FPInnovations’ Wildfire Operations Advisory group has asked its researchers to explore a method by which the performance of water-enhancing products can be repeatedly assessed in the laboratory. A new test method, known as the crib test, was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of water-enhancing products on burning woody fuel to simulate direct-attack aerial operations.
This report outlines the methodology for the crib test and describes the findings from performance evaluation tests conducted at the Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility (PCERF) at the University of Alberta.
The USDA Forest Service’s Qualified Product List (QPL) provides guidance on the range of permissible mix ratios for water-enhancer products. Due to the proprietary nature of water-enhancer products, there are several unknowns about the rheology of the permissible mix ratios.
This study focused on mapping the viscosity of various suppressant products as a function of their mix ratios. The results revealed a wide range of viscosities across products, with each product showing a different non-linear relationship with different mix ratios.
The results from this study can help understand the optimum viscosity range to achieve desired drop characteristics during aerial operations.
The aim of this study was to capture data on area-based water delivery systems, specifically in the context of logistics, systems differentiation, water delivery, and its localized effects. FPInnovations successfully collaborated with Fire & Flood to obtain this data. A two-day test was executed during which Fire & Flood set up their 4- and 12-inch systems and carried out sprinkler operations.
A methodology was developed to evaluate the performance of different commercially available siding materials when exposed to high and low radiant heat loads. The materials evaluated in this study were engineered wood, fibre cement board, cedar siding, and vinyl siding. The time to ignition of the wall prototypes was used to evaluate the performance of these materials.
Midply shear wall (hereafter Midply), which was originally developed by researchers at Forintek Canada Corp. (predecessor of FPInnovations) and the University of British Columbia, is a high-capacity shear wall system that is suitable for high wind and seismic loadings. Its superior seismic performance was demonstrated in a full-scale earthquake simulation test of a 6-storey wood-frame building in Japan. In collaboration with APA–The Engineered Wood Association and the American Wood Council (AWC), a new framing arrangement was designed in this study to increase the vertical load resistance of Midply and make it easier to accommodate electrical and plumbing services. In this study, a total of 14 Midply specimens in six wall configurations with different sheathing thicknesses and nail spacing were tested under reversed cyclic loading. Test results showed that Midply has approximately twice the lateral load capacity of a comparable standard shear wall. The drift capacity and energy dissipation capability are also greater than comparable standard shear walls. For Midply to use the same seismic force modification factors as standard shear walls, seismic equivalency to standard shear walls in accordance with ASTM D7989 was also conducted. Although Midply has superior lateral load and drift capacities, it does not seem to be as ductile as the standard shear walls at the same over-strength level. Additional testing and dynamic analysis are recommended to address this issue.
In this project, the main objective was to evaluate the “best bet” experimental mat structure design previously identified by FPInnovations in 2018/19. This mat structure was comprised of three strand size classes incorporated into six equal weight mat layers. Both experimental and control panels were prepared at 39lb/ft³ and 35lb/ft³ densities and tested for dry static bending, single cycle bending (D4), concentrated static load, thickness swell, and internal bond strength.
The Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AFF) Wildfire Management Branch Ignition Specialists Working Group has endorsed a collaborative project to develop a redesigned helitorch. The goal of this project is to have an acceptable and proven replacement helitorch based on extensive testing.
This presentation discusses services for logging contractors to help develop their skills in their operational and financial performances. Involvement and engagement with First Nations and using DiagFor are two of the topics presented.
FPInnovations conducted a laboratory test to investigate the potential wetting of cross-laminated timber (CLT) from the pouring of concrete topping, and the effectiveness of a water repellent coating and membrane in preventing such wetting.
FPInnovations a effectué un essai en laboratoire afin d’étudier la teneur en humidité (TH) du bois lamellé-croisé (CLT) découlant du coulage de chapes de béton, et l’efficacité avec laquelle un enduit imperméabilisant et une membrane permettent de de prévenir cette humidification.
Accounting for climate change impacts in the design of resource road stream crossings. Final webinar of the free series on case studies and use of available climate tools
Information on the webinar series developed in coordination with and with funding from the British Columbia, Ministry of Frests, Land, Natioanl Resource Operations and Rural Development. Webinar information for January 14, 2021
Evaluation of forest environments to assess fuel loading using conventional inventory methods is labour-intensive, time-consuming, and requires extensive training to be completed correctly. Fuels managers would like to apply simpler, less expensive fuel sampling methods and still maintain acceptable accuracy in fuel load measurements.
