Structural Collapse Fire Tests: Single Story, Wood Frame Structures.
Structural Collapse Fire Tests: Single Story, Wood Frame
Structures.
(1720 K)
Stroup, D. W.; Bryner, N. P.; Lee, J. H.; McElroy, J.
A.; Roadarmel, G. L.; Twilley, W. H.
NISTIR 7094; 84 p. March 2004.
Sponsor:
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC
Keywords:
building collapse; structures; wooden structures; fire
tests; building fires; fire data; fire fighting; large
scale fire tests; structural failute; temperature
measurements
Abstract:
A series of fire tests were conducted in Phoenix,
Arizona to develop data for evaluation of a methodology
for predicting structural collapse. The fire test
scenario was selected as part of a training video being
prepared by the Phoenix, Arizona Fire Department.
Multiple fires were started in each structure to
facilitate collapse; the fires were not intended to test
the fire endurance of the structures. Four structures
with different roof constructions were used for the fire
tests. Temperatures were measured as a function of time
in four locations within each structure. Furniture items
were placed in the front and back of each structure to
simulate living room and bedroom areas. The living room
and bedroom areas of each structure were ignited
simultaneously using electric matches. Peak temperatures
obtained during the tests ranged from approximately 800
DGC (1500 DGF) to 1000 DGC (1800 DGF). The roof of each
structure collapsed approximately 17 min after ignition.
In addition to the full scale tests, the plywood and
oriented strand board (OSB) roofing materials were
tested using a cone calorimeter to characterize the fire
properties of the materials.
