6th International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering Zurich, August 23-26, 2006

SEPARATING FUNCTION OF LIGHT TIMBER FRAME ASSEMBLIES EXPOSED TO FIRE

Vanessa Schleifer 1

Abstract
This research project studies the separating function of light timber frame assemblies consisting of solid timber studs or beams with linings of gypsum plasterboards, wood panels or combinations of it. The cavity is filled with insulation made of rock, glass or wood fibre or is void. To study the influence of different parameters on the fire performance of these assemblies fire tests have been performed on unloaded specimens at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in Dbendorf using ISO-fire exposure. Based on the test results and numerical simulations the existing design method for the verification of the separating function of wall and floor assemblies according to Eurocode 5 can be improved. The paper presents the test results and the first draft of the modelcoefficients for the verification of the separating function.

Keywords
Gypsum plasterboards, fire tests, separating function, timber frame assemblies.

Introduction

The main objective of the structural fire safety measures is to limit the fire spread to the room of origin by guaranteeing the load carrying capacity of the structure (requirement on mechanical resistance R) and the separating function of walls and floors (requirement on insulation I and integrity E) for the required period of time. The required period time is normally expressed in terms of fire resistance using the ISO standard fire exposure and is specified by the building regulations. While fire tests are still widely used for the verification of the fire resistance of assemblies of timber structures, calculation models become more and more common. The research project studies the separating function of light timber frame assemblies consisting of solid timber studs or beams with linings of gypsum plasterboards, wood panels or combinations of it. The cavity is filled with insulation made of rock, glass or wood fibre or is void. Unlike heavy timber structures where the char-layer of fire exposed members performs as an effective protection of the remaining unburned residual cross-section, the fire performance of light timber frame assemblies depends on the protection provided by the linings and the cavity insulation. A large number of fire tests have been performed on unloaded specimens at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in Dbendorf using ISOfire exposure. The testing program permitted to study the influence of different parameters on the fire performance of the assemblies. The separating function of these constructions is mainly influenced by the linings. Thus, the material and the thickness of the linings, the
1

V. Schleifer, Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zurich, schleifer@ibk.baug.ethz.ch

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number of linings (single or multiple), the position and the combination of linings as well as different cavity insulations behind the linings have been varied. The results of the research project enlarge the experimental background of the fire behaviour of light timber frame assemblies and permit to verify and to extend the design method according to Eurocode 5 for the calculation of the separating function of wall and floor assemblies. The paper presents the test results and the first improvements of the model-coefficients according to Eurocode 5 for the verification of the separating function. The basic insulation value is the most important value for the verification. For gypsum plasterboards a proposal for the improvement of this value is made in this paper.

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2.1

Separating function of constructions according to Eurocode 5

Basic requirements on fire compartmentation

As an example for basic requirements for fire compartmentation EN 1995-1-2, 2004 states: Where fire compartmentation is required, the elements forming the boundaries of the fire compartment shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they maintain their separating function during the relevant fire exposure. This shall include, when relevant, ensuring that: integrity failure does not occur (criterion E), and insulation failure does not occur (criterion I) Criterion I may be assumed to be satisfied where the average temperature rise over the whole of the non-exposed surface is limited to 140 K, and the maximum temperature rise at any point of that surface does not exceed 180 K (for ISO-fire exposure). The criterion E may be assumed to be satisfied when no flames or hot gases on the fire unexposed side of the construction can be observed. Considering these temperature requirements the verification of the insulation could be made by finite element calculations of the heat transfer through the assemblies. The criterion E is mostly determined by observations, because calculation is still very complex (crackformation, dynamic of hot gases, etc.).

2.2

Calculation model according to Eurocode 5

The fire part of Eurocode 5 gives a design method for the verification of the separating function of wall and floor assemblies. According to EN 1995-1-2 2004 it should be verified that the time (tins) it takes for the temperature to increase (starting from room temperature) by 140 K/180 K on the fire unexposed side of the member is equal or greater than the required fire resistance period (treq) for the separating function of the member.

t ins t req

[min]

(1)

The insulation time tins depends on the fire behaviour of the layers used in the assemblies as well as the position and the joint configuration of the layers. The time tins can be calculated as the sum of the contributions to fire resistance of the individual layers. tins = tins ,i [min] (2)
i

For simplification, the contribution of each layer tins,i is calculated using the basic insulation value (tins,0,i), the position coefficient (kpos,i) and the joint coefficient (kj,i).

tins ,i = tins ,0 ,i k pos ,i k j ,i

[min]

(3)

2.2.1 Basic insulation value The basic insulation value corresponds to the fire resistance of a single layer without the influence of adjacent materials and depends on the material and the thickness of the layer.

