Post-fire steel testing

[ajmar]

Hello all,

I need some guidance on the types of tests that can be and/or should be performed on steel members that were involved in a fire. Is there also an accepted radius of inclusion, that is to say a beam shows no visual deformation but will need to be tested to be certain there is no loss of strength due to its proximity to the fire?

What I'm dealing with:
There was a fire inside of a parking garage involving five vehicles and lasted for approximately four hours. The fire clearly deformed a few beams, metal decks and the concrete slab. These will be replaced, but I'm concerned for other girders, beams and columns that were nearby yet show no visible deformation. These could have been heated to a point where it will see a loss in strength.

What are some tests that we can perform to confirm whether or not there is a loss in strength?

Thanks.

 

[PSEPK]

Chapter 6 of AISC publication "Facts for Steel Buildings—Fire" may help you in this regard.

 

[PSEPK]

...And, this document is available as a free publication by AISC here: Link

 

[Ron]

Look carefully at the steel. If the paint has not blistered, it probably has not been affected. If the paint is blistered or there is no paint, do hardness testing and compare to clearly non-affected areas. Check for carburized surface as a parking garage is a "dynamic" structure and carburized surfaces are more susceptible to cracking.