Exposing siding treatments, walls fitted with eaves, and glazing assemblies to firebrand showers

An experimental campaign was undertaken to determine vulnerabilities of siding treatments, walls fitted with eaves, and glazing assemblies to firebrand bombardment using the NIST Dragon installed in the Building Research Institute's Fire Research Wind Tunnel Facility (FRWTF). Experiments were also conducted to determine if firebrands can produce ignition in fine fuels placed adjacent to the wall assembly and whether the subsequent ignition of fine fuels could lead to ignition of the wall assembly itself. These experiments are the first to investigate these vulnerabilities in a systematic fashion. The results of these experimental findings are presented.

► Experiments to study vulnerabilities of building components to firebrand showers. ► Siding treatments, walls fitted with eaves, and glazing assemblies were tested. ► Results useful to provide scientific basis for building codes/standards.