Fire Resistance Performance of Lightweight Wood-Framed Assemblies

Abstract

There are extensive efforts underway around the world, including those by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), to develop fire resistance models. NRC is currently developing thermal and structural models for lightweight wood-framed assemblies, in collaboration with the Canadian wood industry. These models will be used in NRC's risk-cost assessment models as well as in the development of fire resistance design equations. To aid the development of fire resistance models, NRC has just completed, as a first step, a literature review on the efforts made to predict the fire resistance of lightweight wood-framed assemblies, with the objective of determining the gaps that need to be filled. This paper presents the results of this literature review, which include: standard versus real time-temperature fire curves, experimental studies, available fire resistance models and design methods and the identification of their limitations, charring of wood, and material properties of assembly components at elevated temperatures.