5 - Fire hazard assessment of wall and ceiling fire spread in rooms

Abstract

Combustible wall and ceiling linings are known to contribute to fire and smoke development in buildings, and their fire performance is regulated in most countries depending on the building use, location within the building and presence of other fire safety systems (such as automatic sprinklers). While standard methods of test are used for regulatory purposes, scientific principles can also be applied to better understand and predict flame spread over combustible materials, as well as their contribution to fire development and hazards that building occupants may be exposed to in the event of fire. This chapter describes several fire classification systems (in Europe, Japan, North America, Australia and New Zealand) applicable to the fire performance of combustible wall and ceiling linings as well as techniques for modeling flame spread and fire growth applicable to building enclosures. At present, such fire models are not used for prescriptive lining materials classification, but nonetheless are useful for either performance-based design, or to better understand and predict fire spread and fire growth over combustible linings in enclosures. A brief discussion regarding the role of timber surface linings in post-flashover fires is also provided given recent interest around the world in using more timber (both encapsulated and exposed) in buildings.