BULLETIN No.

25

Fire Protection
CANADIAN STEEL CONSTRUCTION COUNCIL 201 Consumers Road, Suite 300
Willowdale, Ontario, M2J 4G8

FIRE RESISTANCE OF BAR-REINFORCED

CONCRETE-FILLED STEEL HSS COLUMNS
INTRODUCTION TEST PROGRAMME
The National Research Council of Canada (NRCC), in The work on concentrically loaded HSS columns filled
a joint effort with the Canadian Steel Construction with bar-reinforced concrete was completed in 1995
Council (CSCC), and with support from IPSCO Inc. and a paper entitled ‘Fire Resistance of Steel
and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), has Columns Filled with Bar-Reinforced Concrete’, co-
recently completed the second phase of the ongoing authored by T.T. Lie and V.K.R. Kodur was published
research programme studying the fire resistance of in the ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering in
steel HSS (Hollow Structural Sections) columns filled January 1996 [Reference 4]. The results of 29 full
with concrete. scale column tests were used to
The first phase of the project verify a numerical model which
studied the behaviour of incorporated realistic stress-
concentrically loaded, round strain relationships and the
and square HSS columns filled thermal properties for structural
with plain concrete (without steel, concrete, and reinforcing
reinforcing) and was the subject steel at elevated temperatures
of Fire Protection Bulletin #21. [References 5 and 6]. Using the
The design formula and curves model, computer simulated fire
were subsequently published in tests were conducted to
Appendix D of the 1995 National Building Code of determine the influence of various factors on the fire
Canada which gives guidance on the calculation of resistance. The results were used to develop a
fire-performace ratings. simplified expression for design.

The present study introduces bar-reinforcing as a

means of obtaining higher load capacities and longer
fire endurance periods. Research staff at the Institute
for Research in Construction (IRC), with the
assistance of former CSCC Steel Fellows, have
published a number of reports [References 1, 2 and 3]
describing the results of a large number of loaded, full
scale tests and in-depth analytical studies.
COLUMN BEHAVIOUR
At room temperature, the axial load in the column is
shared between the concrete core and steel section,
and shifts primarily to the concrete core at elevated
temperatures with the steel section providing
confinement. Factors which influence the fire
resistance and load capacity of concrete-filled HSS
Continued on Page 4

Algoma Steel Inc. • Dofasco Inc. • Ispat Sidbec Inc. • Stelco Inc.
CSCC Canadian Fasteners Institute • Canadian Institute of Steel Construction • Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute
Canadian Steel Service Centre Institute • Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute • Canadian Welding Bureau (Associate Member)

97/10
Produced with support from IPSCO Inc.
DESIGN FORMULA AND CURVES 4500

Concentrically loaded hollow steel columns that are

filled with steel-fibre reinforced concrete and are 4000
2 h Rating
f'c = 30 MPa
fabricated and erected within the tolerances as
stipulated in CAN/CSA-S16.1, “Limit States Design of 3500
Steel Structures" shall be assigned a fire-resistance
rating, R, provided: HSS 406 x 6.4

3000
C £ Cmax
where 2500

Cmax, kN
HSS 356 x 6.4
C = axial compressive force due to dead and

0. 90
09
0.0 85
live loads without load factors, kN,

5
0.0 80
0 .0
2000 HSS 324 x 6.4

( )
2
 a f c' + 20 D 2.5 
Cmax =   but shall not exceed 1.7

0. 90 5
09
0. .08 0
 R (KL − 1000) 

0
5
0 .08
1500
 

0
HSS 273 x 6.4

times the factored compressive resistance 0

0 .09
0 .09 5
of the concrete core, C'r , in accordance with 1000 0. 0.0.085 0

0.
08

09
80
CAN/CSA-S16.1, 5 0.0

5
0.0 90
80
a= constant (See Table 1) 500
f c' = specified compressive strength of concrete
in accordance with CSA-A23.3, “Design of
Concrete Structures,” MPa, 0

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500
D= outside diameter of a round column or
outside width of a square column, mm, Effective Length, KL, mm
R= specified fire endurance period, min,
Figure 1: Round hollow steel columns with 30 MPa
KL = effective length of column as defined in
concrete and requiring a 2 h fire endurance period
CAN/CSA-S16.1, mm;
4500
subject to validity limits: HSS 406 x 6.4
f c' 20 MPa to 55 MPa,
4000 HSS 356 2 h Rating
D 165 mm to 410 mm for round columns, x 6.4
f'c = 50 MPa
175 mm to 305 mm for square columns,
longitudinal reinforcement shall be 1.5% to 3500

