FIRSTIMB: Fire safety design for reusable circular hybrid steel-timber floor systems
Principal researchers:
MANUEL LUIS ROMERO GARCÍA
ANA ESPINÓS CAPILLA
Team members:
- ANTONIO HOSPITALER PÉREZ
- CARMEN IBÁÑEZ USACH
- ANDRÉS LAPUEBLA FERRI
- DAVID PONS ALIAGA
Funding Agency:
Duration: 01/12/2022 – 30/09/2025
Reference: TED2021-130580B-I00
Abstract
Design for deconstruction is currently an expected and desirable trend in the construction sector in response to sustainability requirements set in the EU Commission´s “Green Deal” towards reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. However, there are few studies into specific demountable structural systems and applications which could reduce embodied carbon impacts, encourage resource efficiency and reduce construction waste.
Steel construction offers flexibility that can result in high levels of sustainability and adaptability over the lifetime of a building. Furthermore, steel-based composite floors are the most common and efficient structural system for multi-storey steel framed buildings, but traditional solutions cannot accommodate deconstruction due to the permanent action provided by welded studs within the system.
Fire requirements play a key role in the design of composite buildings and its flooring systems. Regulations impose fire resistance rating ranging from 60 to 90 minutes, which often require the use of non-reusable additional protection systems for their accomplishment. This project will explore the design for reuse of buildings driven by 90 mins fire safety requirements using steel-based structural systems with timber decks. Acting in a hybrid solution together with sustainable steels has the potential to deliver environmentally friendly solutions that could take benefit of the steel mounting, dismounting capacity pushed forward in a circular economy.
