Initial study on thatched roofing assembly ignition vulnerabilities to firebrand showers

Published

December 15, 2018

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Sayaka Suzuki

Abstract

Structures fitted with thatched roofing assemblies are prone to ignition during the course of large outdoor fires. Experiments with thatched roofing assemblies were performed by using a reduced-scale continuous-feed firebrand generator in a wind facility to investigate fundamental ignition mechanisms. The wind speed was varied from 3 m/s to 6 m/s to observe the ignition and flame spread of thatched roofing assemblies. It was observed that firebrands penetrated into the thatched roofing assembly, sometimes unseen from the outside, resulting in ignition and ultimately rapid flame penetration. Information obtained in this study would be useful to evaluate and develop effective counter measures to protect historical structures with thatched roofing assemblies, especially for historical buildings, such as The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s world heritage sites in Japan.

Citation

Fire Safety Journal

Volume

103

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2018.12.001

Keywords

Cultural Heritage, Large Outdoor Fires, Firebrands

Citation

Manzello, S. and Suzuki, S. (2018), Initial study on thatched roofing assembly ignition vulnerabilities to firebrand showers, Fire Safety Journal, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2018.12.001 (Accessed October 18, 2025)