Safest stuctural materia for big buildings

Just interested to know what kind of materia for big buildings main columns is safe/safest. I read a surprising article saying that using (thick) timber is good. It is known that steel structure does not hold if there is bigger fire: There is a risk of building collapsing (say after 6 hours fire) because steel loses its strength. I wonder why are they using so much steel because of this risk (according to history steel can give up strength too much even after 1-2 hours fire)... Timber with some kind of coating best? thanks

Reply to
crea
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define 'safest'... There are many more hazards than fire. If you can coat wood to protect from a six hour file (or a two hour fire) then you could coat steel as well.

define 'big buildings'... 5 floors? 20 floors? 100 floors? How many sq metres? 100? 1000? 10,000?

define 'thick timber'... 12" x 12"? 24" x 24"?

Reply to
PeterD

ok, lets leave it to fire only to keep it simple

i dont think coating steel helps much because the problem is not that it gets melted but that it gets weakened and then bents

say 40-80 floors

well, say average size for tall buildings

the designer can deside keeping in mind the costs, usefulness etc. , but lets say that about the same size what would be with steel is steel used.

Reply to
crea

Actually the best way to learn about construction and structural sturdiness is by watching the demolition of old buildings!

You will see how some materials quickly come down with the wrecking ball (wood). And how it takes forever for them to tear down others (concrete with tons of rebar).

So find a demolition company in your area and call and ask where they are tearing something down. Then go watch.

Reply to
Bill

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