Research and Development Laboratories

of the
Portland Cement Association

I RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Bulletiu 223

Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs

as Influenced by Thickness,
Aggregate Type, and Moisture

By
M. S. Ahrams and A. H. Gustaferro

Reprinted from the

JOURNAL OF THE PCA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES

Vol. 10, No. 2, 9-24 (May 1968)

0 Portland Cement Association, 1968
FIRE ENDURANCE OF CONCRETE SLABS
AS INFLUENCED BY THICKNESS,
AGGREGATE TYPE, AND MOISTURE

By

M. S. Abrams and A. H. Gustaferro

PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES
5420 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, Illinois 60076
 M. S. Abrams A. H. Gustaferro

Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs

AS Influenced by Thickness, Aggregate Type,

and Moisture

By
M. S. Abrams KEY WORDS: aggregates; carbonate rocks; concrete
slabs; drying: expanded shale aggregates; fire rasis-
Senior Research Engineer, and
tanca; fire tests: floors: humidity; lightweight aggra-
A. H. Gustisferro
gatas; moisture content sand replacement: siliceous
Manager aggregates; testing: thickness
Fire Rasearch Section
Research and Development Laboratories
Port!and Cement Association INTRODUCTION

In America, fire tests of floors and roofs

are generally conducted in accordance with
the requirements of ASTM Method E
119. (1J* This standard specifies the inten-
SYNOPSIS
sity of the fire, the size of the specimen, and
Thic is the first of a planrmd series of reports on the criteria for determining the end point
the fire enduranr.a of concrete slabs as detarminod
from firo tests of 3 x 3-ft specimens. The fir. endurance
of the test. These criteria require principally
in those testc was based on tho ASTM criteria for that: (1) the structure sup ort its design
temperature rim of tho unexposed surface. In the load throughout the test wlt Kout passage of
test program reported horain, variables included dab flame or hot gases, and (2) the temperature
thickness ( 11/2 to 7 in.), aggregate type (carbonate, of the unexposed surface, i.e., the surface
silicaous, and structural lightweight), and moisture
not exposed to the fire, must not rise more
condition of the concrete (natural and kiln drying].
Results of tests of small specimens correlate reason-
than 250 F as an average nor 325 F at any
ably WCII with those of full-scale spor,imans and can one point. ASTM defines fire endurance as
be .scd to datarmina minimum thicknesses raquirad the time interval measured from the begin-
for firo ●ndurwrca~. A method is suggested for adiuat. ning of the test until an end point is
ing results of fire tests of specimens moisture corrdi- reached. ‘
tionsd in a nonstandard mammr.

SPECIAL KEY WORDS: Prdrossod concratc floor ●Numbers in parentheses designate references at
comparisons, reinforced concroto floor comparisons end of paper.

Journal of The PCA Research and Devalopmanf Laboratories, May 1968 9

 Experience has shown that in fire tests of TASLE 1—LOCATION OF INTERNALTHERMOCOUPLES
concrete floors or roofs, the fire endurance
is determined more frequently by the crite- Slab Oistance from Heated Surface, in.
—
“hickness, —

JI11
ria for temperature rise of the unexposed l% 2 .J 3y2 7 5 6
in. !4 1/2 ?4 1
surface than by the other criteria. The cost — — . .
of conducting a large number of full-scale
,y2 ~ —— —
fire tests of floors or roofs to study the inllu- x x— x—

ence of manv variables on the fire endur- .2y2 ~ x —x —x —— — —

ance of concrete was considered excessive,
so this series of tests was initiated to ex- —x x— —
4x x —x
plore the feasibility of using small speci- — —
5x x —x —x x
mens for the purpose. In this rogram, the
specimens were not reinforce J’ and no su- —x —x —x x —
6X x
perimposed load was applied during the
—x —x — x x
tests. Thus, only the unexposed surface 7x x

temperature criteria were considered for — —

determining the fire endurance.

This is the first of a series of reports on
the fire endurance of concrete slabs as de- tions, Fig. 1, for measuring tem~eratures
termined from fire tests of small (3x 3-ft) within th-e concrete during ;he fir; test. In-
specimens. Future reports will deaI with formation on the nominal locations of
two-course floors and roofs, additional these thermocouples is given in Table 1,
types of aggregates, and other variables. The precise location of each thermocouple
with respect to the heated surface was meas-
SPECIMENS AND TESTS ured prior to casting for use in establish-
ing thermal gradients during fire tests.
Description of Specimens
Monfore type humidity wells, described in
Fire tests were conducted on 3 x 3-ft spec- BULLETIN 160, ( 2)* extending 8 in. into the
imens made with carbonate or siliceous slab, were positioned for measuring the rel-
aggregates, or a structural lightweight ag- ative humidity at the middepth and other
gregate, expanded shale. Thicknesses of elevations of the slabs, Fig. 1.
specimens made with carbonate and silice-
ous aggregates were 11/2, 21/2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Materials
in. In the two groups of slab specimens Petrographic information for the aggre-
made with structural lightweight aggregate gates, obtained by generally following the
the 7-in. thickness was not included, nor procedures of ASTM Method C 295-65,(:+)
was the 5-in. thickness used in the group is given in the Appendix. The carbonate
that was dried naturally.
aggregate consisted of sand and gravel in
Specimens contained butt-welded, chro- either s~-in. or 1l/2-in. maximum size from
mel-alumel thermocouples at various eleva- Elgin, Illinois. The siliceous sand and grav-
el, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was s~-in.
maximum size. The structural lightweight
aggregate was an expanded shale in fine
and coarse size fractions. The maximum
size was S14in. In the lightweight concrete
mixes about 60 percent of the fine fraction
(by absolute volume) was replaced with El-
gin sand. This concrete will be referred to
as sanded expanded shale concrete. Data
on the concrete mixes are given in Table 2.

Fabrication, Curing, and Conditioning of Specimens

Various batches of concrete made with

the carbonate aggregate (Mix I, Table 2)

● PCA RESEARCHDEPARTMENTBULLETINS will be

identified in the text primarily by the BULLETIN
Fig. I — 3 x 3-ft Form with Internal Thermocouples number, BULLETINSare available on request in
and Monforo Humidity Wells in Plaeo. the United States and Canada.