EN 1995-1-2, 2004 gives equations to calculate the basic insulation values for the following materials: Panels Plywood ( 450 kg/m3) Particleboard and fibreboard ( 600 kg/m3) Wood panelling ( 400 kg/m3) Gypsum plasterboard type A, F, R and H Cavity insulations Rock fibre (26 kg/m3 50 kg/m3) Glass fibre (15 kg/m3 26 kg/m3) To determine the basic insulation value for panels the thickness (hp [mm]) of the panel should be multiplied with a factor. E.g. for the gypsum plasterboards the following equation should be used:

t ins ,0 = 1.4 hp

[min]

(4)

Equation (4) based on test results with boards with a thickness of maximum 15 mm. Where a separating construction consists of only one layer, the position coefficient can be omitted. Therefore the time (tins) to the failure of separating function of these constructions with only one layer and without joints is equal to the basic insulation value (tins,0) of existing layer. With regard to the requirements of the basic insulation values it can be assumed that the temperature criterion of the separating function of the whole construction (140 K / 180 K) is equal to the criterion of the basic insulation values. 2.2.2 Position coefficient The position coefficient depends on the location of the layer in the construction. It is important to distinguish between layer exposed and unexposed to the fire. Therefore EN 1995-1-2 2004 gives tables for panels on the fire exposed side and tables for panels on the fire unexposed side of the construction. Furthermore the position coefficient depends on the layers adjacent to the considered layer. E.g. panels with insulation behind heat up faster because of the heat accumulation in front of the insulation. Therefore, within the tables given in EN 1995-1-2 2004, the position coefficient depends on the layers behind and in front of the studied layer. 2.2.3 Joint coefficient The joint coefficient considers the detail of the joints and their influence on the insulation time of layers with joints. EN 1995-1-2 2004 provides a table of joint coefficient for different forms of joint. These coefficients vary between 0.2 and 1.0. The influence of the joint configuration is not subject of this paper.

2.3

Limits of application of EN 1995-1-2

The coefficients (basic insulation values and position coefficients) were determined based on testing of non-loadbearing wall assemblies both in full and small scale. Therefore the coefficients tabulated are limited to a small number of light timber frame constructions. E.g. because of the position coefficient a verification according to EN 1995-1-2 2004 of the separating function of a construction with two panels on each side is only possible for walls with a symmetric assembly not for floors. Furthermore the application is limited by the mentioned materials and their densities as well as their thickness of the separated layers.

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3.1

Fire tests
Test program

All fire tests were performed with non-loaded specimens at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in Dbendorf using ISO-fire exposure. The tests were carried out on the small furnace with the inner dimensions of 1.0 x 0.8 m. Two different types of linings were tested: Non-combustible linings Combustible linings In each test, four different non-combustible linings or two combustible linings were studied. In addition to the different types of linings tested, the thickness and position of the linings, the number of layers as well as the cavity insulation have been varied.

3.2

Test specimens

The test specimens consist of linings fixed on a solid timber frame. In addition to visual observations the temperature at selected locations was measured and recorded every minute with thermocouples of chromel-alumel, type K. For each lining the thermocouples were placed on the fire unexposed side as well as between lining and timber frame (see figure 1). In this case thermocouples equipped with copper plates ( 12 mm, t = 0.2 mm) have been used (see figure 2a). Further for some tests like V3 and V6, the temperature was measured also inside the lining by thermocouples without copper plates (see figure 2b).
Thermocouple on the fire unexposed side Thermocouple between lining and timber frame

Fire exposed side

Figure 1 Location of Thermocouples a) b)

