EXPOSING SIDING TREATMENTS, WALLS FITTED WITH EAVES, AND GLAZING ASSEMBLIES TO FIREBRAND SHOWERS

Published

May 1, 2012

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Sayaka S. Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hayashi

Abstract

An experimental campaign was undertaken to determine vulnerabilities of siding treatments, walls fitted with eaves, and glazing assemblies to firebrand bombardment using the NIST Dragon installed in the Building Research Institute’s Fire Research Wind Tunnel Facility (FRWTF). Experiments were conducted using two different siding treatments; vinyl siding and polypropylene siding. The siding treatments were installed in a reentrant corner configuration and the moisture content of the sheathing material (oriented strand board – OSB) was varied. A reentrant corner configuration was used since it is believed that firebrands may become trapped within the corner post and under the siding itself. In addition to exposing siding treatments to firebrand showers, a parametric study was also undertaken to determine eave vulnerability to firebrand showers. A very important, long standing question is whether firebrands may become lodged within joints between walls and the eave overhang. Walls fitted with eaves were constructed and exposed to firebrand showers. Since the open eave construction is thought to the worst possible situation, this configuration was used. Experiments were completed by varying the wind speed as well as investigating the influence of vent openings on firebrand accumulation and penetration into an open eave configuration. Finally, a parametric study that was undertaken to determine glazing vulnerability to firebrand showers. An important question is whether firebrands become trapped, accumulate inside the corner of the framing of glazing assemblies, and lead to window breakage. The results of these experimental findings are presented.

Citation

Fire Safety Journal

Volume

50

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2012.01.006

Keywords

WUI Fires, Firebrands

Citation

Manzello, S. , Suzuki, S. and Hayashi, Y. (2012), EXPOSING SIDING TREATMENTS, WALLS FITTED WITH EAVES, AND GLAZING ASSEMBLIES TO FIREBRAND SHOWERS, Fire Safety Journal, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2012.01.006 (Accessed December 14, 2024)