Research trends and design guidelines for fire resistance of structural concrete in South Korea

Abstract

Research into the fire resistance of structural concrete in South Korea has been ongoing since 2000 and incorporates studies on concrete materials, columns, construction methods and finishing materials. Recently, experiments and analytical studies have been undertaken to include diverse materials and structures for fire resistance. Based on the results of these studies, the South Korean government recognised the need for performance criteria for legal fire-resistant construction and published Regulations for Egress/Fire Protection Construction in 2015. In light of this previous work, this paper provides a review of recent research results for the prevention of the explosive fracture of concrete exposed to high temperatures, analysis of the fire resistance of concrete and recent fire mitigation construction methods. In addition, the paper briefly describes existing specifications for fire resistance design methods in South Korea.