Timber buildings

Fire engineering consultancy OFR Consultants, with the Structural Timber Association (STA), has published its research into cross-laminated timber (CLT) compartment fire behaviour in Volume 6 of the STA’s Structural timber buildings fire safety in use guidance. Its study set out to establish the relationship between different building heights, uses and consequence classes, as well as performance expectations of structures in the event of a fire.

Recognising that the main challenges for the industry in delivering mass timber buildings have been due to confusion on the routes to compliance with the Building Regulations – in addition to what evidence designers should provide when seeking to demonstrate how they comply – the revised guidance provides important information for designers and building control bodies.

Andrew Orris at STA said: “This new guidance encourages dialogue with approving authorities to establish the structural fire performance objectives, considering fire strategy first principles such as the evacuation mode, fire service provisions and the inclusion of additional fire safety systems such as sprinklers.

“It also provides an appendix of application examples to aid designers in their use of the guidance.”

Read it at bit.ly/STA_techdocs

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