Fire Safety Design of Multi-Storey Timber Buildings

Traditionally fire safety has been seen as an impediment to building large buildings in timber. This impediment is more perceived than real. Heavy timber structures perform well in fire and are not prone to sudden collapse. Light timberframe structures can be readily protected against fire, often with requirements for linings being less onerous than that necessary for adequate acoustic separation. The timber in a building structure does not add greatly to the fire load and is either not involved in the early stages of the fire or has a slower burning rate than the contents, resulting in a minimal effect on fire severity. Timber as internal linings or external claddings may require fire resistant coatings and is not appropriate in some circumstances. The risk of serious damage in a fire during construction is higher in timber buildings but can be managed. Provided buildings are designed well and fire safety is properly taken into account there is no reason why timber buildings should not be seen to be as safe as buildings constructed from other materials.