Journal of The PCA Research and

 had slumps of 2 to 4 in., unit weights of 139
to 144 pcf, and air contents of 6 to 7 per-
cent. For the siliceous aggregate concrete,
Mix II, slump ranged from 1 to 4 in., unit
weight from 141 to 146 pcf, and air content
from 5.5 to 7.5 percent. Batches of the
sanded expanded shale concrete, Mix III,
had sIumps of z to 3 in., unit weights of 111
to 114 pcf, and air contents of 7 to 9 per-
cent.
After consolidation with internal vibra-
tors, slab surfaces were screeded and fin-
ished with a wood float. Concrete was cured
at room temperature (70 to 75 F) under
damp burlap for 7 days. Some of the slabs
were then conditioned naturally in an at-
mosphere of 70 to 75 F and 30 to 40~0 rela-
tive humidity (RH); others were kiln-d&d
at 195 to 200 F and O to 5~0 RH (except as
noted under Adjusting Results for Non-
standard Conditioning). ASTM E 119-610 J Fig. 2 — View ef Specimen Mounted for Test in
states that specimens must be dried in air Restraining Frame on Furnace.
maintained at 70 to 80 F and 30 to 35~0 RH
until the relative humidity at the dampest
sive strength at time of test is given in Ta-
section reaches 65 to 75~0. When the RH at ble 3.
middepth was reduced to 77~o or less, the
slab specimen was fitted into a restraining Fire Tests
frame and subjected to the standard fire Fig.2 shows the slab furnace with a spec-
exposure. Specimens were removed from imen in place during a fire test. The s eci-
the kiln and allowed to equilibrate at room men rests on a refractory mortar cus 1 Ion
temperature before the relative humidity placed around the perimeter to insure a
was measured. Information on the mid- tight seal between the specimen and the
depth relative humidity, age, and compres- furnace, Fig. 3(a). The net undersurface

TABLE2—DATA ON CONCRETEMIXES

Mix I Mix II Mix Ill Mix IV Mlx V

Sanded
Item Carbonate Siliceous Expanded Carbonate Carbonate
Aggregatea Aggregateb Shale Aggregated Aggregated
Concrete Concrete Aggregate” Concrete Concrete
Concrete

Satch Quantities, lb per cu yd

Cement 374 408 446 564 424
Coarse aggregate 1785 1828 467 2090 2205
— — 248 — —
Medium aggregate
— — 344 — —
Fine aggregate
Sand 1374 1419 1076 1147 1180
Water 238e 223’ 464i 235° 222.
—
Average Air Content, percent 6.1 7.9 NAEg NAEg
Average Unit Weight, lb per cu ft 140 lti 113 149 149
Average Compressive Strength at
28 days, pSi 3800 4000 3900 5800 4000
-[
.s~.in. maximum size gravel and sand from Elgin, Illinois.
b3A.i”. maximum ~ize gravel and sand from Eau Claire, WiScOnsin.
ORc.t.ary-kiln produced expanded shale from Ottawa, Illinois and sand from Elgin, Illinois.
dl ‘A-in. maximum size gravel and sand from Elgjn, Illinois.
eSased on saturated, surface-dry aggregates.
‘Based on dry aggregates.
KNcm-air.entrained.

Development Laboratories, May 1968

area exposed to the fire was about 33x 33 correction, C, as given in Section 5C of
in. Except for the weight of the specimen, ASTM E 119-61, {1) was less than 1 minute.
no gravity loads were applied during the Consequently, no corrections were applied
tests, The restraining frame provided some to any of the results.
restraint against thermal expansion. The fire endurance of the specimen was
Temperatures within the furnace were determined by the temperature rise of the
measured by two shielded thermocouples unexposed surface, i.e., 250 F average rise
located 12 in. below the bottom (exposed) or 325 F rise at any single point, whichever
surface of the specimen. The temperature occurred first. Four thermocouples under
was controlled automatically and after 15 standard pads were used. One was located
minutes of exposure, the temperature devi- at the center of the specimen and three
ation from the standard time-temperature along the diagonals at approximately the
relationship was generally less than 15 F. center of the quarter section, Fig. 3(b).
Fig. 4 shows the maximum and minimum The surface temperature was not measured
recorded temperatures for the 33 tests. In in the quarter section which contained the
each of the tests the furnace atmosphere internai thermocouples.

TABLE 3—DATA ON TEST SPECIMENS

Thickness, Aggregate Age at Test, RH at Test, Compressive Strength

In. Type Mlx days % at Test, pd

Naturally Doled (70 to 75 F and 30 to 40’% RH)

1‘)/2 39 73 4210
2 )/2 36 75 3950
4 Carbonate 74 75 4590
5 106 75 3740
6 167 75 3810
7 201 76 4120

1 yl 72 4230
2 y2 :: 77 3550
4 Siliceous II 75 4970
5 1:: 76 4380
6 151 75 4670
7 167 73 3660

1% Sanded 36 71 4180
2 y2 Expanded Ill 80 76 4570
4 Shale 117 75 4910
6 395 77 4660

Xiln-Dried (195 to 200 F and O to 5’% RH)

1 y2 21 76 3380
2 y2 33 76 3280
4 Carbonate 73 3980
5 :: 55 3680
6 49 74 3780
7 52 72 4020

1 !/2 13 73 3840
2 y2 19 72 3100
4 Siliceous II 14 73 3460
5 73 3050
6 K 76 4510
7 20 75 3380

1 y2 21 71 3520
.2y= Sanded 23 70 3250
4 Expanded 24 71 3550
5 Shale 2B 75 4150
6 35 74 4130

12 Journal of The PCA Research and

 Surface

m
1 ;:;$:.
Thermo-
,..11

T
..,.*, . . ....
‘m
,,, a .. >,,. >

[12 .—
@

o@1
12” / ‘\ +
Internol ‘Ie ‘m
Thermo- \<
cauples \\ ‘
. m
+- 16”+ 18”+
(a) SECTION THROUGH
SPECIMEN AND
FURNACE (b) PLAN OF SPECIMEN

Fig. 3 —Assembly of Specimen for T*st.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS no-rise period, (b) an initial-rise period,

(c) a temperature “plateau,” and (d) a
Unexposed Surface Temporaturas
final-rise period. For example, the curve for
Fig. 5 shows the average and maximum the 7-in. -thick carbonate aggregate speci-
temperature rise of the unexposed (top) men had a no-rise period of about 30 min.
surface of thenaturally dried specimens. In The surface temperature then increased
all cases, the difference between the maxi- about 140 F and remained essentially con-
mum and the average of the four thermo- stant from about 2 hr to about 3 hr 10 min.
couples was relatively small, so the maxi- After the “plateau” period, the tempera-
mum rise is shown only for the latter part ture increased at a fairly uniform rate. It
of each test. can be seen from the several curves that the
Characteristically, each curve in Fig. 5 plateau temperature tends to be lower as
can be divided into four segments, (a) a the slab thickness increases. Also, the dura-

2000 I

Standard time- temperature relationship (ASTM El19)

000 Maximum recorded temperature, 33 fire tests

● 00 Minimum ,1 ,, , ,, ,, ,,

I 1 1 1 J
01
o I 2 3 4 5
TEST TIME, HR

Fig. 4 — Maximum and Minimum Furnace Atmosphere

Temperatures During 33 Fire Teds.

Development Laboratories, May 1968

 TABLE 4- FIRE ENDURANCES OF
NATURALLY DRIED SPECIMENS

Fire Endurance, hfimin.

