Advancing Performance-Based Structural Fire Engineering Design in the U.S. through Exemplar Procedural Guidance

Advancing Performance-Based Structural Fire Engineering Design in the U.S. through Exemplar Procedural Guidance

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE is pursuing, as part of its Vision, the advancement of performance-based design (PBD). Advancing the adoption of performance-based structural fire engineering (SFE) within the AEC industry will benefit public safety while delivering more efficient and economic building designs. However, the adoption of SFE in the U.S. is hindered by the lack of participation by structural engineers, the lack of trial designs demonstrating the potential benefits to stakeholders, and the unfamiliarity with the approach by building officials. This Research project is intended to support the development of state-of-the-art exemplar procedural guidance to properly execute a SFE design in accordance with the new ASCE/SEI 7-16 Appendix E industry standard, to demonstrate its benefits. The project will employ a scientific and engineering approach using the procedures outlined in MOP-138 to quantify the fire exposure and structural behavior of existing building designs during fire. The final document will be freely available to the public.