This final report summarises progress in this multi-year project in which fire models have been applied to address a number of market access issues of interest to the Canadian wood industry.
Promoting wood-frame construction in Asian countries has been hindered by the fact that fire-resistance ratings assigned to wood-frame assemblies in Canada are lower than those assigned to similar assemblies in many other countries. Computer models developed at Forintek have been used to assess fire-resistance ratings of wood-frame walls subjected to test methods employed in a number of Asian countries. It was found that differences in fire-resistance ratings quoted in different countries are due to the different loads applied during the tests. Given the same exposures and loads, Canadian assemblies perform as well those from any other country.
A methodology for delivering performance-based design for fire-resistance of wood-frame buildings was developed. The methodology entails modelling the anticipated fire severity and using computer models to predict the performance of wood-frame assemblies protected by gypsum board. The methodology has been applied to two wood-frame buildings: a three-storey hotel and a three-storey office building.
Fire models have been used to assess the performance of wood products in a variety of practical applications in domestic and international markets.
Fire models have been shown to simulate the results of fire experiments conducted in wood-frame houses in Kemano thereby supporting the use of modelling in performance-based fire-safety design.
Forintek provided third-party review for the performance-based design of the expansion to the Vancouver Convention Centre. Modelling demonstrated that suspended glulam ceilings can be safely employed in a ballroom and pre-function areas despite non-compliance with building codes.
A fire protection firm is assessing the viability of utilizing wood trusses to create a pitched roof assembly on existing concrete buildings in Beijing. Performance-based design techniques employing fire models are being employed in the work. Forintek is providing advice to the fire protection firm.
Efforts have also been made to promote performance-based design at home and in Canada’s export markets as a strategy to eliminate the inequitable treatment afforded wood products by prescriptive codes.
Forintek scientists made presentations during an APEC Seminar convened to inform regulators of approaches to managing fire risks so as not to impede the use of wood products unnecessarily.
Forintek scientists have co-authored a chapter in the 4th Edition of the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering which will be published in 2006. Participation in writing such documents is part of the Fire Group’s strategy to foster acceptance of performance-based design for fire safety.
Forintek scientists are participating in ISO deliberations addressing the performance of structures in fires. The methodology developed in this project is to be considered for inclusion in design guides.
Efforts are well advanced to develop improved fire models for predicting the thermal and structural response of wood-frame assemblies. These improved models are required for performance-based design in which fires typically grow quickly and after burning at a steady rate for a period of time undergo a decay phase.