Fire Resistance of Thermally Modified Spruce Wood

The risk of possible ignition and burning is one of the greatest disadvantages of using wood as a construction material. An environmentally appropriate method of improving the fire-resistant properties of wood is available via thermal treatment. In this study, spruce wood ( Picea abies L.) was thermally modified at 160 degrees C, 180 degrees C, and 210 degrees C. The effect of thermal modification on the fire performance of the wood, including weight loss and burn rate, was evaluated. A new testing method was designed to be sufficiently sensitive to monitor fire performance. The results showed that the thermally modified spruce wood had a lower weight loss than untreated wood. The burn rate of wood that was thermally modified at 160 degrees C was similar to that of untreated wood. Higher thermal treatment temperatures caused a higher burn rate. After the flame was removed, the burning process was rapidly stopped in thermally treated wood.