Study on Smoke Leakage Performance in Mass Timber Construction Taking Cross-Laminated Timber Walls as an Example

Abstract

In contemporary building design, partition walls combined with doors and windows are commonly used to control the spread of smoke. Understanding the smoke leakage characteristics of cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls is crucial for enhancing safety. This study investigates the smoke-sealing performance of CLT walls through full-scale tests, focusing on the application of this type of mass timber construction in smoke control. The test specimens included four joints, with leakage measured under two conditions—non-fire and fire exposure—at three different pressure differentials. A total of 72 tests were conducted. The results showed that under non-fire conditions, the leakage rate was 0.00 m3/h, while exposure to fire caused a significant increase in leakage. Under a pressure differential of 25 Pa, the average leakage rate was 8.17 m3/h, with a maximum of 8.27 m3/h. This study also proposes a method for evaluating the leakage rate of a single joint, which helps estimate the smoke layer descent time and, in turn, the allowable evacuation time. The findings not only enhance the fire safety performance of mass timber construction but also provide valuable insights for evacuation planning.

Keywords

• mass timber construction
• smoke leakage performance
• fire
• smoke
• CLT
• wall