FPInnovations conducted a research project to study the construction of mid-rise wood exit shafts in Ontario and Québec. The scope of the project included an investigation into the concerns that have been raised in regards to the use of wood exits in mid-rise buildings, an analysis of recent Canadian fire statistics in residential multi-family structures, and a fire demonstration of a mass timber wall and supported light-frame floor. This report describes the fire demonstration completed as part of this project; this report acts as a supplement to the full project report.
In 2015, the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) [1] adopted prescriptive provisions to allow the construction of mid-rise (5- and 6-storey) buildings using combustible construction. These types of buildings were already permitted under the British Columbia Building Code, as of 2009 [2]. In2014 the Province of Ontario filed an amendment to also allow mid-rise wood buildings, however, it required that the exit fire separations be built using noncombustible construction having a fire resistance rating (FRR) of not less than 1.5-hr, which was an increase from the 1-hr requirement in the NBCC. The Québec Construction Code has also filed amendments to allow mid-rise wood construction and also limits exit stairwells to use noncombustible construction.
The study tour to Norway and Sweden was planned and coordinated by Russell C. Moody and Anton TenWolde from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory. Forintek Canada Corp. was invited to participate on the tour with them with a view to beginning cooperative planning and research in areas of environmental concern, specifically moisture management in wood framed structures. The tour took place from August 17 to September 1, 1983. The author also stopped off in England to visit the British Research Establishment Laboratory in Princes Risborough and the TRADA laboratory in the same vicinity. Special appreciation is accorded to Mr. Torbjorn Schmidt at the Swedish Forest Products Laboratory in Stockholm and Mr. Erik Aasheim at the Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology. Their recommendations and assistance in setting up visits and tours was of great help. Mr. Schmidt also accompanied us in some of our journeys in Sweden and joined us in Norway for some of our meetings there.
