Timber Episodes
Oct. 21, 2025
223 - Heat-induced delamination in CLT with Antonela Čolić
In this episode of the Fire Science Show we invite dr. Antonela Čolić from the OFR Consultants, to break down the performance of adhesives used in CLT in fire, what differences between the glues are observable at the microsca...
Sept. 16, 2025
218 - Fire decay and cooling phases with Andrea Lucherini
What happens when the flames die down? It's a question rarely addressed in fire engineering, yet the decay and cooling phases of fires can be more dangerous than peak fire conditions. In this deep-dive conversation with Dr. Andrea Lucherini from Frisbee at ZAG in Slovenia, we uncover why these over…
April 29, 2025
199 - Commercial Timber Guidebook with Danny Hopkin and Luis Gonzalez Avila
We know a whole lot more about mass timber in fire than we did a few years ago (even when I’ve just started the podcast 199 episodes back …). But is this knowledge widely used in engineering practice? Is it used in the same w...
Feb. 5, 2025
187 - Smouldering of preserved timber with Wenxuan Wu
Can a tiny amount of bio-protective coating completely change the fire behaviour of mass timber logs? If you asked me that some time ago, I would say it would probably be neutral. Can a 0.5 x 0.5 m free-standing log of timber...
Oct. 9, 2024
172 - Lessons from mass timber experiments with Danny Hopkin
One could argue full-scale experiments on fire phenomena are the most enriching for our knowledge as the fire community. The costs associated with them and logistical nightmares of organizing them make them an uncommon sight....
Feb. 28, 2024
141 - Smouldering in Mass Timber with Harry Mitchell
This week, I am meeting up with Imperial Hazelab's Harry Mitchell, who is finalizing his PhD thesis on mass timber fires and, quite uniquely - including the smouldering phenomena in those fires. As a part of Code Red experime...
Nov. 29, 2023
130 - Mass timber fire dynamics with Dr. Carmen Górska
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Carmen Górska from OFR Consultants, the recent IAFSS Phillip Thomas Award recipient for the best paper at the previous IAFSS Symposium. In this interview, we touch on preconceived notions a...
July 26, 2023
111 - Experiments that will change fire science pt. 7 - CodeRed with Panos Kotsovinos
In this week's series covering experimental fire science, we venture into a recently finished Code Red project by ARUP, led by my today's guest Dr Panos Kotsovinos. The project was carried out in CERIB with the collaboration ...
Sept. 7, 2022
066 - Fire Safe Use of Wood in Buildings with Andy Buchanan
I wonder if we will be ever able to say: we know exactly how to build fire-safe buildings with mass timber. However that day may never come, each day of research brings us a little bit closer to achieving this goal. And some...
Feb. 15, 2022
038 - Fire resistance is not always enough for timber with Daniel Brandon
It is the third time we talk about mass timber and fire in this show, and I hope every time the message gets even more refined. In this episode, it is clear - fire resistance is not always enough. But why? You will learn that...
Jan. 26, 2022
035 - Fire safety as cornerstone of sustainability with Margaret McNamee
Building a fire-safe future is not an easy task. Including sustainability in that build, is even harder. But how hard is it to include fire safety in the discussion, when sustainability itself is a goal? Does sustainability e...
Nov. 3, 2021
025 - Structural fire engineering with engineered timber with Felix Wiesner
In Episode 18 we have touched on the important topic of fire performance of engineered wood and its wide use in the modern built environment. Today, we follow up on this subject with Dr Felix Wiesner from the University of Q...
Sept. 15, 2021
018 - Engineered timber with Danny Hopkin
Engineered timber is on a trajectory to become the construction material of the future. However, on that pathway there stands the fire issue. Wood burns, it is inevitable. This is something we must accept, and learn to work a...