fire resistance (loadbearing)
Explanation:
"Fire stability" is indeed a convenient translation for "stabilité au feu", which is itself a convenient and common shortcut, but a remnant from another age (you know how the French retain old terms long after the technology has changed; before adopting the REI system (read on), they had SF (stabilité au feu), PF (pare-flammes) and CF (coupe-feu)).
It is one of the three components of fire resistance that are denoted R, E, and I, which signify Resistance (Load-Bearing), Integrity (the E appears to come from Etanchéité), and Insulation, i.e. the ability of a building element to remain standing (R), to prevent the spread of flame and gas (E), and to prevent heat transfer to the side not exposed to fire (I).
It is indeed odd that in English we have retained the E of "Etanchéité" but not the S of "stabilité", which surely says a lot about the validity (not) of "fire stability".
Even in French "stabilité" is not used, in the purest of terms, other than to define what is meant by "Résistance mécanique ou force portante" (for which they, like us, use the R of REI) or in reference to their old "SF" system.
"REI est un acronyme utilisé pour indiquer la résistance au feu d’un élément de construction (composant ou structurel):
• R, indique la Résistance mécanique ou force portante, c’est-à-dire la capacité des structures à conserver leur stabilité sous l’action du feu.
• E, indique l’Étanchéité au feu sans transmission de flammes et de gaz chauds pouvant s’enflammer sur la face non exposée.
• I, indique l’Isolation thermique, c’est à dire la transmission limitée de la température au travers de l’ouvrage."
"la résistance au feu évalue (en fractions d'heures ou heures) la capacité d'un matériau ou équipement à retarder la propagation d'un incendie (ou à limiter ses effets) jusqu'à l'arrivée des secours. Trois critères sont ainsi définis :
• R = STABILITÉ AU FEU (SF)
• RE ou [sic!] E = pare-flammes (PF)
• REI ou [sic!] EI = coupe-feu (CF)"
"The REI marking consists of the following elements:
• R = LOAD-BEARING. The ability of a construction element to preserve its’ mechanical characteristics and the relevant load capacity during a normal fire.
• E = Integrity. In other words, the structure’s ability to NOT allow the passage or production of gas or vapor to the area NOT exposed to the fire.
• I = Thermal Insulation. To clarify, the ability of a structure to reduce within a temperature limit the transfer of heat to the unexposed (cold) side. The temperature limit is usually 140°C."
Really, 'stabilité au feu' corresponds to "loadbearing fire resistance" or "structural fire resistance". True, "fire stability" is defined by ISO, which states that the elements concerned can be loadbearing or non-loadbearing and that an element must "preserve its mechanical characteristics and the relevant load capacity", i.e. if it is non-loadbearing, then its "relevant load capacity" is zero, beyond its ability to support itself, that is, i.e. its eigenload. For things like insulation, which are not loadbearing, you will find reference to its "integrity fire resistance" and "insulation fire resistance".
Since it will often be obvious in the context that structural stability is being addressed (and not integrity and insulation capacity), "fire resistance" will be sufficient in such cases, though I have been known to append "(loadbearing)" when there might be uncertainty.
| Bourth
France
Local time: 15:33
Works in field
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 8
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peer agreement (net): +1
