Fire performance of mass-timber encapsulation methods and the effect of encapsulation on char rate of cross-laminated timber

Twenty-three (23) cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels were exposed to a standard fire at an intermediate scale. This paper discusses several encapsulation methods used to increase the fire resistance of those panels, with emphasis on encapsulation times and the impact of encapsulation on the charring rate of CLTs. The encapsulation methods used included Type X gypsum board, intumescent coating, rock fibre insulation and spray applied fire-resistant materials (SFRM). The results suggest that encapsulation methods can significantly reduce wood charring rates in addition to delaying the time at which wood elements become involved in fire.Peer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye