CHARLESTON SOFA SUPER STORE FIRE Assignment # 1 CE 808: Structural Fire Engineering CHARLESTON SOFA SUPER STORE FIRE June 18, 2007, Charleston, South Carolina, United States Mahmud Dwaikat Wasim Khaliq Feb. 12th,2008

Outline Introduction The Building Fire Cause and Development Building Deficiencies Conclusions

Introduction Fires are either fuel-controlled or ventilation-controlled. Fires in large floor open spaces are generally fuel-controlled. Lack of compartmentation in large floor spaces leads to rapid spread of fires. Fire protection systems are essential to slow down fire growth/failure time. Fire structural design is essential to prevent collapse.

The Building Super Store Sofa: Expansion 42,000 ft² (3,902 m²) single-story steel trussed showroom. 7,000 ft² (1,579 m²) warehouse building behind the retail space. Expansion Showroom expanded 1967. No sprinklers. Unprotected steel truss. Warehouse added 1996 No firewall between buildings

The Building No firewalls Roll-up doors: Fire resistant materials Expansion 1967 No firewalls Main Showroom Warehouse 1996 Roll-up doors: Fire resistant materials Loading Dock

Fire Cause & Development Unprotected steel truss system Showroom Furniture Loading Dock Warehouse Roll-up doors Fire resisting materials

Fire Cause & Development Expansion NO firewall Main Showroom 7:10pm Warehouse 7:15pm Collapse!! 7:30pm Loading Dock 7:00pm Fire contained 7:25pm

Fire Cause & Development Fire spread through trussed roof 7:00pm

Building Deficiencies No sprinklers Smoke detectors: Inefficient Huge open spaces, deep roof Unprotected steel truss system

Conclusions 9 firefighters died, millions of US dollars losses Steel truss systems are unfavorable in fire conditions Steel structures should be designed against fires. Firewalls and compartmentation is necessary to contain fire growth. Fire protection systems are important to slow down fire growth. Firefighters should be alarmed about structural system of building under fire

Thank you! Questions!!