significantly over-sized providing an effective reserve of strength

Essential conditions for simplified calculations to be useable:

 Some specialised expertise available

Outcome: Potential reduced levels of applied fire protection.

3.3 Advanced calculation methods Standard fire (D) or

For fire modelling:

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

For thermal modelling:

For structural modelling

Essential conditions for advanced calculations to be useable:

Conditions which make the use of advanced calculations mandatory:

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Scheme development: Selection of appropriate fire engineering strategy for multi-

Name Company Date

Created by Roger Plank University of Sheffield

Technical content checked by Ian Simms, SCI

Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

1. UK G W Owens SCI 25/4/06

2. France A Bureau CTICM 25/4/06

3. Sweden B Uppfeldt SBI 25/4/06

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 25/4/06

5. Spain J Chica Labein 25/4/06

6. Luxembourg M Haller PARE 25/4/06

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 13/7/06

This Translation made and checked by:

Translated resource approved by:

You might also like

No potential thermal characteristics which would result in significantly reduced steel

Known thermal characteristics for materials

Members significantly over-sized providing an effective reserve of strength

Some specialised expertise available