Fire Hazard of Bridge Structures in Light of Current Regulations

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Fire Hazard of Bridge Structures in Light of Current Regulations

Journal Title: Safety & Fire Technology - Year 2016, Vol 43, Issue 43

Abstract

Aim: The main purpose of this article is to provide a discourse about current regulations dealing with fire safety of bridges in Poland and share the outcome with a wider group of specialists, who are involved with fire safety issues. Introduction: For thousands of years bridges have played a particularly important part in people’s communications network. From primitive and makeshift crossings to complicated applications of structural mechanics, bridges have always been a symbol of unity and development. The Polish public road network currently contains over thirty five thousand bridge structures and tunnels with a cumulative distance of over one thousand and fifty kilometres. Damage, temporary closure or total destruction of a bridge can have a significantly negative impact on the region and part of the affected communications network. The article examines current regulations dealing with the fire safety of bridges, for road and rail networks . The second part of the paper contains a brief summary of regulatory developments in the last hundred years and provides an insight for the basis of present day regulations. The last part of the article contains a concise description of the impact that a fire can have on the superstructure of a bridge. Depending on materials used in the construction, a fire can impact on the bridge or its components, in different ways, and result in a severe reduction of its lifespan and designed load bearing ability. Methodology: The authors performed a review of current Polish regulations and publications dealing with fire safety. The current legal position is summarized by a range of ministerial directives and several instructions, ratified by ministers and published by state companies involved with the bridge industry. The authors identified a number of issues contained in regulations, which in their view should be clarified or updated. Additionally, the second part of the article provides a description of consequences impacting on the bridge superstructure, which, depending on the material used in construction, can result from an intensive fire. Conclusion: Generally, the authors consider current regulations concerning bridge fire safety as appropriate. However, a number of proposed improvements would positively enhance the fire safety of bridges in Poland.

Authors and Affiliations

mgr inż. Tomasz Gruszecki, mł. bryg. mgr inż. Artur Litwin

Keywords

Analiza wpływu gęstości rozmieszczenia wyjść ewakuacyjnych na bezpieczeństwo ludzi podczas pożaru w tunelach drogowych z systemem wentylacji wzdłużnej

ABSTRAKT Cel: Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie rezultatów studium wybranych aktów prawnych na świecie w zakresie odległości pomiędzy wyjściami ewakuacyjnymi w tunelach drogowych oraz wyników weryfikacji wybranych obost...

EP ID EP234632
DOI 10.12845/bitp.43.3.2016.7
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