0.0 0
0.0
5%, with limits on size, number and spacing

95
HSS 32
0.0

9
4 x 6.4 0.0
of bars and ties in accordance with CSA 85
80
3000
A23.3,
25 mm concrete cover to longitudinal
0.0 90

reinforcing bars,
0.0 85

2500
95
Cmax, kN

0.0 0
0.0

R ≤ 180 minutes, HSS 27

8

3 x 6.4
KL 2000 mm to 4500 mm, and 2000
0. 090

the hollow steel sections shall be Class 1, 2

0. 085
09
0. 080

or 3 in accordance with CAN/CSA-S16.1.

0.

1500
Table 1-Values of a 0.
09
0. 5
08
Aggregate Steel Circular Square 1000 5 0.0
0.0 90
type* reinforcement columns columns 80

S 1.5%-3% 0.080 0.070 500

S 3%-5% 0.085 0.075
N 1.5%-3% 0.090 0.080
0
N 3%-5% 0.095 0.085
2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

* Type S concrete is made with siliceous coarse aggregate;

* Type N concrete is made with carbonate coarse aggregate.
For hollow structural sections commonly available in
Canada, Cmax for concrete strengths of 30 MPa and 50
MPa may be read from Figures 1 to 6.
Effective Length, KL, mm
Figure 2: Round hollow steel columns with 50 MPa
concrete and requiring a 2 h fire endurance period

Page 2
 4500 4500

4000
1 h Rating 4000
1 h Rating
fc' = 30 MPa f'c = 30 MPa

3500 3500
HSS 406 x 6.4

3000 3000

2500 2500
Cmax, kN

Cmax, kN
HSS 356 x 6.4

HSS 305 x 305 x 8.0

2000 HSS 324 x 6.4 2000

0.095 0.
& 0.09 0. 085
0 0. 080
1500 0.0 1500 HSS 254 x 254 x 8.0 0. 075
HSS 273 x 6.4 80 07
0

0
1000 1000 HSS 203 x 203 0 .08
HSS 219 x 0.0
90 0.09 x 6.4 0 .08 5
4.8
0.08 0 5 0.0.075 0
0 .085 0.0 70
0.09 85
5
500 500 0.0
0.085 70

0 0
2000

2500

3000

2000
3500

2500
4000

3000
4500

3500

4000

4500
Effective Length, KL, mm Effective Length, KL, mm
Figure 3: Round hollow steel columns with 30 MPa Figure 5: Square hollow steel columns with 30 MPa
concrete and requiring a 1 h fire endurance period concrete and requiring a 1 h fire endurance period

4500 4500

4000 HSS 356

x 6.4
1 h Rating 4000
1 h Rating
fc' = 50 MPa f'c = 50 MPa
HSS 30
5 x 305
3500 3500 x 8.0

HSS 32
4 x 6.4

3000 3000

0.
2500 2500 08
0.
Cmax, kN

Cmax, kN

HSS 2 5
08

54 x 25
0.

4 x 8.0
0
07

HSS 2
0.

73 x 6
5

.4
07
0

2000 2000

0.09
5& HSS 2
1500 0.09
0 1500 03 x 2 0.
HSS 2
19 x 4 03 x 6
.4 0. 085
.8 0.0 0. 080
80 0.0 075
70
1000 1000 0.0
85
0.0
95
0.08 0.0
0 70
500 500

0 0
2000

2500

3000

2000
3500

2500
4000

3000
4500

3500

4000

4500

Effective Length, KL, mm Effective Length, KL, mm

Figure 4: Round hollow steel columns with 50 MPa Figure 6: Square hollow steel columns with 50 MPa
concrete and requiring a 1 h fire endurance period concrete and requiring a 1 h fire endurance period

