FireInTimber

The FireInTimber project has been running between November 2007 and March 2010 in close cooperation between fourteen partners in nine countries Austria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. It has resulted in new knowledge especially for modelling of the load-bearing capacity of new types of timber structures. The results are presented in several scientific publications and presentations.

The main result for a greater audience is the technical guideline Fire safety in timber buildings. It is the very first European wide guideline on the fire safe use of wood in buildings. The guideline presents information for architects, engineers, educators, authorities and building industries on the fire safe use of timber structures and wood products in buildings. It aims at providing the highest scientific knowledge with regard to fire safety on the European level. The guideline covers the extended use of design codes (such as Eurocode 5), European standards, practical guidance and examples for fire safe design and principles of performance based design. The guideline also includes information on reaction to the fire performance of wood products according to the new European classification system. The importance of proper detailing in building design is stressed by practical examples. Active measures of fire protection and quality of construction workmanship and inspection are presented as important means for fulfilling the fire safety objectives.

Strength of European timber: Part 1. Analysis of growth areas based on existing test results

Strength of European timber. Part 1. Analysis of growth areas based on existing test results

Eurooppalaisen rakennepuutavaran lujuus. Osa 1. Kasvualueiden vaikutuksen analyysi olemassa olevien testitulosten perusteella]. Ed. by Alpo Ranta-Maunus. Espoo 2009. VTT Publications 706. 105 p. + app. 63 p.

Keywords timber, spruce, Scots pine, Douglas fir, strength, grading, growth area

Joint analysis of existing strength data for major commercial European timber species is presented in this report. The work has been carried out as a co-operative venture between 6 research institutes from 6 countries. The main objective of the work was the analysis of growth area issue for European grading standard: in which regions common grading machines settings can be used.

This research is mainly based on laboratory measurements of grade indicating properties: static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, knot area ratio (KAR), density, tension and bending strength. Results for thousands of test specimens from Central and Northern Europe are analyzed.

The results indicate that it is reasonable to determine different settings for Central and Northern Europe. In the case of grading spruce for glued laminated timber where tension strength is determined, differences between Central and Northern Europe are small and it may be possible and economically feasible to use the same settings for a large area when advanced grading methods based on measurement of stiffness and knot size related properties are used. When grading Scots pine for bending properties it is obvious that different settings are needed for Germany, France and UK, whereas the Nordic countries may use the same settings.

After the analysis of existing data the project continues with a new experimental programme after which more definitive conclusions can be expected.