Structural Steel exposed to repeated fires 1

[taldridg]

As a design engineer, I was confronted with the task of designing a two story training tower for an on-site fire department of a large company. Can anyone give any recommendations or comments on how to approach a design that will be set on fire on a continuous basis? Do you know of any papers or codes that may give guidance? Thanks for any help that can be given.

 

[JAE]

I did a fire training tower about 5 or 6 years ago - concrete framed building. The "rooms" were set up to mimic household rooms such as kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms.

Each room had a unit installed that represented common fire sources - stoves, beds, and couches. These units were like large BBQ pits - gas fired, that produced smoke, heat and flame.

Around each unit we used steel plates, suspended off the surrounding concrete beams, overhead floor slabs, and CMU walls. The plates were sectioned into perhaps 24" to 36" sections and fitted with lapped slip connections to allow thermal expansion and contraction. The plates were suspeded with smaller angles and bolts into the concrete.

I can't exactly recall the plate thickness but 1/4" comes to mind.

 

[dik]

The only two that I've been involved with have been concrete... fires set in water pans with propane bubbled through them and ignited and smoke caused by a smoke generator using corn oil...

First time to knock down a fire in one of the towers I had my six year old grandson with me... carried his O2 bottle as well as mine plus the fire extinguisher... was really surprised how little you can see...

Dik

 

[JAE]

Try this link:

Kidde Fire Training

 

[civilperson]

Concrete encased steel frame has a two hour rating with 2" of normal weight concrete on every face.