New IGSB study on sooting of hot-dip galvanized steel components
The Interessengemeinschaft Brandschutz-Beschichtungen e. V. (IGSB) has published a scientific study together with partners that provides new findings on the influence of sooting on the emissivity of hot-dip galvanized and non-galvanized steel profiles.
The fire tests were carried out according to the unit temperature-time curve (ETK) on HEB 320 steel profiles with and without previous sooting. The results show that sooting leads to a significantly higher emissivity. The publication underlines the importance of taking sooting effects into account when calculating steel temperatures in the event of fire and provides important findings for the application of design rules.
Evaluation of hot-dip galvanized steel components under fire exposure
"The findings are an important contribution to the realistic design of steel structures in the event of fire," emphasizes Dr. Sebastian Moschel, Chairman of the IGSB and co-author of the study. "In particular, the influence of sooting should be taken into account in future when evaluating hot-dip galvanized steel components under the influence of fire. With this study, we are making an important contribution to a better assessment of the thermal boundary conditions in the event of fire. Our results underline the fact that even seemingly secondary factors such as sooting have a measurable influence on structural fire protection and should not be underestimated." The full article is available online.