Slab
hic};es~l Carbonate Siliceous Sanded Expanded
u.
Aggregate Aggregate Shale Aggrega!e$
~- I 00
0
---- Moxim.
m Of4 TIC’S
—Avemge of 4 TIC’S 1 y2 O:le 0:18 0:24
F
m MIX I -CARBONATE AGGREGATE
30 2 y2
,. 0:41 0:35 0:54
:300 ,~
w mt 4 1,27 1:18 2:18
m ,
o
5 2:17 2:01
z
3 6 3:16 2:50 4:55
IL
0100 -
7 4:31 3:57
u
g
K MIX U - SILICEOUS AGGREGATE
-With sand from Elgin, Illinois replacing 60~0 (by absm
w o
lute volume) c.f the fines.

solid slabs made with aggregates compar-

able to those used in the present series. A
comparison of the fire endurances is shown
in Fig. 7. It can be seen that the endurance
periods obtained from full-scale specimens
were longer in all cases than those from
3 x 3-ft specimens of the same thickness.
TEST TIME, HR
Accordingly, the thicknesses suggested by
Thompson for various endurance eriods
Fig. s — Temperature Rise of Unexposed Surface were less than those shown in Ta f le 5.
During Fire Tett~ of Naturally Driad Specimens. Published results of fire tests of @e-
stressed concrete floors offer additional op-
portunity for comparison with values from
tion of the temperature plateau period the present study. Of the published data
varies with the slab thickness and aggregate available, the results of only five tests
type and is apparently related to the (Table 6) permit direct comparison. Many
amount of moisture in the specimen at other tests l~ave been reported but results
time of test. are not comparable because of various
complicating factors such as: (a) s ecimens
Fire Endurance as Affected by Thickness
were made up of cored slabs rat Eer than
Table 4 gives the fire endurances of the solid slabs; (b) two courses of different
naturally dried specimens. In each case the types of concrete were used; (c) the deck
fire endurance was governed by the average dab thickness varied because of sloping
temperature rise of 250 F of the four ther-
mocouples, rather than by the maximum
temperature rise of 325 F of any one ther-
TABLE 5—THICKNESSES OF CONCRETE REQUIRED
mocouple. These data are used to plot the FOR VARIOUS FIRE ENDURANCES
curves of Fig. 6, and from these were ob-
tained the thicknesses corresponding to the
various fire endurance periods shown in
Table 5.
Since 3 x .%ft specimens were used in this
series of tests, it is of interest to compare
their fire endurances with those given in
published data based on standard fire tests
of full-scale specimens. TllompsonfAJ re-
I ‘iliceo”s I 348 I 5.00 I .5.,5 I 7.05

ported the results of a series of fire tests

of 14 x 1S-ft reinforced concrete floor speci-
mens conducted by Underwriters’ Labora-
I
1
Expanded
Shalen
I I
1
2.63
I
3.76
I I
I
4.62
I
5.37

aWith sand from Elgin, Illinois replacing 60% (by abso

tories, Inc. Eleven of those tests were on lute volume) of the fines.

Journal of The PCA Research and

 ] Naturally Dried Specimens I ~/1

—-L--L-/!.//! ‘

— —
01 234367
SLAB THICKNESS, IN.

Fig. b- Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs as a Function of

Thickness for Naturally Dried Specimens.

soffits; (d) the surface temperature did not tests agree reasonably well with those from
rise 250 F during the test; or (e) specimens the 3 x 3-ft specimens of the present study.
were kiln-dried under varying conditioning Menzelt 5) and others(~) have indicated
atmospheres. Except for the &in. -thick slab, that the relationship between thickness and
endurance periods obtained from full-scale fire endurance of solid concrete slabs can

TABLE 6—COMPARISON OF FIRE ENDURANCES OBTAINED FROM FULL-SCALE TESTS OF

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE F1OORS WITH THOSE FROM 3 x 3-FT. SPECIMENS

Fire Endurance, hnmin.

Type Slab
La bcma- Report of Thickness,
Aggregate Full-Scale PCA 3x3.ft.
tory No. Specimen in. Test Test

FPRIS FPRI- 1 Beam and Slab 6 Sand and Gravel 3:51 3:16

Ulb R-4123-1 Double-T Floor 2 limestone 0:22 0:28

ULC R-41 86-1 Monowing Floor 5 limestone 2:28 2:17

ULO R-4123-9 Double-T Floor 4 Expanded Shale 2:21 2:18

ULO R-4123-1O l-Joist and Slab 5 Limestone 2:06 2:17

-. .
Wire Prevention Research Institute, Gardena, Lalitornia.
bllnderwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
‘Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois.

Development Laboratories, May 1968

 o-Carbonate Agg.
be expressed as R= Ct”, in which R is the
●-Siliceous fire endurance in minutes, t is the slab
&Lightweight ;; thickness in inches, and c and n are con-
I 1 stants for the type of concrete used. The
●
‘% values for C and n, shown in Table 7, were
basedon least squares analyses of the data,
Two sets of values are given, one which
●
utilized all the data and the other which
omitted results from 1]/2-in.-thick speci-
●
mens. For thick slabs, the latter set of

TABLE 7—CONSTANTS FOR FORMULA R= Ct.

Determined by Iecwt squares analyses of test rewlts,

Using All Neglecting

Ccmcrete Data lY~.in. Slabs
—Line of Equality Aggregote
c n c n

Carbonate 8.01 1.78 7.32 1.83

o
FIR~ EN D: RANC;, HF Siliceous 8.27 1.68 6.25 1.85

(From Fire Tests of 3x3-ft. Specimens) Sanded Expanded

Shale 10.93 1.83 9.20 I .94

Fig. 7 —Comparison of Fire Endurances

from Tesisof 3x3-ft Specimens with
Those Reported by Thompson$’)

TABLE 8—COMPARISON OF CALCULATED AND TEST FIRE ENDURANCES

Calculated Fire Endurance,

Slab R= Ct’, minutes Test
Concrete Thickness, Fire Endurance,
Aggregate in. Using Neglecting minutes
Ail Data 1 IA-in. Slabs

16 15 18

41 39 41

94 93 87
Carbonate
140 139 137

195 194 196

256 258 271

1 Y2 16 13 18

2Y2 38 34 35

4 05 81 78
Siliceous
5 124 122 121

6 168 172 170

7 217 229 237

1 !4 23 20 24

Sanded 2 !4 58 54 54
Expended
Shale 4 138 136 13s

6 290 297 295

16 Journal of The PCA Research and

 values gives somewhat
shown in Table 8.

