STEELWORK FIRE PROTECTION

Being an integral feature of modern construction, steel load-bearing structures can lose their load-bearing capacity under the influence of high temperatures.

In the event of a fire, the steel elements become more yielding after a while, there are linear thermal deformations that cause changes in the structure dimensions, their distortion and subsequent destruction.

Research of steel strength in the conditions of high temperatures shows that at a temperature of 500 ÷ 550 °C steel is able to withstand only 60% of the load applied to it under normal operating conditions. The critical temperature of steel, at which the structural element is still able to perform its load-bearing function, is considered to be 500 °C. At the same time, calculations and research show that the temperature of loss of the load-bearing of the steel structure of a building is not a fixed value, it varies depending on many factors, the two most important of which are the heating temperature of the structure and the load applied to it.

In order to meet the requirements for fire resistance of structures (the time during which the structure can perform its protective or load-bearing functions) regulated by the applied construction codes, steel structures are subjected to fire protection treatment, which is a very important stage of steel construction. For the owner of the building, effective fire protection of metal structures allows to ensure the safe evacuation of people from the building, preservation of material resources, as well as compliance of the construction project with all the requirements of the applicable legislation. A number of algorithms and methods of fire protection of structures is used to address this issue, and the choice of the correct solution makes it possible to minimize costs and ensure the maximum fire protection efficiency in the project implementation.

Fire protection is divided into two main groups: active and passive.

Active methods are the address and analog systems of fire arrangements — fire alarms, automatic fire extinguishing systems — water sprinkler systems and automated smoke removal systems.

Passive methods imply the use of coatings of cladding and heat-insulating type, the fire protection effect of which is determined by the thermophysical properties of the protective material used, as well as reactive type coatings, which bulk under high temperatures and form a heat-insulating coke layer on the protected surface.

The most common materials used in passive fire protection include structural fire protective materials (slabs, mats, segments, shells, stoneware, blocks), fire protective plaster mixtures and thin-layer reactive coatings of the intumescent (bulking) type.

The method and means of fire protection of steel structures are determined at the stage of designing a specific project, subject to the following factors:

· Required class of fire resistance of structures in accordance with the degree of fire resistance of the building

· Type of steel structure and spatial location

· Restrictions on the loading of the fire protective coating on the structures

· Conditions of the performance of the construction and installation and fire protection works

· Required terms of the fire-protection treatment conducting

· Aesthetic appearance and architectural attractiveness

· Environmental characteristics of the fire protective coating

· Operating conditions of the fire protective coating

· Cost of fire protection treatment, including the price of the fire protective material and the cost of fire protection works

The Steel Structures Fire Protection Committee of the Ukrainian Steel Construction Center provides comprehensive support to participants of the construction process (investors, developers, architects, design organizations) on all issues related to standardization of fire resistance of building structures, design and execution of fire protection works, their delivery and acceptance, as well as:

· Optimization of costs for steelwork fire protection.

· Development of pre-design fire protection solutions with due regard to advanced developments in the area of effective designing

· Competent choice of fire protection technologies and means

· Selection of contractors for execution of fire protection works and purchase of fire protective materials.

· Organization and conducting of testing of building structures equipped with fire protection systems.

· Support in communication with regulatory authorities and experts.

· Regulatory and legal base in the area of fire protection of steel structures.