Fire Tests in Support of Tall Mass Timber Buildings - …awc.org/pdf/.../des/AWC-DES603-FireTestsTallMassTimber-180306.pdfWith a rapidly growing interest in tall buildings constructed
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Fire Tests in Support of Tall Mass Timber Buildings
DES603
Sam FrancisSenior Director, National ProgramsAmerican Wood Council
Jason Smart, P.E.Manager, Engineering TechnologyAmerican Wood Council
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 2
Participants may download the presentation here: http://www.awc.org/education/resources
The American Wood Council is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES), Provider # 50111237.
Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
With a rapidly growing interest in tall buildings constructed of mass timber, it became necessary to quantify the degree to which exposed timber contributes to a “real” compartment fire in order to establish appropriate building code requirements. This presentation will provide an overview of standard and non-standard fire testing including mass timber compartment fire tests. A number of full-scale compartments constructed of mass timber building elements and furnished with real furniture and contents were fire tested. Results of these non-standard tests that were used by the ICC Tall Wood Building (TWB) Ad Hoc Committee in the development of proposed changes to the 2021 International Building Code will be presented.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVESUpon completion, participants will be:
Recognize the differences and objectives associated with standard and ad hoc fire testing and distinguish the objectives of recent large scale compartment testing in the U.S.
Fire Test Objectives
Describe the purpose of tests conducted by and findings of the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the tests performed at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on behalf of the ICC TWB.
ICC TWB Requested Tests
Evaluate and describe the outcomes of the ATF tests and contrast those to the outcomes of the FPRF tests.
ATF vs FPRF Tests
Understand how testing is used to assess the added fire resistance time associated with non-combustible materials applied to mass timber elements in standardized E119 tests and be able to evaluate the results of those tests.
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 9
ASTM E84
• Steiner Tunnel test - measures flame spread on test specimen surface• Comparative test: Red Oak Flooring and cementitious board used to calibrate
test apparatus
• For mass timber products, flame spread is expected to be about the same as boards of the species used • www.awc.org/codes-standards/publications/dca1
• IBC Section 804 regulates Interior Finish and thus any exposed mass timber surface must comply
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 1 0
ASTM E119
• Evaluates Fire Resistance and results in Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) measured in hours or minutes
• FRR requirements found in Tables 601 and 602 (and elsewhere in the code)
• Assembly to be tested as it is to be installed in the structure (seam or splice must be in test specimen)
• North American CLT Handbook has E119 values for some CLT panels
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 2 4
NFPA FPRF COMPARTMENT TESTS
NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) • Tests done for NFPA’s Property Insurance Research Group (PIRG)• Purpose: Evaluate contribution of CLT elements to compartment fires to
collect data for insurance modeling• Tests performed by NRC Canada• Tests performed at NIST facilities• 5 compartment tests
• 2 with all CLT protected• 4 with various surfaces exposed
• Report available at FPRF website• https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 2 5
NFPA FPRF COMPARTMENT TESTS
• No significant contribution of CLT when all surfaces protected with Type X gypsum wallboard
• Where surfaces were exposed, CLT contribution increased with increasing exposed CLT surface area
Time attributed to each layer of 5/8” Type X -- ~41 min/layer ~42 min/layer
• Each layer of 5/8” Type X gypsum wallboard contributes at least 40 minutes to the fire-resistance of a mass timber element or assembly.
