Fire protection of seamless steel pipe

Seamless steel pipes generally lose their load-bearing capacity at temperatures between 450-650°C, leading to significant deformation. This can result in the bending of steel columns and beams, making them unusable due to excessive deformation. Typically, the fire resistance of unprotected seamless steel pipes is around 15 minutes, although this duration can vary depending on the heat absorption rate of the components. Below are several fire protection measures for seamless steel pipes.

Outer Layer Protection

Description: This involves adding a protective cladding to the exterior of the seamless steel pipe, either through pouring a molding or using a spray method.

Cast-in-Place Concrete: Solid concrete overlays are usually reinforced with steel mesh or reinforcement bars to limit shrinkage cracks and ensure the strength of the enclosure.

Spraying: A sand pump can be used to apply a protective layer of lime cement or gypsum mortar, possibly mixed with perlite or asbestos, to the surface of the seamless steel pipe.

Prefabricated Panels: These can be made from perlite, asbestos, gypsum, asbestos cement, or lightweight concrete. They are fixed onto the seamless steel pipe using adhesives, nails, or bolts.

Water-Filled Pipes

Description: Filling hollow seamless steel pipes with water is an effective fire protection measure.

Function: This method keeps the pipe at a low temperature during a fire. Water circulates within the pipe, absorbing the heat from the material.

Cooling: The heated water can be recirculated after cooling, or cold water can be introduced to replace the heated water, maintaining the pipe’s low temperature.

Shielding

Description: Placing seamless steel pipes within refractory walls or ceilings, or in gaps between two walls, can significantly enhance fire resistance.

Economical: This method often requires minimal additional refractory materials to achieve effective fire protection, making it one of the most cost-efficient fire prevention strategies.

Expanding Materials

Description: Using fire protection coatings on seamless steel pipes offers excellent fire and heat insulation.

Advantages: This method is not constrained by the geometry of the seamless steel pipe, typically doesn’t require auxiliary facilities, and provides a lightweight coating with aesthetic decorative properties.

Modern Technology: Incorporating advanced fire safety technology and measures, expanding materials offer enhanced protection.

Importance of Fire Protection in High-Rise Buildings

With the increasing construction of high-rise buildings, especially super tall structures, the use of seamless steel pipes has become more extensive. In the event of a fire in a high-rise building, extinguishing the fire quickly can be challenging. Therefore, enhancing the fire protection of building materials is crucial. This involves designing buildings to increase their fire resistance limits and developing necessary emergency programs to minimize casualties and property losses.

Implementing these fire protection measures for seamless steel pipes can significantly improve the safety and integrity of structures during fire incidents.