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Fire Resistance of Wood Truss Floor Assemblies

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Abstract

This paper presents and discusses the factors that affect the fire resistance performance of lightweight wood truss floor assemblies protected with two layers of Type X gypsum board ceiling finishes. Fifteen full-scale fire resistance floor experiments were conducted using the CAN/ULC S-101 fire resistance standard which is similar to the ASTM E119. Parameters investigated in this study include the effects of insulation installation in floor cavity, insulation type, wood truss spacing, resilient channel installation, resilient channel spacing, wood truss width, wood truss chord orientation, wood truss web type, wood truss connection type and adding concrete topping above the sub-floor. The impact of these parameters on the fire resistance performance of the wood truss floor assemblies is discussed. The fire resistance of wood truss floors appears to be essentially governed by the wood trusses’ spacing for direct application of gypsum board to wood truss framing, insulation type and resilient channel installation and spacing. Other parameters are of secondary importance.

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References

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Acknowledgments

The National Research Council of Canada wishes to acknowledge the technical and financial and in-kind contributions of the partners in this Joint Research Project. The partners include Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Steel Construction Council, Canadian Wood Council, Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association of Canada, Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (US), Forintek Canada Corporation, Gypsum Association (US), Gypsum Manufacturers of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Owens-Corning Canada, Roxul Inc., Truss Plate Institute of Canada, Truss Plate Institute (US). Also, the author wishes to thank Jocelyn Henrie and Yves Seguin, John Latour, Patrice Leroux and Roch Monette of the Fire Research Program, National Research Council Canada for their help in constructing the assemblies and conducting the experimental work.

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  1. Fire Research, Construction Portfolio, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada

    Mohamed A. Sultan

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  1. Mohamed A. Sultan
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Correspondence to Mohamed A. Sultan.

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Sultan, M.A. Fire Resistance of Wood Truss Floor Assemblies. Fire Technol 51, 1371–1399 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-012-0311-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-012-0311-8

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