Fire dynamics of modern large open plan compartments constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)

Our world faces a pressing challenge: climate change and biodiversity loss. A significant contributor to these problems is the construction industry, responsible for 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To combat these issues, we must reduce emissions and adopt sustainable construction practices.

Timber offers a promising solution when sourced responsibly from well-managed forests. It boasts a low carbon footprint, renewability, and the potential to capture carbon, aiding in the fight against climate change. However, timber has its challenges, primarily its combustibility, which drives up insurance costs, making it less attractive for construction.

Adding to the complexity, existing building regulations were written in the 20th century and did not account for combustible materials like timber.

Recent incidents, such as the Grenfell Tower fire, have underscored the dangers of combustible materials in construction. Consequently, regulations have evolved, banning combustible materials on building exteriors. Moreover, modern buildings now feature large open-plan spaces, a far cry from the small, enclosed offices considered in older standards.

This shift complicates the use of timber in construction further. The combination of timber's combustibility and modern building design poses a complex challenge. It questions the adequacy of 20th-century solutions and raises concerns about safety and structural integrity.

To address these issues and meet the growing demand for timber construction while reducing carbon emissions, a new scientific approach is imperative. We must understand how timber behaves in open-plan spaces during fires and develop guidelines to ensure its safe incorporation. This project has four objectives:

1. Investigate how fires behave when timber is introduced into open-plan spaces.

2. Quantify the energy released through openings in large open-plan areas when fires are relatively small compared to these spaces. 3. Examine how the structure holds up when exposed to the heat exposure found in the previous objectives.

4. Develop design guidelines based on worst-case scenarios to enable architects and engineers to use timber safely in modern construction.

This unique aspect of this project lies in revisiting the original scientific framework used to establish building regulations. This approach aims to create a more comprehensive and updated solution that considers timber in contemporary construction practices.

This work is highly timely as the climate crisis continues to unfold and there is high demand for timber buildings and reducing carbon emissions. It has been six years since the Grenfell Tower fire, yet critical safety issues remain unresolved. Buildings continue to be constructed without the necessary knowledge, potentially jeopardising lives.

The proposed approach involves a combination of small-scale experiments to validate and advanced computer simulations. By studying timber's behaviour in various fire scenarios, a set of new design guidelines can be written to help pave the way for a safer and more sustainable future in construction.