At what temperature will steel expand approximately 9.5 inches per 100 feet?

Steel expands as it is heated, and this expansion can be quantified using the coefficient of thermal expansion for steel. At around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, steel typically expands about 9.5 inches per 100 feet. This significant expansion is crucial to understanding how steel structures behave under increased temperatures, such as during a fire.

Knowing the temperature at which the expansion occurs is essential for fire prevention strategies and designing structures that can withstand the effects of heat. The other temperatures listed do not align with the measured expansion rate for steel at around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, making that temperature the precise threshold for a 9.5-inch expansion over a length of 100 feet. Understanding this property is vital for fire inspectors as it informs their assessments of structural integrity during fire events.