Review and assessment of fire hazard in bridges

Bridge fires are low-probability but high-consequence incidents. Generally, bridge design codes and standards, in contrast to building codes, do not take into account the concept of fire safety. However, recent highprofile fire incidents on bridges and in other infrastructure have opened a debate on the need for fire resistance requirements on bridges. An overview of fire hazard in bridges is presented. A state-of-the-art review related to the bridge fire hazard was carried out. Different conditions and complexities associated with characterizing fire hazards in bridges are discussed, and a design strategy to integrate performancebased fire safety into bridge design is suggested. Further, a strategy to assess and repair fire-damaged bridges is proposed. A case study is presented to evaluate the fire performance of a composite steel bridge girder. Finally, needed research that can lead to improved performance of bridges during fire incidents is highlighted.