Temperature Within Concrete

Fig. 8 shows the temperature

better correlation,

within con-
crete slabs made with carbonate aggregate
at various elapsed times during the fire
tests, Similar plots were made for the sili-
ceous and sanded expanded shale concretes.
as

:m000 -
-\
...A... 2Yz-in. Specimen

Results indicate that with a certain aggre-

gate and at any given time, the tempera-
ture at any particular distance from the fire-
exposed surface is about the same regard-
500
less of the slab thickness, except when the
temperatures are relatively low.
Fig. 9 was prepared from plots similar to
Fig. 8. It shows average temperatures with- o~
in concrete slabs at various distances from 0 2 3 4
the fire-exposed surfaces.
DISTANCE FROM EXPOSED SURFACE, IN.
A comparison of the temperatures within
the siliceous, carbonate, and sanded ex- Fig. 8- Temperatures Within Concrete During
panded shale aggregate concretes is shown Fire Tests Are Not Influenced Significantly
in Fig. 10. At 1/2 hour, temperatures were by Slab Thickness.

somewhat higher in the carbonate aggre-

gate concretes than in the sanded expanded
process produces a degree of surface insula-
shale concretes beyond 0.5 in. from the ex-
tion resulting from the reduced density of
posed surface, but the difference at any
the residual calcined material and from the
point was small. At 1Yz hours, comparing
evolution of carbon dioxide gm at the sur-
again the performance of the expanded
face.
shale and carbonate slabs, temperatures at
points beyond about 1.2 in, from the
Effect of Xiln Drying
heated surface were higher for the carbon-
ate slabs, and those nearer than 1.2 in. were In an attempt to accelerate drying of
lower. At 4 hours the dividing line was at the concrete, some specimens were placed
about 2 in. This behavior was probably the in a kiln maintained at 195 to 200 F and O
result of calcination of the carbonate ag- to 5~0 RH until the middepth RH of the
gregate. Calcination occurs at temperatures concrete reached 75 ~0 or less. Kiln-dried
above 1365 F and is endothermic, i.e., heat sPeclmens contal!l less moisture than natu.
is absorbed during the reaction. Also, as rally dried specimens even though their
discussed in BULLETIN 171(~) and a paper by middepth relative humidities are the same,
Menzel,( a) it appears that the calcination BULLETIN 181.( g) Consequently less heat is

/’2 I 2 34
FIRE TEST TIME, HOURS

Fk9. 9 —Temperatures Within Concrete During Fire Tests.

Naturally Dried Specimens.

Development laboratories, May 1968

 200( required to vaporize the moisture in kiln-
—.—. — Siliceous Agg,
dried specimens. For this reason the unex-
————Sanded Exp, Shale Ag~
posed surface temperature rises more rapid-
\\ — Carbonate Agg.
ly and the endurance periods are shorter.
Fig. 11 shows the temperature rise on the
I 50(
unexposed surfaces of kiln-dried specimens.
A comparison of the curves in Fig. 11 with
U. those in Fig. 5 indicates that, in general,
the test time required to reach the temper-
w“
g I 00( ature “plateau” is shorter for the kiln-dried
F- specimens, and the duration of the plateau
U
Ix period is shorter than for the naturally
Id dried specimens.
O-
S Fire endurances of the kiln-dried speci-
w
+ 50( mens are shown in Fig, 12. In all cases the
endurance periods are shorter (4 to 26 per-
cent) than for comparable naturally dried
specimens. Additional information on the
effects of the conditioning environment
( , and middepth RH on fire endurance is
I 2 3
given in Table 9.
DISTANCE FROM EXPOSED SURFACE. IN,
Temperatures within the concrete at
given time intervals were higher within the
Fig. 10 — Comparison of Temperatures Wthin Con-
crete Slabs Made with Different Aggravates.
kiln-dried specimens than in the naturally
dried specimens, as shown in Fig. 13. For
the carbonate aggregate concrete slabs the
temperature differences were small, even at
4 hours. For the siliceous and sanded ex-
panded shale concrete slabs, however, the
temperature differences were small only at
mj ~z hour. After 1~z hours the differences
were significantly greater. The difference in
I
behavior between the carbonate and the
other concrete slabs probably was the result
w“ of Calcination of the Carbonate aggregates.
o
~
100- ---- Mox,mum of 4 T/C’,
— Average of 4 TIC’S
E
> Ml X I -CAReONATE AGGREGATE
co
0
(JI
o Kiln-Dried Specimens
L
x Kiln ot 195-200Fand 0-5 °/. R.H.
)
4 - Concrete R,H. at middepth
was 760/. or less
L
o

$lJ 3 -
E MIX II- SILICEOUS AGGREGATE Aggregate
w o
% 300
+ 2 -
< A
lx
u

w
w
b 1 a
I
I c
I 00 -;
/ SANDED EXPANDED
MIX ~- SHALE AGGREGATE
OL , , I
o 0123456 7
0 I 3 4 5
TES; TIME, HR SLAB THICKNESS, IN.

Fig. I I — Unexposed Surfaco Temperature Rise

During Fire Tests of Kiln-Dried Specimens, Fig. 12 — Fire Endurance of Kiln-Dried Concrete
195 t~ 200 F and O to 5% RH Slabs as a Function of Thickness.

18 Journal of The PCA Research and

 TABLE 9—SUMMARY OF FIRE ENDURANCE DATA ON THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONDITIONING

1 2 4
I
5 6 7 8 9

Fire Endurance,
Conditioning minutes Adiusted
Atmosphere Test Fire
RH, Test Standard hdurance,
Aggregate Mix Temp, F RH, 70 % Condition Conditicm minutes

Carbonate I 195—200 o—5 76

Carbonate I 195—200 o—5 76 :: :: :;
Carbonate I 195—200 o—5 73 76 87 84
Carbc.nate I 195—200 o—5 55 123 137 140
Carbonate I 195—200 o—5 74 178 196 196
Carbcmate I 195—200 o—5 72 242 271 268

Carbonate v 195—200 o—5 166 186 182

Carbonate v 195—200 o—5 z 165 186 181
Carbonate v 195—200 o—5 151 186 174
Carbonate v 195—200 o—5 :; 149 186 171

Siliceous II 195—200 o—5 73 16 18n 18

Siliceous II 195—200 o—5 72 33 35 36
Siliceous II 195—200 o—5 73 75 78 83
Siliceous H 195—200 o—5 73 111 121 123
Siliceous II 195—200 o—5 76 155 170 170
siliceous II 195—200 o—5 75 211 237 232

Sanded Expanded Shal, Ill 195—200 o—5 71 24b 24

Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 195—200 o—5 70 z 54 56
Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 195—200 o—5 71 108 138 132
Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 195—200 o—5 75 155 2110 188
Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 195—200 o—5 74 228 295 276

Siliceous II 155—1 60 o—5 77 110 121 120

Siliceous II 155—1 60 o—5 73 110 121 121
Sanded Expanded Shalt Ill 155—1 60 o—5 76 176 211” 213
Sanded Expanded Shalt Ill 155—160 o—5 75 169 211” 205

