Effects of exposed cross laminated timber on compartment fire dynamics. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hadden, Rory M.; Bartlett, Alastair I.; Hidalgo, Juan P.; Santamaria, Simón; Wiesner, Felix; Bisby, Luke A.; Deeny, Susan; Lane, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Fire safety journal. Volume 91(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 480
• Page End: 489
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Protection of wood -- Fire growth -- Compartment fires -- Combustible linings; Fire prevention -- Periodicals; Incendies -- Prévention -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Fire prevention -- Research; Periodicals; 628.92205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.03.074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-7112

Abstract

Abstract: A series of compartment fire experiments has been undertaken to evaluate the impact of combustible cross laminated timber linings on the compartment fire behaviour. Compartment heat release rates and temperatures are reported for three configuration of exposed timber surfaces. Auto-extinction of the compartment was observed in one case but this was not observed when the experiment was repeated under identical condition. This highlights the strong interaction between the exposed combustible material and the resulting fire dynamics. For large areas of exposed timber linings heat transfer within the compartment dominates and prevents auto-extinction. A framework is presented based on the relative durations of the thermal penetration time of a timber layer and compartment fire duration to account for the observed differences in fire dynamics. This analysis shows that fall-off of the charred timber layers is a key contributor to whether auto-extinction can be achieved.