Experimental Fire-Simulator For Post-Flashover Compartment Fires

Published

June 6, 2018

Author(s)

Daniel Brandon, Joachim Schmid, Joseph Su, Matthew Hoehler, Birgit Ostman, Amanda Kimball

Abstract

The number of tall timber buildings around the world is rapidly increasing as a result of changes in regulations and the development of new engineered timber products. However, due to the combustibility of timber, the fire safety of tall timber buildings has been questioned. Building regulations for structural elements are based on fixed periods for which specimens shall resist exposure to a standard fire in a fire resistance furnace. Because no distinction is made between the exposure in fire resistance tests of combustible and non-combustible specimens, less conventional testing methods have been used for research of timber structures. This study aims to identify aspects that are important to simulate realistic fire conditions relevant to assess the structural performance of timber in post-flashover fires. A test method is developed to replicate conditions in compartment fire tests using a furnace, that results in similar damage types and rates of damage in the timber specimen. Based on conclusions drawn from these tests and test results obtained using other testing methods, the applicability of fire resistance tests and other non-conventional tests are discussed.

Proceedings Title

SiF18 - The 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire

Conference Dates

June 6-8, 2018

Conference Location

Belfast, UK

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

cross laminated timber, compartment fires, fire resistance tests, simulation

Citation

Brandon, D. , Schmid, J. , Su, J. , Hoehler, M. , Ostman, B. and Kimball, A. (2018), Experimental Fire-Simulator For Post-Flashover Compartment Fires, SiF18 - The 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire, Belfast, UK, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=925666 (Accessed October 9, 2025)