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Fire safe use of timber

Historically, fire resistance testing has been predicated on non-combustible construction, focusing on the moveable fire load in a compartment. However, with more massive timber being used in construction, the structure itself can become part of the fire load as well, unless fully protected. This project looks at a number of different fire safety challenges associated with the use of timber in construction.

As countries around the world strive to achieve carbon emission reduction targets, timber is increasingly being used in construction where historically concrete and steel would have been specified. However, unlike steel and concrete, timber is combustible and therefore presents different fire safety challenges.

BRANZ-Fire-Resistance-Testing

Slow motion loop footage of a fire resistance experiment with a combustible specimen. Flaming contributions from the specimen as well as the furnace burner can be clearly seen.

  • Fire-safe use of timber

    As the push for more timber construction continues because of its low carbon attributes, further research into the fire safety of timber products is important. Recent BRANZ projects added to the available knowledge.

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  • Fire performance of mass timber joints

    Designers need to show that heavy timber buildings maintain their stability during and after a fire. A joint research project has initial findings on the fire performance of mass timber construction joints to help.

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  • Fire Safe Use of Wood in Buildings

    This book provides guidance on the design of timber buildings for fire safety, developed within the global network Fire Safe Use of Wood (FSUW) and with reference to Eurocode 5 and other international codes.

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  • Research Report: ER67 Pyrolysis Model for Mass Timber: B-Risk Theory (2021)

    This report describes the theory and equations currently used in the model as at v2021.1, and presents benchmarking and char depth validation information.

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  • Research Report: ER68 Passive Fire Protection of Cross Laminated Timber (2022)

    A package of work OFR Consultants has been contracted to complete for BRANZ Ltd. to provide publishable guidance on methods for the passive fire protection of CLT in New Zealand with reference to methods used in other areas of the world.

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  • Fire design of tall timber buildings

    Timber is an attractive material choice for use in tall buildings, and its use is growing. However, as it is a combustible material, there are concerns around fire safety and specific fire design is required.

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  • A theoretical model of fully developed fire in mass timber enclosures (2019)

    This thesis describes a theoretical fire model for calculating the thermal environment within enclosures constructed from fully or partially exposed mass timber elements such as cross-laminated timber.

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