Siliceous II 120—125 o—5 75 112 121 123

Siliceous II 120—125 o—5 75 110 121 121
Siliceous II 120—1 25 30—35 75 116 121 122
Carbonate I 120—1 25 30—35 76 184 196 193
Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 120—1 25 30—35 75 190 2110 219
Sanded Expanded Shall Ill 120—125 30—35 76 192 2110 221

Carbonate v 70-75 50—55 77 184 186 183

Carbcmate v 70—75 10—15 75 188 186 188
Carbonate v 70—75 35—40 31 171 186 179
Corbcmate v 70—75 35—40 50 172 186 181

Carbonate Iv 70—75 35—40 171 182 180

Carb.ancrte v 70—75 10—15 :; 165 186 174

Carbcinate Iv 70—75 10—15 24 164 182 181

Carbonate Iv 70—75 10—15 26 167 182 183
Carbmrate Iv 70—75 10—I5 26 165 182 181
Carbonate Iv 70—75 10-15 17 162 182 181
Carbonate Iv 70—75 10-15 17 160 182 179
Carbonate Iv 70—75 10—15 18 165 182 184

Carbonate I 70-75 35—40 35 41 36

I 70—75 35—40 :: 37 41 39
Carbonate I 70-75 35—40 45 36 41 38

Carbonate v 70—75 75—80 91 192 186 186

Carbcmate v 70-75 5-55 89 189 186 184
Carbonate v 70-75 35—40 90 192 186 186
Carbonate v 70-75 10-15 86 I 94 186 190

‘Test RH = 72%.
blest RH = 71%.
OFrom Fig. 6.

Development} Laboratories, May 1968 19

Ad@ting Rotults for N~tandard Conditioning 2. Columns4 and 5 describe the condition-
We have ccmdu~ed a number of addi- ing environment in terms of temperature
tional fire testson 3 3-ftspecimens in con- and relative humiditiy. Specimens were
k placed in the conditioning environment
junction with other studies. Table 9 sum-
marizes all of PCA’S data on the effect of after 7 days of curing under damp burlap.
moisture conditioning on the fire endur- It will be noted that four temperature
ance of structural concrete slabs. ranges were included in this study, 195 to
Column 1 of Table 9 gives the type of 200F, 155to160F, 120t0125F, and70to
aggregate. The mix designations shown in 75 F. The kiln RH. at the two highest
Column 2 refer to those described in Table ranges was maintained at O to 5 percent,
whereas at the lower temperatures higher
kiln humidities were included.

‘oo”l=====
Column6 gives the RH at middepth of
the specimen at time of test. Column 7
shows the test fire endurance of the s eci-
CARBONATE men described in Columns 1 throug [6.
I 500 The fire endurance of a companion speci-
CONCRETE
men conditioned in”the “standard” manner
is shown in Column 8. “Standard condi-
tioning” consisted of 7 days of curing
under damp burlap followed by storage in
I 000
air at 70 to 75 F and 30 to 40 percent RH
until the middepth RH reached 75&2~0,
at which time the specimen was fire tested.
A comparison of Columns 7 and 8 indi-
500 cates that in all cases where the condition-
2000 ing atmosphere was above room tempera-
SILICEOUS ture the fire endurance was lowered. Simi-
AGGREGATE larly, at 70 to 75 F the test RH influenced
CONCRETE
the fire endurance by giving lower results
L
I 500
when the middepth RH was lower than 75
percent and higher results when the RH
u- was higher.
K
3 Harmathyf 1~) has suggested a method
for adjusting to a standard base the fire
1000 endurance of a specimen fire tested when
the moisture content of the specimen at
time of test is different from that which
would occur if the specimen had been
500 dried at room temperature until the mid-
2000 depth RH is 75 percent. His method is ap
SANDED phcable to all types of specimens but it re-
EXPANDED quires precise measurement of the moisture
SHALE
AGGREGATE content of the specimen. The moisture con-
\ CONCRETE tents of the specimens used in these tests
1500 were not determined, so a direct compari-
son of the test results with values obtained
by Harmathy’s method is not possible.
However, by using sorption data which re-
1000
late relative humidity to moisture content
it was possible to calculate adjusted fire en-
durances. A comparison of these with the
results of tests of specimens conditioned at
70 to 75 F indicates that Harmathy’s meth-
500 od is quite accurate.
I 2 3 The differences between Columns 7 and
DISTANCE FROM EXPOSED SURFACE, IN. 8 form a fairly regular pattern, i.e., speci-
Fig. 13 —Tompora+urcs Within Concreto as
mens of normal weight concrete had fire
Affected by Conditioning Method. endurances about 10 percent lower when

20 Journal of The PCA Research and

 T 300 i ,
0 Corbonate ogq. concrete
:;
●Siliceous ,, ,8
*lp
A Lightweight ,, ,,
~o

u“~
UN
z,
<~
a-
3- 100 -
~o
ZQ
Wg
w .:
lx%
ti~ o
—
300
Various Nonstandard
ul~ Conditioning Methods
and Aggregate6
? .5
25 (See Table 10)
5:5 200
z~
u-s
u
Zw
<S
~-a
2. 100 -
00
z%
u.
w“
=2
z-
0
0 100 200 300 0 100 200 301
FIRE ENTRANCE, MINUTES
(Standard Conditioning -73F, 35 °/. RH)

Fig. 14—Comparison of Fire Endurances of Specimens Conditioned in

“Standard” Manner with Those for Nonstandard Conditioning,
Unad@stad and Ad]uttad,

conditioned in a heated atmosphere at O to H = relative humiditv at middepth of

5~0 RH. For similarly conditioned sanded the applicable se~tion
lightweight concrete specimens the differ- R.= measured fire endurance as deter-
ence was more than 20 percent. Specimens mined by the unexposed surface
conditioned at 120 to 125 F and 30 to 35~0 temperature criteria
RH had about 5 percent lower fire endur-
ances. The test RH seems to change the fire Values for K and A were selected to re-
endurance by about 1 percent for each 5 flect the statements in the previous para-
percent change in middepth RH. graph:
The following expression is suggested as For a conditioning atmosphere of 120 F
an empirical method for adjusting to to 200F and O to 5~0 RH, K= 110.
standard the fire endurance for specimens For a conditioning atmosphere of 120 F
conditioned in a nonstandard manner: to 160 F and 20 to 35~0 RH, K = 105.
For a conditioning atmosphere of 70 F to
~A+ 75–H
75 F and 10 to 80% RH, K = 100.
R,= () 5R For normal weight concrete, A = 1.00,
100 “
For structural lightweight concrete, A =
where 1.10.
R,= fire endurance in minutes, adjusted
Fire endurances adjusted by use of this
to standard moisture condition expression are shown in Column 9 of Table
K = a constant depending upon the con- 9. Comparisons of Columns 7 and 8 are
ditioning atmosphere shown in the left-hand plots of Fig. 14,
A = a constant depending upon the con- while comparisons of Columns 8 and 9 are
crete type in the right-hand plots. It will be noted