Validation of values for noncombustible protection on mass timber
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POLLING QUESTION
3. ASTM E119 mass timber fire tests have shown that each layer of 5/8” Type-X gypsum wallboard, applied to a mass timber assembly, increases assembly overall fire resistance by at least:
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ICC TALL WOOD AD HOC COMMITTEE
MembershipICC Board determined that the effort is to be undertaken by newly formed Ad Hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings (AH-TWB). In making Committee appointments, the Board recognized the need to have a consensus committee comprised of necessary balance of stakeholders including:
• Representatives from building construction material industries
• Building and Fire Officials
• Architects and engineers
• Fire protection experts
• Other construction related stakeholders
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 3 3
ICC TALL WOOD AD HOC COMMITTEE
Meetings and Structure5 Face-to-Face Meetings of Full Committee• July 6-8, 2016 - Chicago
• November 14 -16, 2016 - Seattle
• May 1-3, 2017 - Chicago
• August 21 -23, 2017 - Chicago
• November 29 – 30, 2017 - Phoenix
Working Group Conference Calls• Definitions and Standards
• Fire
• Structural
• Codes
82 major issues identified and addressed
Presentations, reports, studies on the topic were reviewed: ICC Website
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ATF FULL-SCALE BUILDING TESTS
• Test plan developed by the Fire Work Group of the Tall Wood Building Ad Hoc Committee of ICC (TWB) and ratified by the full TWB
• Testing conducted at ATF and supervised by USDA FPL scientists• More to follow in this program• Results are available at
• www.awc.org/tallmasstimber
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ATF FULL-SCALE BUILDING TESTS
• Purpose: Perform tests of realistic fire scenarios applicable to tall wood construction to evaluate occupant and firefighter tenability for egress and suppression efforts, and provide data necessary to guide further development of relevant code and standard provisions
• Conducted at U.S. government facilities
• Supervised by U.S. Forest Products Laboratory staff
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ATF TWO-STORY STRUCTURE
• 2-stories – one apartment per level
• Each apartment: 30 ft x 30 ft
• Ceiling height: 9 ft
• 5-ply CLT
- Douglas-fir Larch species group
- Lamination thickness: 13/8 inches
- CLT thickness: 67/8 inches
- Polyurethane Adhesive
• Corridor around each apartment and a stairwell
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ATF FIRE TESTS – APARTMENT LAYOUT
• Partitions used unrated ½” gypsum wallboard• Kitchen & Living Room: 15 ft x 30 ft• Bedroom & Bath: 15 ft x 30 ft• 20-min rated door between compartment and corridor• 90-min rated door between corridor and stairwell• Fuel load ~570 MJ/m2
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TEST #1 - ALL MASS TIMBER PROTECTED
Photos provided by U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, USDA
• Flashover is the point at which all exposed combustible surfaces within a given compartment (e.g.,furnishings, contents, etc.) suddenly become involved in the fire or when ceiling gas temperatures reach 6000 C six feet above compartment floor.
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Comparison of Model Predictions and Measured Data Modeling Performed by Research Institute of Sweden (RISE)
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TEST #2 – 30% CLT CEILINGS EXPOSED
• Flashover is the point at which all exposed combustible surfaces within a given compartment (e.g.,furnishings, contents, etc.) suddenly become involved in the fire or when ceiling gas temperatures reach 6000 C six feet above compartment floor.
Photos provided by U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, USDA
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Post-Fire Condition of CLT After Gypsum Removal
• Fire intensity decreased subsequent to consumption of furnishings and contents (known as decay phase)
• Exposed mass timber surfaces self-extinguished in the decay phase
• Mass timber surfaces protected with 2 layers of 5/8” Type X GWB remained mostly uncharred
All mass timber surfaces fully exposed in living room & bedroom
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 6 1
POLLING QUESTION
4. In a simulated unlikely scenario where a sprinkler system fails automatic activation, but fire service charges it manually on arrival, ATF Test 5 showed:
a. Sprinklers did not control the compartment fire due to fully exposed mass timber
b. Sprinklers did not prevent fire intensity due to flashoverc. Sprinklers effectively suppressed the fire despite 100%
mass timber exposure in both roomsd. Items a. and b.
F i r e T e s t s i n S u p p o r t o f T a l l M a s s T i m b e r B u i l d i n g s – D E S 6 0 3 6 2
ATF TEST RESULTS – EVENT LOG
Test No.
Time After Ignition (mm:ss)
Flashover (600°C)
Living Room
Flashover (600°C)
BedroomFlames in Hallway Compartment door Fails Sprinkler Activation
1
1st floor13:27 17:20 26:51 57:46 N/A
2
2nd floor11:42 17:20 30:38 63:59 N/A
3
2nd floor12:37 17:00
13:06(door frame
installation error)
29:42(door frame
installation error)
N/A
4
1st floor‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 2:37
5
1st floor‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 23:00
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ATF TEST RESULTS – OTHER FINDINGS
• Analysis shows that exposed CLT had no measureable impacton fire severity, duration, or clean-up
• ASTM E814-compliant penetration firestops within CLT assemblies prevented spread of fire beyond compartment of origin
• Properly installed entry doors maintained tenable conditions in exit corridor and stairs for a more-than-ample amount of time to allow safe egress of occupants
• Properly installed entry door maintained tenable conditions for fire fighters in both adjacent corridor and exit stair throughout test duration
T h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n i s p r o t e c t e d b y U S a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o p y r i g h t l a w s . R e p r o d u c t i o n , d i s t r i b u t i o n , d i s p l a y a n d u s e o f t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n w i t h o u t