Page 3
columns in general include cross-sectional
dimensions, length, concrete strength, and type of
concrete aggregate. A general discussion of
behaviour can be found in Fire Protection Bulletin #21.
The discussion here is limited to the two new
parameters introduced in the current study;
percentage of reinforcing steel and concrete cover
thickness to the reinforcing bars.
Three percentages of steel reinforcement, 1.5%, 3%,
and 5%, representing low, medium and high levels of
reinforcing were investigated. Although the fire
resistance increased very little with increasing
percentage of reinforcement, its presence provides
additional containment for the concrete core at
elevated temperatures, and substantially increases
the duration of exposure to fire and the load carrying
capacity of the column when compared to plain
concrete-filled columns. Fire-resistance ratings of up
to 3 hours can be achieved with bar-reinforcing.
Two values of cover thickness were investigated, 20
mm and 50 mm. The study found that increasing
concrete cover beyond the minimum has little effect
on fire endurance or load capacity. For simplicity, the
minimum cover thickness has been assumed.
Tests [Reference 1] and comparisons with calculated
fire resistances [Reference 5] showed that the fire
resistance remains predictable and without sudden
failure for loads up to 1.7 times the resistance of the
unreinforced concrete core, Cr′ , and for effective
column lengths up to 4500 mm.
At elevated temperatures, the moisture present in the
concrete core turns to steam. A potential bursting
hazard exists if the steam it is not released into the
atmosphere. To prevent catastrophic failure, vent
holes as described in Note 3 must be provided.
DESIGN FORMULA
The current study, as well as the previous study,
concluded that the fire-resistance rating of a
bar-reinforced concrete-filled HSS column is primarily
a function of its size, slenderness ratio, concrete
strength and type, percentage of reinforcing, and the
load (unfactored) that it is supporting [Reference 7].
The design formula, expressed in terms of a restricted
column load for a desired fire-resistance rating, is
given on page 2. The text is patterned after Article
D-2.6.6. in the 1995 NBCC to convey the approach for
bar-reinforced concrete-filled HSS columns that will
be proposed for the 2001 NBCC. The design curves
Page 4
given on pages 2 and 3 were constructed using the
proposed formula for a series of round and square
hollow steel sections. The following notes apply:
Notes to Figures 1 through 6:
(1) Cr′ is calculated in accordance with Clause 18.4 of CAN/CSA
S16.1-94 assuming normal-weight concrete, and S/T=0.25
where S is the short-term load on the column and T is the total
load on the column. Confinement effects are ignored by setting
. . [Reference 8]
τ = τ ′ = 10
(2) HSS designations and dimensions are in accordance with
CAN/CSA-G312.3, and are given in the CISC Handbook of
Steel Construction [Reference 9].
(3) Two unobstructed vent holes, each not less than 12.7 mm in
diameter shall be provided at opposite ends of the column and
at each intermediate floor to vent steam. The holes shall be
located 150 mm from a base plate, cap plate or concrete slab.
Pairs of holes should be orientated such that adjacent pairs are
perpendicular [Reference 10].
REFERENCES
1. Chabot, M. and Lie, T.T., “Experimental Studies on the Fire
Resistance of Hollow Steel Columns Filled with Bar-Reinforced
Concrete”, IRC Internal Report No. 628, National Research
Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction,
Ottawa, Ontario, 1992.
2. Lie, T.T. And Denham, E.M.A., “Factors Effecting the Fire
Resistance of Square Hollow Steel Columns Filled with
Bar-Reinforced Concrete”, IRC Internal Report No. 650,
National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in
Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, 1993.
3. Lie, T.T. And Denham, E.M.A., “Factors Effecting the Fire
Resistance of Circular Hollow Steel Columns Filled with
Bar-Reinforced Concrete”, IRC Internal Report No. 651,
National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in
Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, 1993.
4. Lie, T.T. and Kodur, V.K.R., “Fire Resistance of Steel Columns
Filled with Bar-Reinforced Concrete”, ASCE Journal of
Structural Engineering, Volume 120, No. 5, January 1996, pp.
30-36.
5. Lie, T.T., “Fire Resistance of Circular Steel Columns Filled with
Bar-Reinforced Concrete”, ASCE Journal of Structural
Engineering, Volume 120, No. 5, May 1994, pp. 1489-1509.
6. Lie, T.T. and Irwin R.J., “Fire Resistance of Rectangular Steel
Columns Filled with Bar-Reinforced Concrete”, ASCE Journal
of Structural Engineering, Volume 121, No. 5, May 1995, pp.
797-805.
7. Kodur, V.K.R. and Lie, T.T., “Fire Performance of
Concrete-Filled Hollow Steel Columns”, Journal of Fire
Protection Engineering, Volume 7, No. 3, 1995, pp. 89-98.
8. Canadian Standards Association, ”Limit States Design of Steel
Structures”, CAN/CSA-S16.1-94, Rexdale, Ontario, 1994.
9. Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, ”Handbook of Steel
Construction”, Sixth Edition, Willowdale, Ontario, 1995.
10. Lie, T.T. and Kodur, V.K.R. , “Fire Protection of Hollow Steel
Columns Through Concrete Filling”, Proceedings, CSCE
Annual Conference, Volume 3, 1995, pp. 215-224.