Fire Resistance of Walls and Floors using Light-Gauge Steel Shapes

This paper reports on the results of experimental studies on the fire resistance of walls (partition walls and exterior walls) and floorceiling systems manufactured using galvanized light-gauge steel shapes. Galvanized light-gauge steel shapes with thickness up to 1.6 mm are used in place of the wooden structural frames of wood-frame type construction. The fire resistance of walls and floorceiling systems made by attaching plywood, gypsum boards, and other materials to these steel shapes, depends mainly on the thermal shielding performance of the attached gypsum boards. Loaded heat tests were conducted and it has been clarified that the prevention of gypsum boards from falling off is important for improving their fire resistance, that the increase in the number and thickness of gypsum board to be applied and the use of reinforced gypsum board are effective and that the practical fire rating (up to 60 min) can be obtained without direct fire protection for shapes.