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September 2017 #10218 Page #68
Fire Testing Completed on Full-Scale Mass Timber Building
Five full-scale mass timber fire tests in a multi-story apartment building have been completed with promising results.
The International Code Council Ad-hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings provided the five fire scenarios that were tested in each of the two onebedroom apartments constructed using mass timber. The test scenarios included various arrangements of exposed and unexposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) with open doors between living and sleeping areas. Additionally, automatic sprinkler systems effectiveness was evaluated.
Test 1: A mass timber structure fully protected with gypsum wall board was subjected to a large furnishings and contents fire. The test was terminated after 3 hours without significant charring on the protected wood surfaces of the structure.
Test 2: Approximately 30% of the CLT ceiling area in the living room and bedroom were left exposed. The test was terminated after 4 hours, providing additional time to determine if there would be any significant fire contribution from the exposed CLT. Notably, once the furnishings and contents had been consumed by the fire, the exposed CLT essentially self-extinguished due to the formation of char that protected the underlying wood.
Test 3: Parallel CLT walls were left exposed, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Similar to Test 2, once the apartment furnishings and contents had been consumed by the fire, during which a protective surface of char formed on the CLT, the mass timber surfaces essentially self-extinguished.
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