Test methods for determining the contribution to the fire resistance of structural members - Part 6: Applied protection to concrete filled hollow steel columns

This Part of this European Prestandard specifies a test method for determining the contribu-tion of fire protection systems to the fire resistance of structural concrete filled hollow steel columns. The concrete can be lightweight, normal-weight or heavy-weight concrete and of strength classes 20/25 (LC/C/HC) to 50/60 (LC/C/HC). The method is applicable to all fire protection systems used for the protection of such structural columns and includes sprayed fire protection, coatings, cladding protection systems and multi-layer or composite fire protection materials. The test method and its assessment procedure is designed to permit direct application of the results to cover a range of thicknesses of the applied fire protection material. The test method is only applicable to fire protection systems which are fixed directly to the structural column. Fire protection systems where the fire protection material is not attached directly to the composite column, leading to a continuous cavity between the column and the fire protection material of size greater than 5 mm are the subject of prENV 13381-2. This European Prestandard contains the fire test which specifies the tests which should be carried out to determine the ability of the fire protection system to remain coherent and fixed to the composite column and to provide data on the temperatures of the outer steel surface of the composite column, when exposed to the standard time/temperature curve according to the procedures defined herein. In special circumstances, where specified in national building regulations, there can be a need to subject reactive protection material to a smouldering curve. The test for this and the special circumstances for its use are detailed in annex A. This exposure, applicable to reactive fire protection materials, is used only in special circumstances, where specified in the national building regulations of a member state of the European Union, and is not intended to be ma