ABSTRACT

As practitioners, we have implemented a performance-based design (PBD) framework for mass timber fire performance. We provide a literature review that articulates the need for the industry to develop a reliable PBD approach. We detail a high-level summary of this framework and a basic summary of the challenges associated with decision-making during such an assessment. This discussion is essential to normalise the assimilation of scientific research to permit practical design for industry. We conclude that a furnace-derived char rate is often not applicable for real building fires; further research is imperative to support our understanding of timber compartment fire dynamics and to add confidence to input variable choices; and that as timber buildings get taller and more complex it is imperative that industry establishes and adopts a transparent, evidence-based and holistic approach to design the fire strategy of a mass timber building.