Development Laboratories, May 1968

that the adjusted fire endurances agree PCA Research and Deuelapment Laboratories,
quite closely with the results of the “stanci- 5, No. 2, 41-47 (May 1963); PCA Research De-
partment Bulletin 160.
ard” tests.
3. ASTM Designation: C 295-65, “Recommended
SUMMARY STATEMENTS Practice for Petrographic Examination of Ag-
gregates for Concrete.” As in Reference 1.
The data presented in this paper permit
4. Thompson, J. P., “Fire Resistance of Reinforced
an accurate estimate of the fire endurance Concrete Floors,” PCA Pcsblicatian T-140 (Octo-
of three ty es of concrete slabs as deter- ber 1963), 32 pages.
mined by t E e ASTM criteria for tempera-
5. Menzel, Carl A., ‘hSTS OF THE FIRE RESISTANCE
ture rise of the unexposed surface. Data on AND STRENGTH OF WALLS OF CONCRETE MASONIiY
the temperatures within the concrete dur- UNITS, Portland Cement Association, Chicago,
ing fire tests are also included, Illinois (January 1934), 215 pages.
The three types of concrete behaved 6. “Fire-Resistance Classifications of Building Con-
somewhat differently, The sanded ex- structions,” Building Materials and Structures
anded shale aggregate concrete gave the Report BMS 92, National Bureau of Standards,
~ongest endurance periods. Because of cal- Washington, D.C., (1942), 70 pages.
cination of the carbonate aggregate, the 7. .%elvaggio,S. L., and Carlson, C. C., “Fire Resis-
concrete made with a dolomitic gravel tance of Prestressed Concrete Beams, Study B.
yielded longer endurance periods than did Influence of Aggregate and Load Intensity,”
the siliceous aggregate concrete. Journal of the PCA Research and Deuela#rment
Laboratories, 6, No. 1, 41-64 (January 1964), and
A method is suggested for adjusting the 6, No. 2, 10-25 (May 1964); PCA Research De-
fire endurances of specimens where mois- partment Bulletin 171.
ture conditioning is nonstandard.
s. Menzel, Carl A., “Tests of the Fire Resistance
and Thermal Properties of Solid Concrete Slabs
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and Their Significance,” Proceedings of the
The authors are indebted to Virgil Kress, American Society for Testing Materials, 43, 1099-
Associate Research Petrographer, and 1147 (1943).
David Stark, Research Petrographer, who 9. . Abrams, M. S., and Orals, D. L., “Concrete Dry-
performed the petrographic analyses of the ing Methods and Their Effect on Fire Resis-
tance,” pages 52-73 in symposium on MOISTURE
aggregates. IN MATERIALS IN RELATION m FIRE TESTS(1965),
ASTM STP 385, American Society for Testing’
and Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; PCA
REFERENCES Research Department Bulletin 181.
1. ASTM Designation: E 119-61, “Standard Meth-
10. Harmatby, T. Z., “Effect of Moisture on the Fire
ods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Enduran;e of Building Elements,” pages 74-95 in
Materials,” American Society for Testing ancl sYmPOslum on MolswarI IN MATERIALS IN RELA.
Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. TION TO FIaE Tr?.vm (1965), ASTM STP 385,
2< Monfore, G. E., “A Small Probe-Type Gage for American Society for Testing and Materials,
Measuring Relative Humidity,” Journal of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

APPENDIX

PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF AGGREGATES

The petrographic analyses of the aggre- procedures of ASTM Method C 295-65,(s)

gates are given in the tables on the follow- Tables Al and A3. These procedures were
ing pages. Those for the carbonate and followed only generally in the analysis of
siliceous aggregates were obtained by the the expanded shale aggregate, Table A2.

22 Journal of The PCA Research and

 TABLE Al—PETROGRAPHY OF SAND AND GRAVEL FROM ElGIN, ILLINOIS!

Com!aosition of Sieve Fraction,

,rce~t c.” sieve of size htdicated
— —
Component
3A 1/2 % 1/4 No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
In. In, In, In. 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
—
Carbonate 91.1 87.4 87.3 85.6 87.6 80.5 79.6 64.4 46.1 36.4 65.0 92.0

Chert 3.6 4.2 5.2 7.6 6.1 8.9 11.0 — —

Granite I.1 1.2 3.5 1.8 2.4 3.6 2.4 — — —

Basalt 2.1 3.0 I .4 2.6 2.6 3.4 2.0 1.2 — — .

Gobbro 0,3 — 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.3 — — —

Quartzite 1.8 3,9 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 4.3 — — — —

Gnel$s.Schist — 0.3 1.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 — — — .

Quartz-Chalcedony — — — — — — 26.5 45.1 52.5 27.2 4.0

Feldspar — — — — — 7.6 8.8 11.1 6. I 0.5

Miscellaneous Igneous
and Clays — — — — — — — — — 1.7 3.5

-r 3A h. to 1AIn.,~0 -1- No. 4 to No. 200, YO

I I
Particle Shape
I Carbonates I Slllcotes I Carbonates I Silicates

Rounded — — 30

Subangular to Subrowtded 80 100 75 60

Angular — — — 10

Angular to Subangular
I 20
1 -1251-
.Previously reported In BULLETIN171.(7)

TABLE A2—PETROGRAPHY OF EXPANDED SHALE FROM OTTAWA, ILLINOISS

Particle Particle Microstructural Character

Shape Surface Texture of Air Void System Mineralogy

.. .
Coarse Amrega!e Mineralogy was similar
for all swnples examined.
Tabular to Den!e. Few voids Uniform structure with few or no bedding The following
ell~soidal, greater than 1000 plane separations. Most voids were nearly constituents were presents
subangular microns diameter spherical and isolated, but if connected, 50 to 70% glass,
to rounded. were exposed. showed no directional preference for such Refractive Index =
connection. isolated voids were from 5 to 1.540 to 1.565
25 microns d;ameterj a tew up to 100 loto30 quart2
microns. 50 to 100 micron voids showed some Itolo 7?’ feld$ par
tendency to coalescence. Voids uniformly I to 10’% unldentfied
and closely spaced, Largest voidles$ area microcrystalline
observed was 900 square microns. material
.e$$ than 1% iron oxides
Fine Aggregate

Tabular to Very dense, Voids were similar to those described for

ellipsoidal. smooth. Few void~ coarse aggregate. Maximum dimensions of
Progressively at wrface were air void$ limited by particle size.
more angular larger than
with 100 microns.
decreasing
particle size.

