Fire-induced collapses in structures: Basis of the analysis and design

This paper will present some simple ideas which form, in the Authors’ experience, the basis to handle fire action in structural analysis and design. Then, one considers in the following: 1. the characteristics of High Probability – Low Consequences (HPLC) versus Low Probability – High Consequences (LPHC) events; 2. the systemic nature of fire accidents; 3. the concept of risk and the connected activities, as risk analysis, risk assessment and risk management; 4. the scenarios identification and development. Attention is devoted to the interactions among the different models of fire development, heat transfer, structural response and human behavior. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.