Fire Damaged Steel 2

[dmwesc]

We have a building under construction that was recently damaged by a fire. Please provide any references or comments on how to correlate paint burnoff, discoloration, rust, deformation, etc., to actual damage of erected steel members.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I would strongly suggest replacement.... If the temperature got much over 700-800 degrees - the steel may have been tempered and therefore it's properties are suspect.

 

[CTW]

Here are a few references.

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...36723&file=Facts_For_Steel_Buildings_Fire.pdf

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...Structures_in_Fire-Resistant_Construction.pdf

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...f_Structural_Steel_After_Exposure_to_Fire.pdf

 

[Ron]

In general, if the paint is blistered, do a field hardness test to see if the steel surface has been carburized. If the paint is not blistered, then the steel is probably fine.

Even if the steel is OK, check connections,particularly if any steel is connected to concrete. The expansion of the steel members will often spall the concrete around connections.

 

[hogan666]

dmwesc,
This free DOT manual has been very helpful in the past.

http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPWeb.ASP?WCI...number) LIKE '%IF-99-004%'&fr=1&lr=1&rc=1&WCU

 

[SlideRuleEra]

See "Evaluation & Repair of Fire-Damaged Buildings" in the September 2008, edition of "Structure Magazine". Here is a link:

http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2008-9/C-STRForensics-Fire-Gosain-Sept08.pdf

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net