1
‘Previously repor d in BULLETIN171/7)

Oevelopmenf Laboratories, May 1968 23

 TABLE A3—PETROGRAPHY OF SAND AND GRAVEL FROM EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

Composition of Sieve Fraction,

percent cm sieve of size indicated
Component Passing
3/4 1/2 % 1A No. No. No. No, No. No. No. No.
In. In. In. In. 4 8 16 30 50 100 200 200

Granite 37.9 32.9 25.5 31.3 27.0 27.6 12.3 7.4 1.9 4.4 0.6 —

Quartzite 21.6 29.2 34.8 24.6 24.5 20.0 12.3 12.6 10.9 3.1 2.2 -–

Quartz 6.3 3.1 4,9 4.8 5.5 18.8 52.2 62.0 73.1 79.5 74.2 92.0

Cherta 10.8 7.0 5.2 8. I 9.6 5.9 7.7 3.5 2.0 O.a 2.8 2.0

Sandstone-Quartz
Conglomerate 1.9 0.8 3.1 5.1 5.5 8.3 — — —— —

Rhyolite-Dacite 13.9 6.2 2.2 5.1 7.2 4.1 0.8 2.6 1.6 0.8 0.9 —

Feldspar — — 1.3 5.0 6.6 5.0 10.8 4.0

Diorite 1,9 1.4 3.1 1.8 1.2 — — — —— — —

Graywackeb 1.3 9,5 5.8 5.4 4.3 6.5 2.3 1.5 0.3 — 0.6 -—

Gneiss-Schist 2.5 5.1 10.5 9.3 7.5 4.1 6.4 1.8 0.9 1.1 0.6 —

Basalt 1.9 4.5 4.0 3.9 6.9 3.2 2.6 2.4 0.7 — 0.3 —

Miscellanec.us Igneous
Rocksc and Opaque
Minerals 0.3 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.1 1.2 2.0 5.3 7.0 2.0

Particle Shape Y4 In. to Va In., To No. 4 to No. 16, % No. 30 to No. 200, %

Surrounded to Rounded 30 20 10

Surrounded to .%bangulor 40 40 40

Angular 30 40 50

.qron* tone,,,
made Upof Iasper and hematite, is included in the chert classification.
‘]Includes metagraywacke.
oThe miscellaneous igneous rocks were severely altered and positive identification was impossible. The opaque minerals
occurred in the No. 50 and smaller sieve sizes and were largely magnetite.

PCA.R&D. Ser.1316-2

24 Journal of The PCA Research and Development Laboratories, May 1968

 Bulletins Published by the
Research Department
Research and Development Laboratories
of the
Portland Cement Association
200. “Index of Research Department Bulletins 1-199, Annotated List with
Author and Subject Index.”
Published by Portland Cement Association, Research and Development Labo-
ratories, Skokie, Illinois (1966).

201. “An ‘Isothermal’ Conduction Calorimeter for Study of the Early Hydra-
tion Reactions of Portland Cements,” by G. E. MONFORE and BORJE OST.
Reprinted from the Journal of the PCA Research and DeueIopnaent Labora.
tortes, 8, No. 2, 13.20 (May 1966).

202, “Outdoor Concrete Exposure Test Plot at Skokie,” by PHIL J. TATMAN

and ROBERT LANDGREN.
Re rfnted from the Journai o the PCA Research and Development Labora.
tor res, 8, No. 2, 30.41 (May 1916).

203, “Surface Discoloration of Concrete Flatwork,” by N. R, GREENING and

R. LANDGREN.
Reprinted from the Journal of the PCA Research and Development Labora-
tories, 8, No. 3, 34.50 (September 1966).

204. “Resistance of Portland Cement Mortar to Chemical Attack — A Prog-

ress Report,” by WILLIAM H. KUENNING.
Reprinted from Highway Research Record, Number 113, 43-87 (1966).

205. “Kinetics of the Thermal Decomposition of Calcium Hydroxide,” by

R. SH. MIKHAIL, STEPHEN BRUNAUER, and L, E. COPELAND.
Reprinted from JournaZ of C!ot!oid and Interface Setence, 21, No. 4, 394.404
(April 1966).

206. “A Review of Studies of the Effects of Restraint on the Fire Resistance

of Prestressed Concrete,” by C. C. CARLSON, S. L, SELVAGGIO and A. H.
GUSTAFERRO.
Reprinted from a symposium on Fire Resistance of Prestreesed Concrete, held
in Braunschweig, Germany, June 1965 by Federation International de la Pre-
contrafnte, Published by Bauverlag GmbH, Wiesbaden-Berlin.

207. “Thermal Conductivities of Portland Cement Paste, Aggregate and

Concrete Down to Very Low Temperatures,” by A. E. LENTZ and G. E.
MONFORE.
Reprinted from the JOur?tal of the PCA Ressarch and Dsvetopme?at Labora-
tories, 8, No. 3, 27-33 (September 1966)

208. ‘*Scaled Models in Fire Research on Concrete Structures,” by LIONEL

ISSEN.
Reprinted from the Journal of the PCA Resea?ch and Development Labora-
tories, 8, No. 3, 10-26 (September 1966).

209, “Paste Hydration of Beta-Dicalcium Silicate, Tricalcium Silicate, and

Alite,” by D, L. KANTRO, C. H, WEISE, and STEPHEN BRUNAUER,
Reprinted from Symposium on Structure of Portland Cement Paste and Con-
crete, Highway Research Board, Special Report No. 90, 309-327 (1966).
210. “Elastic Moduli of Hardened Portland Cement and Tricalcium Silicate
Pastes: Effect of Porosity,” by RICHARD A. HELMUTH, and DANICA H. TURK.
Reprinted from Sumposium on Structure of Portland Cement Paste and Con-
crete, I-Iighway Research Board, Special Report No, 90, 136-144 (1966).
211. “Reactions of Tobermorite Gel with Aluminates, Ferrites, and Sul-
fates,” by L. E. COPELAND, E. BODOR, T, N. CHANG, and C. H, WEISE.
Reprinted from the Jownal of the PCA Research and Development Labora-
tories, 9, No. 1, 61-74 (January 1967).
212. “Fire Endurance of Simply supported Prestressed Concrete Slabs,”
by A. H. GUSTAFERRO and S. L. SELVAGCIO.
Reprinted from Journal of the P?’estressed Concrete Institute, 12, No. 1, 37-52
(Februam 1967),
213. “Some Causes for Variation in Required Amount of Air-Entraining
Agent in Portland Cement Mortars, ” by NATHAN R, GREENING.
Re rinted from Journat of the PCA Research and Developrnent Laboratories,
9, %0, 2, 22-36 (May 1967).
214. “Analysis of Portland Cement by Atomic Absorption,” by R. F. CROW,
W. G. HIME, and J. D. CONNOLLY.
Re rinted from Journal o the PCA Research and Development Laboratories,
9, %Jo. 2, 60-77 (May 1967( .

