OFR’s 2024 Research: Key Insights and Innovations

The start of the new year is a great time to reflect on OFR’s publications from 2024. The collective body of research conducted over the past year has showcased a multidisciplinary approach to fire safety engineering, uniting experimental investigations, computational modelling, and practical case studies. By addressing topics on material performance and human behaviour, while responding to emerging fire risks, OFR’s work has helped to advance the knowledge and tools necessary to tackle fire safety challenges in contemporary and future-built environments.

Performance of Timber and Hybrid Structures

A predominant theme throughout 2024 has been examining the performance of timber and hybrid structures in fire. This research has investigated the complex behaviours of engineered wood products, particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT), when exposed to heat and fire. Work such as the microscale study on adhesive delamination in CLT bonded with polyurethane adhesives (A. Čolić et al., International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives) and the influence of adhesives in shear lap samples under radiant heat flux (A. Čolić et al., SiF 2024) reveal how fire-induced delamination and structural changes impact CLT integrity. These findings are further complemented by full-scale fire experiments on CLT residential enclosures with various lining protection configurations (D. Hopkin et al., Fire Technology), which shed light on the protective measures required to enhance fire performance.

Additionally, studies on steel-timber hybrid systems provide insights into beam-column performance with continuous elastic restraints (A. Jeebodh et al., Fire Safety Journal) and lateral-torsional buckling of steel beams supporting CLT slabs (A. Jeebodh et al., SiF 2024), emphasising the importance of understanding fire behaviour in composite materials.

Fire Exposure

Another significant theme centres on fire exposure and its effects on structural elements. Research in this area examines the response of critical components, such as light gauge steel (LSF) walls under two-sided fire exposure (I. Inerhunwa et al., SiF 2024) and structural elements forming and supporting balconies under fire exposure (D. Hopkin et al., CONFAB). We are particularly delighted with Izzy Inerhunwa being presented with the SFPE UK chapter Fire Research Project Award this year.

Human Behaviour

Complementing the material-focused research is an exploration of human behaviour in fire scenarios, a crucial factor in determining fire safety outcomes. Work has highlighted key gaps in behavioural research (E. Ronchi et al., Fire Technology) and has completed a comparative analysis of evacuation simulation tools (M. Spearpoint et al., Safety Science), providing valuable insights into evacuation dynamics and the challenges posed by high-rise residential buildings.

Fire Risks in Modern Environments

Emerging fire safety challenges also feature prominently in this year’s work, reflecting the evolving nature of fire risks in modern environments. Specific studies address the hazards associated with modern parking garages (M. Spearpoint, Fire Protection Engineering) and a review of fire safety guidance for covered car parks and electric vehicles (M. Spearpoint and M Stallwood., BSERT, 2024). Additionally, investigations into fire loads on private residential balconies (S. Bryant et al., International Fire Professional) emphasise the need for a better understanding of contemporary fire hazards in urban settings.

Data and Computational Modelling

Underlying much of this research has been an emphasis on data and computational modelling, which serve as essential tools for advancing fire safety engineering. Studies such as the assessment of thermal radiation model performance for propane gas fire experiments (Chong Vui San et al., Journal of Fire Sciences) and the aforementioned comparative analyses of evacuation simulation tools highlight the importance of reliable data and predictive models. Experimental studies exploring the steady-state charring of solids (J. Reep et al., ESFSS) has further deepened our understanding of material degradation during fire events. Discussions on the role of data in fire safety engineering (M. Spearpoint et al., SFPE Europe) further emphasise the critical need for evidence-based decision-making in fire safety design and policy.

Application of Research Findings

Finally, the year’s work includes a case study of the fire safety measures at Salisbury Tower (M. Spearpoint and A Basford, SFPE Europe), which illustrates the application of research findings to real buildings, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

The work could not have been completed without the collaboration of various academics and industry professionals from a wide range of organisations. We plan to build on these partnerships in 2025 and beyond.

