Mass Timber & Fire Safety: What The Evidence Shows - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica examines the fire safety of mass timber, highlighting its growing use due to advantages like lighter weight, faster assembly, and carbon storage compared to concrete and steel. A key concern for stakeholders—developers, insurers, and regulators—is whether mass timber can withstand fire as effectively as traditional materials. The article explains that mass timber behaves differently in fire: thick timber members form a protective char layer that insulates the core, slowing heat spread and preserving structural integrity. Unlike steel, which loses strength rapidly at high temperatures, or concrete, which can spall and expose reinforcing steel, mass timber fails gradually and predictably, allowing designers to size components to maintain load-bearing capacity during fire exposure. Fire testing supports these findings, with mass timber assemblies routinely achieving 1-2 hour fire ratings and sometimes longer. Full-scale compartment burn tests in North America and Europe have shown that mass timber structures can survive intense fires without collapse, with fires often self-extinguishing after consuming room contents. The National