INGENIEUR
Figure 5: Spalling of beam
Figure 4: Spalling of the column
completely put out after two hours from the start
of incident. The temperature estimated by the fire
fighters reached up to 800°C. It was found that
the fourth floor was also affected by the fire.
The structural assessment was divided into
two phases. The first phase consisted of an on-
site visual inspection, while the second phase
consisted of in-situ and laboratory material
testing.
The on-site visual inspection revealed that
cracks were detected at the brick wall plaster,
the joint between concrete and brick wall, and
the outside wall (Photo 2). The worst damage
comprised spalling of the soffits of the floor slabs,
where the steel reinforcement de-bonded from the
floor slabs (Photo 3). Spalling at the column and
beam were also obvious at the third and fourth
floor respectively (Photos 4 and 5). A brick wall
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JUNE 2013
was completely destroyed by high temperature.
Based on these observations, further investigation
was required to determine the existing structural
capacity of the building.
In-situ and laboratory material testing were
carried out to ascertain the quality, strength and
durability characteristic of the existing reinforced
concrete elements. The field testing and sampling
works conducted included:
● ●
Concrete core extraction (for concrete
density test, compressive streng th
test, petrographic examination and
thermoluminescence testing);
● ●
Steel reinforcement sampling (for steel
tensile testing);
● ●
Concrete carbonation testing;
● ●
Surface hardness measurement (rebound
hammer);