Evaluating the fire endurance of concrete slabs reinforced with FRP bars: Considerations for a holistic approach

In recent years, there has been increased interest in the use of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) bars as flexural and shear reinforcement in concrete slabs and beams. When used in building applications, provision of appropriate fire endurance in structural members is a major safety requirement that must be considered. This paper presents an overview of experimental and numerical studies carried out on FRP-reinforced concrete slabs under standard fire conditions. The factors that are likely to influence the fire performance of FRP-reinforced concrete slabs are presented and discussed, and the development of initial design guidance for evaluating of the fire resistance of concrete slabs reinforced with FRP bars is outlined. Examples are presented for illustrating the application of existing design charts for evaluating the fire endurance of concrete slabs reinforced with FRP bars. Suggestions for further research are presented. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.