Structural fire engineering both internationally and within the U.S. is still a relatively small, specialty field that lies somewhere between the structural engineering and fire engineering practices. While most service (e.g. gravity) and environmental loads (e.g. wind, snow, seismic) are quantified through analytical and/or experimental studies to assess performance of a structure for design purposes, thermal loading as a result of fire is still widely based on prescriptive requirements with no quantification. For most structural load cases, building codes and design approaches are regularly updated and enhanced based on the best available scientific and technical knowledge; however, for fire load cases little to no change has been seen in U.S. building codes despite the availability of technical data, design guides and research on the topic. Even for tall and unusual buildings where it is quite commonplace for complex analytical models and testing protocol (e.g. wind tunnel testing, connection testing), structural fire resistance design is based on simple rules, outdated knowledge, and testing of limited application and compliance standards. This webinar provides background on the development of structural fire engineering within the U.S., in particular, discussing some of the historical context, prescriptive limitations and performance based structural fire engineering methods readily available for design purposes. The webinar will also present a case study to show what is possible when fire is treated as a design load in structural engineering.

• Course will award 1.5 hours of continuing education
• This course is Diamond Review approved in 49 states. New York does not accept hours from recordings.