The Historical Narrative of the Standard Temperature–Time Heating Curve for Structures

• Published in: Fire technology 2021-03, Vol.57 (2), p.529-558
• Main Authors: Gales, John, Chorlton, Bronwyn, Jeanneret, Chloe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Civil Engineering; Classical Mechanics; Editors’ choice; Engineering; Fire resistance; Fire science reviews; Flammability; Heating; Narratives; Physics; Review Paper; Structural members
• ISSN: 0015-2684; 1572-8099
• DOI: 10.1007/s10694-020-01040-7

This review aims to provide additional context to the historical narrative of the development of the standard temperature–time heating curve used for the determination of the fire resistance of structural elements. While historical narratives of the development of the standard temperature–time heating curve exist, there are portions of the timeline with missing contributions and contributions deserving of additional examination. Herein, additional newly available contributions (owing to recent digitization efforts) from the original standard development cycle not distinctly covered by existing historical narratives are introduced and reviewed. Though some engineers have long been recognized for their contributions to the curve’s development, lesser-recognized influences are re-examined. These include contributions to fire resistance testing from Sylvanus Reed, that are acknowledged for the first time in a contemporary light. Practitioners will find discussion from the temperature–time heating curve’s development period that is useful for current philosophical discussions pertaining to the curve’s use for combustible material testing. This study identifies that no currently available historical literature can support the definition of the temperature points which describe the standard temperature–time heating curve. This reinforces contemporary discussion that the heating curve lacks scientific basis in its representation of a real fire.