Fire-resistance test furnace apparatus for fire-resistance testing of building structural elements

Abstract

The present invention provides a fire-resistance test furnace apparatus (250) adapted for the fire-resistance testing of building structural elements that include a simply-supported beam and a beam-to-column connection structural element (150, 152). The fire-resistance test furnace apparatus (250) comprises a substantially enclosed fire-resistance test furnace chamber (100) disposed with an opening (102) extending longitudinally throughout an entire length of a portion of one side surface (108a) to a portion of length in part, of another symmetrically opposing side surface (108b) of the chamber (100) while spanning across an entire length of a portion of a top side surface (108e) of the chamber (100) to thereby define a slot-like opening (102) configured to receive and engage with the building structural element (150, 152).