Measured and calculated temperature evolution on the room side of a butted steel door frame subjected to the standard fire of ISO 834

The numerical simulation of the temperature distribution of a steel door frame subjected to fire has been verified by means of fire resistance tests. For this purpose, a butted steel frame/steel door assembly, built in a massive brick wall, was subjected for at least 30 min to the standard fire of ISO 834 for both opening into as well as opening away from the furnace. The temperature measured on the room side of the frame was compared with the results obtained from numerical heat transfer analysis. The leaf/frame interaction was monitored during both fire tests to verify the fulfilment of the integrity criterion, but was neglected in the calculations by assuming adiabatic conditions at the door clearance. The possibility of mutual assertion of the insulation criterion (thermal performance) for the cases of opening into and opening away from the furnace has been discussed. Additionally, the influences of a thermally insulated frame and of a wall/frame anchorage were quantified by calculations, and comparisons with adjustable steel frames were made.