FPInnovations has explored different fuel sampling techniques that may be applicable to the forest stands of central British Columbia. The photoload sampling technique was deemed to be a valuable tool that can be enhanced to suitably represent the forest fuels in Interior Douglas-fir environments and can be adapted to other fuel environments with appropriate amendments.
This guide provides guidance for equipment
operators for construction of commonly prescribed
road deactivation structures. Timber sale licence
(TSL) holders and contractors can use this guide as
a reference in achieving conformance to a prepared
deactivation plan.
Canadian regulators utilize the ESAL concept for vehicle impact evaluations and(or) pavement design. Unfortunately, TAC’s ESAL equations do not account for tire size and, consequently, overestimate steering axle impacts when those axles are equipped with widebase steering tires. Many new vehicles proposed for use in Canada feature tridem-drive tractors and heavily loaded steering axles—these heavy loads necessitate the use of widebase steering tires. In order to optimize high efficiency truck configurations in Canada, therefore, accurate estimates of widebase steering tire ESALs are needed. This work describes a methodology to estimate ESALs for widebase steering tires. These ESAL equations were used to justify an increase in steering axle weights for B.C. 9-axle log B-trains.
Mulching is a common method of fuel treatment. However, it is not currently listed by the U.S. Forest Service as a fuel type in its recommendations for fire retardant coverage levels. FPInnovations researchers set up plots with different coverage levels of retardant on a mulch fuel bed and collected fire behaviour data when a fire interacted with these plots. The results are intended to help wildfire agencies understand the effectiveness of retardant on mulch fuels in developing better suppression plans.
L’industrie, le gouvernement et les Premières Nations elles-mêmes souhaitent vivement participer au développement économique associé aux activités forestières. Bien que souvent situés en régions éloignées, à proximité de telles activités, les acteurs forestiers des communautés autochtones n’ont pas toujours l’opportunité d’acquérir les compétences requises en matière de gestion d’entreprise. Les exigences de l’entrepreneuriat forestier limitent leurs capacités à participer avec succès à un niveau avancé de développement.
Given the benefits that resource roads provide to economic and social well-being, it is important to understand the impacts of a changing climate on resource roads and infrastructure. As the forest industry and governments move toward creating resource roads that are resilient to climate change, an early step in the adaptive management process is to assess the risks and vulnerabilities of infrastructure to climate change.
As part of FPInnovations’ and BC Forest Safety Council’s ongoing evaluation of fatigue management technology, Seeing Machines’ Guardian Gen 2, an eye-tracking–based driver assistance system that monitors driver fatigue and distraction, was evaluated in Interior B.C. log-hauling operations. In addition, driver fatigue scores based on a wristband technology, Readiband, were correlated with the drivers’ reported scores to verify the fatigue level in the participating fleets. The study findings, participants’ feedback, and onboard device performance are summarized in this report.
Évaluation du Guardian, le système embarqué de surveillance de La Fatigue de 2e génération de Seeing Machines, dans le cadre des activités de transport de billes dans l'intérieur de la Colombie-Britannique
Dans le cadre de l’évaluation en cours des technologies de gestion de la fatigue réalisée par FPInnovations et le Conseil de la sécurité forestière de la C.-B., le Guardian de deuxième génération de Seeing Machines, un système de suivi des mouvements des yeux qui surveille la fatigue et la distraction chez les conducteurs, a fait l’objet d’une évaluation lors des activités de transport de billes dans l’intérieur de la C.-B. De plus, les pointages de la fatigue des conducteurs, établis selon le bracelet Readiband, ont été corrélées avec les pointages déclarés par les conducteurs afin de vérifier le niveau de fatigue chez les conducteurs des flottes prenant part à l’évaluation. Les résultats de l’étude, la rétroaction des participants et le rendement du dispositif embarqué sont résumés dans le présent rapport.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) has asked FPInnovations to investigate current information and knowledge for bridge fire impact mitigation opportunities and strategies.
The extent of the investigation includes reaching out to domestic and international contacts to find directly applicable information and literature on strategies to mitigate fire impacts to bridge structures. This will include review of academic journals and reports, products and methods, to find