Referred Journal Papers

  1. A. Čolić, F. Wiesner, D. Hopkin, M. Spearpoint, W. Wu, L. Bisby. ‘Application of microscale methods to study the heat-induced delamination in engineered wood products bonded with one-component polyurethane adhesives’, International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 103834, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2024.103834
  2. E. Ronchi, et al. ‘Determinants of gaps in human behaviour in fire research’, Fire Technology, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s10694-024-01625-6
  3. D. Hopkin, W. Węgrzyński, C. Gorska, M. Spearpoint, J. Bielawski, H. Krenn, T. Sleik, R. Blondeau, G. Stapf. ‘Full-scale fire experiments on cross-laminated timber residential enclosures featuring different lining protection configurations’. Fire Technology, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s10694-024-01581-1
  4. M. Spearpoint, M. Stallwood. ‘Assessment of recent UK fire safety guidance for covered car parks and electric vehicles’, Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 2024, doi: 10.1177/01436244241248566.
  5. M. Spearpoint, M. Arnott, X. Hui, S. Gwynne, A. Templeton. ‘Comparative analysis of two evacuation simulation tools when applied to high-rise residential buildings’, Safety Science, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106515
  6. M. Chong Vui San, M. Z. Mohd Tohir, M. Spearpoint, S. Saadon, R. Abu Talib Abd. ‘An assessment of recent thermal radiation model performance for propane gas fire experiments’, Journal of Fire Sciences, 2024. doi: 10.1177/07349041231222010
  7. A. Jeebodh, B. Davison, M. S. McLaggan, I. Burgess, D. Hopkin, S.-S. Huang, ‘Influence of continuous elastic lateral restraints on beams and beam-columns of steel-timber hybrid structures in fire’, Fire Safety Journal, 146, 104172, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2024.104172

      Non-refereed journals, professional publications, published reports

      1. M. Spearpoint, A. Basford, ‘Yes there are two paths you can go by: A
        story of fire safety in Salisbury Tower’, SFPE Europe, Issue 35,
        2024. www.sfpe.org/publications/periodicals/sfpeeuropedigital/sfpeeurope35/europeissue35feature5
      2. M. Spearpoint, K. Both, S. Santamaria, A. Lucherini, B. P. Husted, R.
        Weghorst, ‘The Importance of data in fire safety engineering’, SFPE
        Europe        , Issue 35, 2024. www.sfpe.org/publications/periodicals/sfpeeuropedigital/sfpeeurope35/europeissue35feature2
      3. M. Spearpoint. ‘Fire hazards in modern parking garages’, Fire
        Protection Engineering        , 26–33, Issue 102, 2024.
      4. S. Bryant, I. Rickard, M. Spearpoint. ‘Findings from a survey of
        fire loads on private residential balconies in England’, International
        Fire Professional        , 48, 39–46, 2024.

      Conference papers

      1. D. Hopkin, M. Spearpoint, K. Chotzoglou, T.
        Fateh. ‘Analysis of fire exposure to structural elements forming and
        supporting balconies’ CONFAB 2024, London, England, UK, 9–10 Sept 2024.
      2. A. Čolić, F. Wiesner, M. Spearpoint, D. Hopkin, L. Bisby, ‘Influence
        of adhesive type on heat induced delamination in tension loaded shear lap
        cross laminated timber samples exposed to radiant heat flux’, SiF 2024 –
        13th International Conference on Structures in Fire, University
        of Coimbra, Portugal, 19–21 June 2024.
      3. I. Inerhunwa, D. Hopkin, G. Kimbar, M. Spearpoint, G. Kanellopoulos,
        P. Turkowski. ‘Experimental study of the loadbearing performance of light
        gauge steel frame (LSF) walls exposed to fire on two sides’, SiF 2024 – 13th
        International Conference on Structures in Fire, University of Coimbra,
        Portugal, 19–21 June 2024.
      4. A. Jeebodh, B. Davison, M. S. McLaggan, I. Burgess, D. Hopkin, and
        S.-S. Huang, ‘Lateral-torsional buckling of steel beams supporting
        cross-laminated timber slabs in fire’, SiF 2024 – The 13th International
        Conference on Structures in Fire, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 19–21
        June 2024.
      5. J. Reep, J. L. Torero, M. Spearpoint, R. M. Hadden ‘Identifying the
        different processes occurring during the steady state charring of solids’,
        4th European Symposium on Fire Safety Science (ESFSS 2024),
        Barcelona, 9–11 Oct. 2024. 10.1088/1742-6596/2885/1/012023
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      Michael Spearpoint

      Research Leader

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