The purpose of this guide is to provide an introduction to the concept of encapsulated mass timber construction. This guide provides an overview of encapsulation techniques for mass timber construction, and other related fire protection measures, and summarizes some approved encapsulation materials and application methods and identifies additional requirements for safety during construction. This guide is intended to help architects, engineers and designers by reducing uncertainty and allowing for more confidence in design, as well as providing authorities having jurisdiction and inspectors with a reference for simple design review.
Funded by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry through FPInnovations with Morrison Hershfield Limited
The objective of this work is to generate fire resistance data for NLT assemblies to address significant gaps in technical knowledge. This research will support designers and builders in the use of mass timber assemblies in larger and taller buildings, as well as provide scientific justification for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to review and accept this construction method. The intent is to demonstrate that NLT construction can meet or exceed NBCC fire safety requirements for use in buildings of mass timber construction.
The data could be used towards the inclusion of an NLT fire resistance calculation methodology into Annex B of CSA O86 – Engineering Design for Wood [4], which currently addresses only glue-laminated timber (GLT), structural composite lumber (SCL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT).
The objective of this work is to generate fire performance data for NLT assemblies to address gaps in technical knowledge. This project aims to study how the size of gaps between NLT boards might affect charring of an assembly and its overall fire performance. This research will support designers and builders in the use of mass timber assemblies in larger and taller buildings, by ensuring fire safe designs.
The objective of this project is to establish fundamental fire performance data for the design and specification of NLT assemblies; this project specially addresses determining FSRs for NLT. The goal of this project is to confirm that NLT, when used as a mass timber element, has a lower FSR than standard thickness SPF boards when tested individually and flatwise. The project also considers how the surface profiles, design details, and the direction of an assembly might influence flame spread. This includes the evaluation of typical architectural features, such as a ‘fluted’ profile.
Having this technical information will support project approvals for the use of NLT elements in larger and taller wood buildings, as well as provide scientific justification for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to review and accept this construction method. This research will provide the evidence for designers to demonstrate their design have met or exceeded fire safety requirements. Ultimately the intent is to expand the adoption of manufactured solid timber construction for larger and taller buildings, as well as for non-traditional wood markets (such as institutional or commercial buildings).
Other aspects of this project (in separate reports) include evaluating fire resistance of NLT, and assessing how NLT charring rates might be affected by gaps between boards.
Oriented residue piles and constructed burn piles have different characteristics, including fuel size, composition, and fuel arrangement. The comparative ignition trials conducted in this proof-of-concept study suggest that these characteristics influence the fuel environment, with a higher potential for ignition and sustained burning and greater resultant fire intensity in constructed burn piles. The intent of this proof-of-concept trial was to determine whether logging residue piles that have been oriented for biomass extraction (placed in parallel piles by the processor operator during primary harvesting activities) is a significant fuel hazard that requires further abatement.
Solutions for upper mid-rise and high-rise mass timber constructiojn: fire performance of cross-laminated timber with adhesives conforming to 2018 edition of ANSI/APA PRG-320
The objective of this research is to evaluate CLT face-bonded with adhesives that meet the new 2018 ANSI/APA PRG 320 with respect to elevated temperature requirements and their effects on the resulting charring rates when exposed to the standard time-temperature curve of CAN/ULC S101 (similar exposure to ASTM E119). The results can ultimately be used to propose modifications to the charring models currently used in CSA O86-14 and the NDS, if found conclusive.
This project assesses the fire resistance of laminated timber structural systems as wall and floor assemblies. Full-scale tests were conducted to assess structural fire resistance and charring behaviour. This research could be used to expand current fire design provisions and support inclusion of these types of assemblies into Annex B of CSA O86.
The overall objective of this project is to develop an innovative tool to address fire risk on wood construction sites. The intent was to build on previous work and continue the development of an infrared camera system for the detection of fires on wood construction sites. The goal was to advance the camera towards commercialization.
