Fire Safety and Building Physics
Structural Fire Design
Flexible, Economic and Sustainable Structures
Why Structural Fire Design – Your Decisive Advantage
The method is attractive for optimising fire protection measures for steel, reinforced concrete, timber and composite structures - up to the complete elimination of cost-intensive fire protection coatings for steel structures, for example.
For your building project, however, what is even more decisive than the cost advantage gained is that there is no need to check the fire protection coating over the service life of the structure and that secondary components or installations can be attached to the uncoated steel components. This would sometimes lead to the loss of approval for the product used when using intumescent fire protection coatings and would not be accepted by the responsible fire protection authority. The elimination of fire protection measures also contributes to the sustainable use of resources and a clear separation of systems regarding recycling and re-use concepts, which are becoming increasingly important.
By using realistic fire simulations and numerical calculation models developed in-house based on the latest research and scientific findings, the overall behaviour of load-bearing structures and the associated reserves are exploited through the interaction of various mechanisms. At the same time, to maintain a high level of safety, essential physical phenomena occurring in the event of fire are also considered realistically, in particular thermal expansion due to the high temperatures and the resulting constraining forces. This is lost when using simplified analytical methods, and in engineering practice, standardised rules on boundary conditions and specific applications are often not observed. However, our numerical models are universally applicable. This means that you can be sure that the applicable normative and official rules are complied with and that you will enjoy the best possible benefit from our expertise for your project.
For which Types of Construction is the Method Suitable?
In the case of new buildings, the focus of the structural fire design is on steel and composite structures where fire protection measures would be necessary without structural fire design. In most cases, the fire resistance of timber or reinforced concrete buildings can be ensured by designing the components accordingly.
However, for existing buildings and a change in fire protection requirements, e.g. due to a change of use, the method is very advantageous for all types of construction. In the case of existing reinforced concrete structures, for example, the fire resistance requirements are often not met due to insufficient cover of the reinforcing steel when only the structural design is assessed. Here, the fire resistance can be successfully verified with the help of structural fire design, even with low concrete coverages.
When do You Have the Best Chances of Success?
For steel structures up to a required fire resistance of R30, it is always worth analysing whether fire protection measures can be dispensed with completely. Particularly in combination with hot-dip galvanising due to the associated favourable thermal properties, the chances of success here are very good.
However, it is also worth enquiring with us about higher fire resistance durations. We analyse the existing fire loads and can develop fire scenarios as the basis for a structural fire design. It often becomes clear after analysing the fire scenarios whether a structural fire design will be successful or not. For properties with low fire loads, e.g. office, laboratory or commercial use, as well as school buildings or educational establishments, the chances of success are very good.
Why is Gruner your Ideal Partner?
As one of the few engineering companies on the market with a well-established co-operation between fire protection and structural design, we offer you all fire design services from a single source. The full potential of structural fire design unfolds when the engineering methods from fire protection, e.g. in the form of fire simulation and structural design, are combined with structural fire design.
Our experts in engineering methods from both disciplines contribute their many years of experience in the interdisciplinary handling of the relevant topics and make a substantial contribution to the success of your project.
We maintain a close dialogue with the cantonal fire protection authorities, regularly give presentations at specialist events and thus achieve a high level of acceptance of our verification methods among the relevant authorities.
Further Information
Articles in trade journals:
- Article in the Ernst & Sohn journal ‘Stahlbau’ on fire protection design (in German)
- Article in the Ernst & Sohn publishing house's journal ‘Stahlbau’ on the reference project ETH Zurich machine hall (in German)