Lining
Lining

Fire exposed side

Fire exposed side

Figure 2 Types of Thermocouples

3.3

Test results and comparison to Eurocode 5

Detailed results of the fire tests have been already published in Schleifer et al 2005 Schleifer and Frangi 2005. Based on the test results it could be shown that the temperature development is similar for gypsum plasterboards type A or F. That is also confirmed by Knig and Kllsner 2000. Furthermore it could be observed that the temperature development of gypsum fibreboards is comparable to gypsum plasterboards. Therefore also the measured times of the separating function of the test with the gypsum fibreboard could be compared with the calculated values according EN 1995-1-2 2004. In table 1 the measured and the calculated times of the separating function of the tested assemblies are compared. Thereby the measured times were determined by the temperature increases (140 K / 180 K) on the fire unexposed side of the assemblies. With regard to the separating function some constructions were tested several times, because different influences were analysed by the fire tests like the size of the boards, fixing and

manufacturers. In table 1 only the minimum measured times are given. The calculated values were determined according to EN 1995-1-2 2004 under consideration of a first corrigendum to EN 1995-1-2. Table 1 Comparison between measured and calculated failure times of the separating function of tested constructions
Test specimen Test No. V5 V5 V1, V2, V3, V7 V8 V6 V10 V6 V12 V12 V15 V4 Test: measured time [min] 13.9 18.3 25.6 35.1 24.1 51.2 26.8 > 38 38.2 10.3 74.4 Eurocode 5: calculated time [min] 14 17.5 21 25.2 21 35 21 27 27 13.2 36.5

One layer on one side Gypsum fibreboard 10 mm One layer on one side Gypsum fibreboard 12.5 mm One layer on one side Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm One layer on one side Gypsum fibreboard 18 mm One layer on one side Gypsum plasterboard type A 15 mm One layer on one side Gypsum plasterboard type A 25 mm One layer on one side Gypsum plasterboard type F 15 mm One layer on one side wood panelling 54 mm One layer on one side multilayer wood panel 54 mm One layer on one side OSB 12 mm One layer on both sides Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm with void cavity One layer on both sides Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm Insulation: glass fibre 80 mm, = 27 kg/m3 One layer on both sides Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm Insulation: rock fibre 40 mm, = 31 kg/m3 One layer on both sides Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm Insulation: rock fibre 40 mm, = 116 kg/m3 One layer on both sides Gypsum fibreboard 15 mm Insulation: rock fibre 80 mm, = 42 kg/m3

V9

83.1

45.7

V9

118.3

57.3

V9

>> 85

57.9

V4

> 105

66.2

Figure 3 shows the measured times of the separating function of the tested assemblies with one layer of gypsum plasterboards or fibreboards. These times are compared with the calculated times according EN 1995-1-2 2004.

Time [min] 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 10 15 20 25 30 Thickness [mm] Gypsum plasterboards type A (test) Gypsum plasterboards type F (test) Gypsum fibreboards (test) Gypsum plasterboards (EN)

Figure 3 Comparison between the measured and calculated times of separating function of assemblies with one layer According to section 2.2.1 for separating constructions which consist of only one layer, the position coefficient can be omitted for the calculation according to EN 1995-1-2 2004. Furthermore the studied assemblies with gypsum plasterboards or fibreboards had no gaps. Therefore these constructions with one layer could be compared directly with the basic insulation value. In figure 3 it could be seen that the basic insulation value according to EN 1995-1-2 2004 is too conservative for thick boards. This could be also observed at wood panelling (see table 1). Furthermore the calculated times of thin wood panelling are unsafe.

Improvement of basic insulation value

The large number of test results permit to improve the basic insulation value of gypsum plasterboards. For the basic insulation value of gypsum plasterboards with a panel thickness hp [mm] the following equation is proposed:

t ins ,0 = 0.4 hp1.5

[min]
Time [min] measured calculated (EN) calculated (proposal)

(5)

50

40

30

20

10 5 10 15 20 25 30 Thickness [mm]

