Alternative Solutions for Canadian Fire Engineering Design

Fire Safety Engineering is important for resilient infrastructure design. Canadian structural fire design is currently restricted by its reliance upon prescriptive approaches. This research is the first step in the development of generalized frameworks from which practitioners can create Canadian alternative solutions. A methodology to develop an acceptance criterion for the fire design of unbonded post-tensioned concrete slabs is outlined. A stress relaxation model was used to establish preliminary definitions of critical design thermal boundaries. The analysis illustrated the need to consider travelling and localised design fires due to the vulnerability of unbonded tendons to localized heating. The fire performance of steel beam-to-column connections was then considered experimentally. This research program was the first step that will lead to the generation of analytical tools and further guidance regarding steel connections in fire. The results of the study provided preliminary guidance towards updating Annex K within CSA S16-19.