Fire performance of timber: review for use in wildland-urban interfaces

Abstract

Wood is increasingly viewed as a more environmentally sustainable material owing to its low embodied energy, workability, and renewability, but its two major drawbacks are susceptibility to biological degradation and fire. Biodegradation is typically addressed through effective designs to exclude moisture or, where that is not possible, the use of either naturally durable or chemically protected timber. Naturally durable timbers are widely used globally while preservative treatments are increasingly used to protect less durable timbers. These practices have markedly extended the use and service life of timber in harsher environments. However, these treatments do not improve the fire performance of the timber and there is increasing interest in the use of fire resistive coatings or impregnation with fire retardants to allow use in bushfire prone areas. This review provides background on the problems associated with increased building and construction in the wildland-urban interface. It summarizes the codes, standards and state of the art practices needed for adequate fire safety in timber construction.