Initial Investigation of Fire-Damaged Reinforced Concrete Structures Using Visual Inspection

Fire incidents can cause significant degradation to structural elements, compromising the load-bearing capacity and overall safety of buildings. After such events, rapid and accurate structural integrity assessment is essential to support technical decision-making. This study uses visual inspection as the primary method to evaluate the damage level of reinforced concrete structures in the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Negeri Makassar following a fire incident. The investigation was conducted through direct observation of key structural elements, namely columns, slabs, and beams, and damage was classified into four categories: undamaged, light, moderate, and severe. The results indicate that the most significant damage occurred on the first floor, with 33.8% of columns and 33.4% of slabs showing severe damage. In contrast, the second and third floors remained largely intact, suggesting that the fire's highest intensity was concentrated at the ground level. Visual inspection provided an initial overview of structural conditions and identified critical areas for further evaluation. This study highlights the importance of visual inspection as an initial tool in post-fire structural assessment and forms a basis for subsequent testing and rehabilitation planning.