Figure 4 Times of separating function of assemblies with one layer of gypsum plasterboards or fibreboards
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Figure 4 shows a good agreement between the calculated times according to equation (5) and the test results. Furthermore it can be seen that the basic insulation value is non linear proportional to the thickness. This observation could be also confirmed by finite element calculations using thermal material properties according to Knig and Kllsner 2000 and Thomas 2002. Furthermore the density has a small influence on the basic insulation value. In the further study also the different densities of gypsum boards should be considered. The basic insulation value for other materials can not be directly calculated from the test results, because of the small number of fire tests. To improve the coefficients according to EN 1995-1-2 2004 numerical simulations of heat transfer through the panels exposed to ISOfire can be used. For these numerical simulations temperature related material properties are necessary. In the last couple of years many publications like Mehaffey et al 1994 and Sultan 1996 dealt with the material properties of gypsum plasterboards to use in a heat transfer model. They determined the thermal properties as a function of temperature for thermal conductivity, specific heat and mass loss by test and physical consideration. Further other test results were performed and published by Bnichou and Sultan 2005. Some phenomena like the heat transfer by the evaporation of moisture and subsequent condensation further away from the heat source can not be taken into account in the finite element models. Therefore the input values of the thermal properties were calibrated to simulate these phenomena. This approach was also chosen by Knig and Kllsner 2000 and Thomas 2002, where Knig and Kllsner 2000 adapted the properties of Sultan 1996 and Thomas 2002 adapted the properties of Mehaffey 1994. The different calibrated material properties of these publications were studied by using the finite element program Ansys 8.1. Figure 5 shows the calculated temperature developments on the fire unexposed side of gypsum boards with a thickness of 15 mm according to these publications. These temperature developments are compared with developments of the performed fire tests.
Temperature [ C] 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Time [min] Koenig and Kaellsner 2000 Thomas 2002 Test

Figure 5 Comparison between calculated according to publication and measured temperature developments on the fire unexposed side of gypsum boards (15 mm) Figure 5 shows that the results based on the different properties of the publications do not well agree with the test results. A possible reason is that these material properties were calibrated to fire tests on assemblies and not on single boards. Currently the thermal properties of gypsum plasterboards are calibrated to test results performed at the ETH Zurich to study the separating function by a numerical simulation.

Conclusion

Eurocode 5 gives a simplified calculation method for the verification of the separating function of wall and floor assemblies. The input data, this method is based on, was deduced from a limited number of fire tests of wall assemblies and covers therefore only a limited area of light timber frame assemblies. For this reason a research project is ongoing at ETH Zurich, which studies the separating function of light timber frame assemblies consisting of solid timber studs or beams with linings of gypsum plasterboards, wood panels or combinations of it. The cavity is filled with insulation made of rock, glass or wood fibre or is void. To study the influence of different parameters on the fire performance of assemblies fire tests have been performed on unloaded specimens at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in Dbendorf using ISO-fire exposure. Based on the test results numerical simulation should be used to improve the design method for the verification of the separating function of wall and floor assemblies according EN 1995-1-2 2004. The most important coefficient of this design method is the basic insulation value. Based on the fire tests this paper gives a proposal for the improvement of this value for gypsum plasterboards. The basic insulation value for other materials can not be directly calculated from the test results, because of the small number of fire tests. To improve basic insulation values of these panels numerical simulations of heat transfer through the panels exposed to ISO-fire can be used. For these numerical simulations temperature related material properties are necessary. Some phenomena like the heat transfer by the evaporation of moisture and subsequent condensation further away from the heat source can not be taken into account in the finite element models. Therefore the input values of the thermal properties have to be calibrated to simulate these phenomena. The next steps are to calculate basic insulation values as well as position coefficients for different materials.

References
Bnichou, N. Sultan, M., 2005, Thermal properties of lightweight-framed construction components at elevated temperatures, Fire and Materials, 29: 165-179. EN 1995-1-2., 2004, Eurocode 5 Design of timber structures, part1-2: General Structural fire design, CEN, Brussels. Knig, J., Kllsner, B., 2000, Thermal and mechanical properties of timber and some other materials used in light timber frame construction, CIB Working Commission W18, Delft, Netherlands, CIB-W18/33-16-3. Mehaffey, J. R., Cuerrier, P., Carisse, G., 1994, A model for predicting heat transfer through gypsum-board / wood-stud walls exposed to fire, Fire and Materials, Vol. 18: 297-305. Schleifer, V., Frangi, A., M. Fontana, 2005, Fire behaviour of light timber frame wall assemblies, IASBE Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal. Schleifer, V., Frangi, A., 2005, Fire tests on light timber frame wall assemblies, CIB Working Commission W18, Karlsruhe, Germany, CIB-W18/38-16-2. Sultan, M. A., 1996, A model for predicting heat transfer through noninsulated unloaded steel-stud gypsum board wall assemblies exposed to fire, Fire Technology, Vol. 32, No. 3, 239-259. Thomas, G., 2002, Thermal properties of gypsum plasterboard at high temperatures, Fire and Materials, 26: 37-45.