Fire resistance of hot-dip galvanized steel structures

Once a fire resistance rating of at least 30 min is necessary, it has to be proofed that the load-bearing behaviour still fulfils the static demands. To protect steel constructions from too high temperatures in the accidental design situation of a fire, the state of the art is a passive fire protection. However, the Eurocode also offers calculation methods to verify the fire resistance. Here it is necessary to determine the temperature of the steel section according to DIN EN 1993-1-2 and to fulfil the ultimate limit state design, with respect to the reduction of the material characteristics. For this purpose, positive effects of hot dip galvanization on the temperature development of steel members under fire exposure are investigated in a research project of the Technical University of Munich. The aim is thus to avoid additional passive fire protection for an R30 requirement through hot dip galvanized steel members.