Home > Topics in Concrete > topicdetail

RESULTS FOR FIRE RESISTANCE OF CONCRETE

Definition: (1) the property of a material or assembly to withstand fire or give protection from it; (2) the ability of building elements to confine a fire or, when exposed to fire, to continue to perform a given structural function, or both.- ACI Concrete Terminology


Fire resistance is influenced by both the thermal and physical properties of the structural element. Factors affecting the thermal performance are: type of aggregate in the concrete; free moisture in the concrete, both absorbed and capillary; and volume of concrete per square foot (square meter) of exposed area. Factors affecting the structural performance are: stress level in the concrete and the steel, cover over the reinforcing bars, tendency of aggregate and free moisture to cause spalling, and lateral restraint conditions.