Castings and Fire Protection of Steel Structures

The lecture will be given by Alan Denney, who was the first metallurgist to be employed by Arup. Alan conducting studies for the use of castings for the structure of Centre Pompidou and its protection against fire by the use of internal water cooling. The structural solution for Bush Lane House, (an office building in the City of London) developed out of the work on Centre Pompidou but in addition is the world’s first building with a structure of cast duplex stainless steel. Its lattice steel structure is also protected from fire by internal water filling. The lecture will also illustrate how the innovations of that time led to a later adoption of castings for structural elements of fixed platforms for offshore platform structures. 

The Speaker:  Alan Denning

Alan Denney has practiced as a metallurgist for over 55 years, finding solutions to the questions raised by structural, mechanical, chemical, marine and pipeline engineers regarding the right material for steel structures, pipelines, ships and submarines, and the means of welding them and preventing them from failing by fire, fatigue, sudden fracture or corrosion.  

He graduated with a BSc metallurgy from Newcastle University in 1969 and an MSc in Welding Technology from Cranfield University in 1974. He worked initially for Arup and then with companies in the John Brown Group for over 25 years, latterly as discipline Chief Engineer working on offshore platforms, pipelines, defence engineering and process facilities. His final job was with Saipem where he was Manager: welding and materials for North Sea and Baltic operations for nine years where his work related mainly to offshore pipelay projects.  

Alan has been heavily involved with The Welding Institute. He has sat on Council, and Professional Board and is a former President of London Branch. He was one of the founders of the Institute’s latest journal, ‘Welding and Joining Matters’ which started in 2022 and he is currently its editor.