Bridge fire hazards are low probability but high consequence incidents. Generally, bridge design codes and standards, in contrast to building codes, usually do not take into account the concept of fire safety. However, recent high profile fire incidents in bridges and other infrastructure have opened a debate on the need for fire resistance requirements on bridges. This paper presents an overview of fire hazard in bridges. A state-of-the-art review related to bridge fire hazard has been carried out. Different conditions and complexities associated with characterizing fire hazards inbridges are discussed and a design strategy to integrate performance based fire safety into bridge design is suggested. Further, a strategy to assess and repair fire damaged bridge is proposed. A case study is presented to evaluate the fire performance of a composite steel girder. Finally, research needs for enhancing performance of bridges under fire accidents is highlighted.
Abstract