Review and Assessment of Fire Hazard in Bridges

Abstract

Bridge fires are low-probability but high-consequence incidents. Generally, bridge design codes and standards, in contrast to building codes, do not take into account the concept of fire safety. However, recent high-profile fire incidents on bridges and in other infrastructure have opened a debate on the need for fire resistance requirements on bridges. An overview of fire hazard in bridges is presented. A state-of-the-art review related to the bridge fire hazard was carried out. Different conditions and complexities associated with characterizing fire hazards in bridges 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 bridges is proposed. A case study is presented to evaluate the fire performance of a composite steel bridge girder. Finally, needed research that can lead to improved performance of bridges during fire incidents is highlighted.