Ignition of exterior building details in bushfires: An experimental study

Abstract

AbstractA laboratory study of the ignition of building details incorporating timber, under bushfire conditions, using ‘mock‐ups’ of these details and both realistic (leaves and twigs) and, mainly, artificial (cribs) ignition sources has been carried out. Parameters such as mock‐up type, moisture content of the timber comprising the mock‐ups, and temperature and relative humidity of the experimental atmosphere were examined. It was found that all these parameters affected the ignition and flame propagation induced and that under conditions typical of a severe bushfire, only very small amounts of fuel were required to cause ignition. These results support the belief, based on field studies, that ignition of exterior building details composed of timber plays an important role in the destruction of buildings in bushfires.