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Publication Details

Title:
Data, video, and photographs from the two-story mass timber building fire tests performed in support of the ICC ad hoc committee on tall wood buildings
Author(s):
Zelinka, Samuel L.; Hasburgh, Laurie E.; Bourne, Keith J.; Tucholski, David R.; Ouellette, Jason P.
Publication Year:
2025
How to Cite:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:
Zelinka, Samuel L.; Hasburgh, Laurie E.; Bourne, Keith J.; Tucholski, David R.; Ouellette, Jason P. 2025. Data, video, and photographs from the two-story mass timber building fire tests performed in support of the ICC ad hoc committee on tall wood buildings. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2025-0004
Abstract:
Five full-scale fire experiments were conducted to observe the performance of a two-level apartment-style structure constructed of mass timber. Each level consisted of a one bedroom apartment, an L-shaped corridor, and a stairwell connecting the two levels. One of the primary variables considered in this test series was the amount and location of exposed mass timber. The amount of mass timber surface area protected by gypsum wallboard varied from 100% to no gypsum wallboard protection. For each experiment, the fuel load was identical and the fire was initiated in a base cabinet in the kitchen. In the first three experiments, the fire reached flashover conditions, and subsequently underwent a cooling phase as the fuel load from combustible contents was consumed. The first three experiments were carried out for a duration of up to 4 hours. In the fourth experiment, automatic fire sprinklers were installed. Sprinklers suppressed the fire automatically. In the fifth experiment, the activation of the automatic fire sprinklers was delayed by approximately 20 minutes beyond the sprinkler activation time in the fourth experiment to simulate responding fire service charging a failed sprinkler water system. This package contains data from the various instrumentation used during the experiments, including thermocouples, bidirectional probes, optical density meters, heat flux transducers, directional flame thermometers, gas analyzers, a fire products collector, and residential smoke alarms. In addition, the data package contains digital still photography, video cameras, and a thermal imaging camera. The experiments were conducted in the large burn room of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Fire Research Laboratory located in Beltsville, Maryland, USA.

Keywords:
structure; Forest Products; Structure design, engineering, and properties; fire; tall wood buildings; mass timber; compartment fire; fire dynamics; Maryland
Related publications:
  • Zelinka, Samuel L.; Hasburgh, Laurie E.; Bourne, Keith J.; Tucholski, David R.; Ouellette, Jason P. 2018. Compartment fire testing of a two-story mass timber building. General Technical Report. FPL-GTR-247. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 476 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/FPL-GTR-247
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