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Madison, WI 53726-2398
Phone: (608) 231-9200
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Requested Product

Title: Char rates under design fire scenarios

Source: fplrip-4723-023-UW-Hasburgh-Stone

Author(s)Hasburgh, Laura, E..; Zelinka, Samuel; Stone, Donald

Publication Year: 2016  View PDF »

Related Publications: view

Category: Research In Progress

Abstract:  Removing woody biomass from the Nation’s forests can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and create healthy, resilient ecosystems. In a report from the Forest Service on the rising cost of wildfire operations, the Forest Service spent over a billion dollars fighting forest fires in 2012 and the cost of fire suppression is projected to rise to 1.8 billion dollars by 2025. In addition to fire suppression costs, intense catastrophic fires can alter forest soil, cause significant erosion, and emit carbon dioxide and particulate matter into the environment. Research has shown that removing biomass from forests (thinning) can reduce the risk of wildfires. However, the costs of thinning can exceed the value of the thinned wood, making it uneconomical. In the United States, wood has been traditionally used in single-family residential construction, and over 40% of the wood harvested each year in the United States is made into building products. Developing and expanding markets for wood in nonresidential and mid- to high-rise residential construction can help to make the removal of woody biomass more economical and lead to healthy, resilient forest ecosystems. However, before wood can be used in these new markets, its fire performance needs to be characterized under new design fire scenarios.

Keywords: fire resistance; design fire scenarios; char rate

Publication Review Process: Non-Refereed (Other)

Date posted: 09/22/2016
RITS Product ID: 81787
Current FPL Scientist associated with this product
Zelinka, Samuel L.
Materials Research Engineer
  

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