215. “The Reversible and Irreversible Drying Shrinkage of Hardened Port-

land Cement and Tricalcium Silicate Pastes,” by RICHARD A. HELMUTH
and DANICA H. TURK
Reprinted from Journal of the PC!A Research and Devetop?nent Laboratories,
9, No. 2, 8-21 (May 1967).

216. “Fire Endurance of Concrete Floors with Embedded Electrical Under-

floor Ducts,” by M, S. ABRAMS and A. H. GUSTAFERRO.
Published by Portland Cement Association, Research and Development Labora-
tories, Skokie, Illinois, October, 1987.
217. “Long-Time Study of Cement Performance in Concrete — Chapter 8. Illi-
nois Test Plot, by C!. c, OLESON and GEORGE VERBECK.
Published by Portland Cement Association, Research and Development Labora-
tories, Skokie, lIlinois, December, 1987.
218. “Laboratory Studies of Blended Cements — Portland Blast. Furnace Slag
Cements,” by PAUL KLIEGER and ALBERT W. ISBERNER.
Reprinted from Journal of the PCA Research and Development Laboratories, 9,
No. 3, 2-22 (September 1967).
219. “Estimating Post-Fire Strength and Exposure Temperature of Pre-
stressing Steel by a Metallographic Method, ” by M, S. andABRAMS
B. ERLIN.
Reprinted from Journal of the PCA Research and Development Laboratories, 9,
No. 3, 23-33 (September 1967).
220. “Restraint in Fire Tests of Concrete Floors and Roofs,” S. L. SELVAGGIO
and C. C. CARLSON.
Reprinted from Fme ‘l!EeT
METHODS — REeTsAINT AND SMOKE 1966, ASTM Special
Technical Publication No. 422, 21-39 (1967),
221. “Field and Laboratory Studies of the Reactivity of Sand-Gravel Aggre-
gates,” by DAVID W, HADLEY.
Reprinted from Journal of the PCA Research and Development Laboratories,
10, No. 1, 17-33 (January 1968).

222. “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Water in Hardened Cement

Paste,” by PAUL SELIGMANN.
Reprinted from Journal o the PCA Research and Development Laboratories,
10, No. 1, 52-05 (January / 966),
223. “Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs as Influenced by Thickness, Aggre-
gate Type, and Moisture,” by M. S. ABRAMS and A. H. GUSTAFERRO.
Reprinted from Journut of ihe PCA Research and Development Laboratories,
10, No, 2, 9-24 (May 196S).

Printed in U.S.A.
 I
I
“Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs as Influenced
[ by Thickness, Aggregate Type, and Moisture”

I KEY WORDS: agwegatw carbonate rocks: concrete slabti dv% expanded shale ai%-
I gregates; fire resistance; fire tests floory humidity; lightweight aggregate moisture
I content; sand replacement; siliceous aggregates; testing thickness.
I SPECIAL KEY WORDS: Prestressed concrete floor comparisons, reinforced concrete floor
I comparisons.
I
I SYNOPSIS: ‘f’his is the first of a planned series of reports on the fire endurance of
I concrete slabs as determined from fire tests of 3x3-ft specimens. The fire endurance
I in these tests was based on the ASTM criteria for temperature rise of the unexposed
I surface. In the test program reported herein, variables included slab thickness (11/2 to
I 7 in.), aggregate type (carbonate, siliceous, and structural lightweight), and moisture
I condition of the concrete (natural and kiln drying). Results of tests of small specimens
I correlate reasonably well with those of full-scale specimens and can be used to de-
termine minimum thicknesses required for fire endurances. A method is suggested for
II adjusting results of fire tests of specimens moisture conditioned ina nonstandard manner.

REFERENCE: Abram.% M. .$., and Gustaferro, A. I-I., lournal of the PC~ Research and
I DerJelo@ent Laboratories (Portland Cement Association, U.S.A.), Vol. 10, No. 2, May
I 1968, pp. 9-24; PCA Research Department Bulletin 223.
i
i
I
I “Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs as Influenced
I by Thickness, Aggregate Type, and Moisture”
I
I KEY WORDS: aggregates; carbonate rocks; concrete slab-% dry% expanded shale ag-
1 gregates; fire resistance; fire tests; floors; humidity; lightweight aggregate moisture
I content; sand replacement; siliceous aggregates; testing; thickness.
I
SPECIAL KEY WORDS: Prefm-f concrete fl-’ comparisons, reinforced concrete floor
I
comparisons.
I
I SYNOPSIS: This is the firw of a planned series of reports on the fire endurance Of
I concrete slabs as determined from fire tests of 3x3-ft specimens. The fire endurance
in these tests was based on the ASTM criteria for temperature rise of the unexposed
! surface. In the test program reported herein, variables included slab thickness (11/! to
7 in.), aggregate type (carbonate, siliceous, and structural lightweight), and moisture
1 condition of the concrete (natural and kiln drying). Results of tests of small specimens
I correlate reasonably well with those of full-scale specimens and can be used to de-
1 termine minimum thicknesses required for fire endurances. A method is suggested for
I adjusting results of fire tests of specimens moisture conditioned ina nonstandard manner.
I
REFERENCE: Abram. M s., and Gustaferro, A. H., ~o~rna~ Of the PCA Research and
Development Laboratories (Portland Cement Association, U.S.A.), Vol. 10, No. 2, May
;
1968, pp. 9-24; PCA Research Department Bulletin 223.
I
I
I 1
“Fire Endurance of Concrete Slabs as Influenced
by Thickness, Aggregate Type, and Moisture”

KEY WORDS: aggregates; carbonate rocks; Concrete slabs dry%; =wanded shale ag-
gregates; fire resistance; fire tests floors; humidity; lightweight aggregates; moisture
content; sand replacement; siliceous aggregates; testing; thickness.

SPECIAL KEY WORDS: pre@=Sed concrete floor comparisons, reinforced concrete floor
comparisons.

SYNOPSIS: This is the first of a planned series of reports on the fire endurance of
concrete slabs as determined from tire tests of 3x3-ft specimens. The fire endurance
in these tests was based on the ASTM criteria for temperature rise of the unexposed
surface. In the test program reported herein, variables included slab thickness (I~! to
7 in.), aggregate type (carbonate, siliceous, and structural lightweight), and moisture
condition of the concrete (natural and kiln drying). Results of tests of small specimens
correlate reasonably well with those of full-scale specimens and can be used to de-
termine minimum thicknesses required for fire endurances. A method is suggested for
adjusting results of fire tests of specimens moisture conditioned ina nonstandard manner.

REFERENCE: Abram M. S., and GUstaferrO, A. H., .loUr~al Of the PCA Research arcd
Develo@ent Laboratories (Portland Cement Association, U.S.A.), Vol. 10, No. 2, May
1968, pp. 9-24; PCA Research Department Bulletin 223.