Accidental Fire Action in Timber Construction - Behaviour and Regulations

Recommended Prerequisites

- Construction materials;

- Performance requirements of construction products;

- Actions in buildings according ot the structural Eurocodes.

Teaching Methods

In the teaching of the curricular unit, the presentation of theoretical concepts and advanced knowledge will be done through the availability of all syllabus content in the usual presentation formats to be made available to students. Laboratory visits are expected to be carried out to present some content since the UC has a specialized laboratory on the subject. Presentation of case studies and application examples to test the theorethical knowledge acquired. The grade will be based on a final exam.

Learning Outcomes

Acquire knowledge in the field of Fire Safety Engineering in Timber buildings, considering the current relevant national and european legislation/standardization, specifically in terms of active and passive fire protection. Acquire knowledge on the European construction products directive, in terms of fire reaction and resistance, focused on Timber buildings and products. Description on how these requirements apply to wood products and timber structures. Acquire knowledge and competences about the prescription of timber products/structures according to the fire safety legislation, specifically the DL n.º 224/2015, Law n.º 123/2019 and Portaria n.º 1532/2008 and Portaria n.º 135/2020. Fire reaction and resistance performance of timber produts and structures, namely linings, floorings, claddings, façades, separating structures and load-bearing timber structures.  

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 - Introduction to the Fire Safety of Timber Buildings

- Fire scenarios;

- Passive and active fire protection measures

- Means to satisfy fire safety requirements in Timber buildings;

- Prescriptive methods vs Performance-based methods.

2 - European System for Construction Produts

- Performance requirements;

- Harmonized european classification system

- How the performance requirements are applied to wood products and timber structures.

3 - Portuguese legislation in Fire Safety Engineering for Timber buildings

4 - Wood products as linings, floorings, claddings, façades, compartmentation elements and structural elements

- Wood produts and Timber structures and their performance.

5 - Detailing in timber structures and fire protection systems

- Detailing timber structures preventing fire spread in buildings.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bibliografia de base:

- Apontamentos dos docentes.

-EN 1991-1-2 Eurocode 1. Action on Structures Part 1-2: General action - Actions on structures exposed to fire. European Committe for Standardization, Brussels, 2002.

- EN 1995-1-2:2004 Eurocode 5. Design of timber structures - Part 1-2: General - Structural fire design. European Committee for Standadization, Brussels, 2004.

- EN 13501-2. Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 2: classification using data from fire resistance tests, excluding ventilation services. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels.

- Buchanan A H. Fire performance of timber construction. Progress in Structural Engineering and Materials, Volume 2, 2000.
- Decreto-lei n.º224/2015 do Ministério da Administração Interna: Diário da Republica n.º198/2015, série I de 2015-10-09.

- EN 13501-1:2009. Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 1. Brussels, 2009.