Fire safety of structures

Abstract

The resistance design of structural elements is reduced under fire situation, due the burned area reduction and material strength reduction when exposed under high temperatures. Recently, in Brazil, were published Brazilian Standards for steel and concrete structures fire design (NBR 14323:1999/NBR 15200:2004), and looking forward timber structures under fire situations. In some States, specific codes are published also. The financial support and interest in research about structures in fire must be increased, because the aim of structures in fire is to prevent the collapse, allowing enough time for safe evacuation of building occupants, safe fire fighting operations and reductions in damage neighboring construction. This can be carried out by analyzing structural behaviors by numerical and experimental model, considering geometric and materials non-linearity about building in fire context, in consequence of mechanical properties reductions in fire situation. The complexity of fire situations analysis need computers and specific softwares which provides mechanical, thermal and coupled analysis, in association with experimental procedures, looking forward a group work in Brazilian and worldwide context. Both University of Sao Paulo (USP) and University of Campinas (UNICAMP), with support of FAPESP and others, had been providing numerical and experimental studies. In this way this research has the aim to join the groups and to develop numerical and experimental research in this theme through a global project for steel, concrete and timber structures. The objective is provides safe and economic recommendations, adequate to Brazil, as well as aggregate researchers from different Universities. As a final contribution, to propose recommendations for the design and construction of fire safety structures. (AU)