Fire reaction solutions, Structural protection - Wooden structure

Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile materials used in construction, valued for its long-term durability and its resistance to weathering and mechanical stress. However, its combustible nature makes proper fire resistance design essential, both in new buildings and in interventions on existing or historic structures. From a technical standpoint, timber structural elements have distinctive characteristics: although they are combustible, they have a low thermal conductivity coefficient (approximately 0.15 W/mK), which ensures good insulation performance. During a fire, the charring process occurs relatively slowly; the superficial charred layer acts as a protective barrier for the inner parts, allowing the structure to retain its load-bearing capacity for a longer period.

Regarding the determination of fire resistance for timber structures, the main regulatory reference is the Ministerial Decree of 16 February 2007, which provides for the use of the analytical method in accordance with EN 1995-1-2, dedicated to the design of timber structures under fire conditions. Tabulated methods are not provided, while experimental tests on individual elements have limited practical application due to constraints related to the field of application of the results.

EN 1995-1-2 specifically examines the behavior of timber beams and columns protected with board systems. In these configurations, the charring rate follows particular patterns: the onset of charring may be delayed, may begin before the failure of the protective system but at a reduced rate, or may increase after the failure of the protection until it reaches values equivalent to those of an unprotected element or a depth of approximately 25 mm.

The assessment of protective system performance is based on parameters determined experimentally according to EN 13381-7, which defines test methods for evaluating the contribution to fire resistance of timber structural elements. These parameters include the time to onset of charring, the time of detachment of the protective material, and the charring rate prior to the failure of the protection system.

For designers, engineers, and fire safety professionals, the use of board-based protective systems represents an effective solution to enhance the fire resistance of timber structures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements without compromising the benefits of wood. Even in the absence of specific experimental testing, EN 1995-1-2 provides useful guidance for safe and accurate design.

On this page, you can find 3D models, BIM models, and dedicated BIM objects for Global Building systems. Here you can explore BIM models for structural fire protection of timber structures by Global Building and integrate them into your project. Download BIM models, fire protection product catalogs, and specification clauses for free. For your work, free downloads of Global Building BIM models for external walls and wet areas are also available, including BIM, Revit, and DWG files for AutoCAD.