Proposal of a fireproof design code for dwellings against the action of wildland fires

Abstract

This study proposes a concept for the development of a fireproof design code for the verification of dwellings susceptible to wildfire action. There are currently structural codes for the design of buildings when subjected to indoor fires, outside fires that grow on the facade of buildings, and even fires in an accident situation due to ignitions with hydrocarbons or transportation vehicles. All of these security verification specifications are described in EC1:1–2. The current regulation in Portugal uses safety criteria and risk categories that are for indoor fires, therefore is very conservative and may not present an economic fireproof design against the action of wildfires. The aim of this work is a straight verification based on natural temperature characteristic curves that simulate wildfire heat flow by convection, radiation, and the deposits of firebrands.

Keywords

• Structural safety verification
• Wildfires in dwellings
• Nominal fires vs natural fires
• Fireproof construction guidelines