Intrinsically Safe Structural Fire Safety Design

Traditionally, structural fire safety is contemplated after the structural engineering is complete for a given building. Specifically, structural systems that have been optimized for ambient design loads are then blanketed with fireproofing. This century-old, protection-centric approach endeavors to reduce the heating of individual structural members with the intent of mitigating the risk of structural collapse under fire conditions. However, project stakeholders may be left wondering if the intended structural fire safety is provided and if a rational use of resources was employed. This differs from almost all other aspects of building design in which these aspects are taken extremely seriously.

Structural engineers should advocate for their involvement in structural fire safety design as they are the only engineering discipline capable of providing intrinsically safe structural fire safety for buildings/structures with rational optimization. Since structural fire design has the potential to produce buildings that are safer, cost less, and are optimized for stakeholder design objectives such as aesthetics, carbon footprint, and allowance for innovation, the future is certainly bright for this movement.

Register here.

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT