A research project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was undertaken to develop information to be used as the basis for alternative/acceptable solutions for mid-rise construction using wood structural elements. As part of this project, four large-scale fire experiments were conducted to evaluate the fire performance of two forms of encapsulated combustible structural wood systems, a lightweight wood-frame (LWF) system (2 experiments [3]) and a crosslaminated timber (CLT) system (1 experiment [4]). The fourth experiment [5] involved a test structure constructed using a steel frame system described below. Each experiment involved construction of a test set-up of an unsprinklered full-size apartment unit, intended to represent a portion of a mid-rise (e.g. six-storey) building.
This report provides the results of the test with an encapsulated LWF setup representing an apartment in a mid-rise (e.g. six-storey) building.
A research project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was undertaken to develop information to be used as the basis for alternative/acceptable solutions for mid-rise construction using wood structural elements. As part of this project, four large-scale fire experiments were conducted to evaluate the fire performance of two forms of encapsulated combustible structural wood systems, a lightweight wood-frame (LWF) system (2 experiments [3, 4]) and a crosslaminated timber (CLT) system (1 experiment). The fourth experiment [5] involved a test structure constructed using a steel frame system described below. Each experiment involved construction of a test set-up of an unsprinklered full-size apartment unit, intended to represent a portion of a mid-rise (e.g. six-storey) building.
The structural elements used in the LWF system (wood stud walls and wood I-joist floors) and CLT system (3-ply wall panels and 5-ply floor panels) were all chosen on the basis of the types of construction that were currently being used in 5- and 6-storey mid-rise residential construction being built in the province of British Columbia, where the building code had changed earlier, in 2009, to permit such mid-rise combustible construction. This report provides the results of the experiment with an encapsulated CLT setup representing an apartment in a mid-rise (e.g. six-storey) building.
One of the tasks in the project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was to develop further information and data for use in developing generic exterior wall systems for use in mid-rise buildings using either lightweight wood frame or cross-laminated timber as the structural elements. This report describes a screening fire test conducted on August 22, 2012 on a rainscreen wall system. The test was based on CAN/ULC-S134-13 [3]. However, the dimensions of the test wall (2.4 m wide by 4.9 m high) were less than those required for the standard test conducted in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134.
The acceptable solutions provided in the 2010 National Building Code (NBC) Division B [1] limits the use of combustible (wood) construction based on building height. For example, for Group C (Residential), Group D (Business and Personal Services) and Group E (Mercantile) occupancies, combustible construction can be used up to 4 storeys, and up to 2 storeys for Group A – Division 2 (Assembly) occupancies. In addition to the building height limitation, there are also building area limitations in the 2010 NBC for the use of combustible construction for these occupancies. For buildings that exceed the height and area requirements for combustible construction, the prescriptive requirements in the 2010 NBC require that noncombustible construction be used for the primary structural elements.
Solutions for Mid-Rise Wood Construction: Full-Scale Standard Fire Test for Exterior Wall Assembly using a Simulated Cross-Laminated Timber Wall Assembly with Gypsum Sheathing
One of the tasks in the project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was to
develop further information and data for use in developing generic exterior wall systems
for use in mid-rise buildings using either lightweight wood frame or cross-laminated
timber as the structural elements. This report describes a standard full-scale exterior wall
fire test conducted on May 22, 2012 on a simulated cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall
assembly with an attached insulated lightweight wood frame assembly protected using
gypsum sheathing. The test was conducted in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134 [3].
Solutions for Mid-Rise Wood Construction: Full-Scale Standard Fire Test for Exterior Wall Assembly Using a Simulated Cross-Laminated Timber Wall Assembly with Interior Fire-Retardant-Treated Plywood Sheathing
One of the tasks in the project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was to develop further information and data for use in developing generic exterior wall systems for use in mid-rise buildings using either lightweight wood frame or cross-laminated timber as the structural elements. This report describes a standard full-scale exterior wall fire test conducted on October 30, 2012 on a simulated cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall assembly with an attached insulated lightweight wood frame assembly protected using interior fire-retardant-treated (FRT) plywood sheathing. The test was conducted in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134 [3].
Solutions for Mid-Rise Wood Construction: Full-Scale Standard Fire Test for Exterior Wall Assembly using Lightweight Wood Frame Construction with Interior Fire-Retardant-Treated Plywood Sheathing
One of the tasks in the project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was to develop further information and data for use in developing generic exterior wall systems for use in mid-rise buildings using either lightweight wood frame or cross-laminated timber as the structural elements. This report describes a standard full-scale exterior wall fire test conducted on April 9, 2013 on an insulated lightweight wood frame wall assembly protected using interior fire-retardant-treated (FRT) plywood sheathing. The test was conducted in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134-13 [3].
Solutions for Mid-Rise Wood Construction: Full-Scale Standard Fire Test for Exterior Wall Assembly Using Lightweight Wood Frame Construction wth Gypsum Sheathing
One of the tasks in the project, Wood and Wood-Hybrid Midrise Buildings, was to develop further information and data for use in developing generic exterior wall systems for use in mid-rise buildings using either lightweight wood frame or cross-laminated timber as the structural elements. This report describes a standard full-scale exterior wall fire test conducted on March 6, 2012 on an insulated lightweight wood frame wall assembly protected using gypsum sheathing. The test was conducted in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134-13 [3]
