Fire performance of cross-laminated timber: A review of standards, experimental testing, and numerical modelling approaches

This review article critically examines the fire performance of cross-laminated timber (CLT), a key structural material for sustainable construction, by synthesising recent advancements in both experimental and numerical research. It identifies a critical gap between experimental findings and numerical models, offering insights to refine future fire-safe design and research. The article assesses fire design strategies across major international standards and reviews experimental fire testing of CLT elements, highlighting how adhesives, protective cladding, layer thickness, load levels, and support conditions affect fire resistance. This article also summarises CLT compartment tests, focusing on how openings, ventilation size, and protective cladding affect fire dynamics and CLT degradation. A literature review of numerically modelled CLT specimens under fire load is compiled and evaluated based on several criteria, including material characterisation, mesh characteristics, and modelling procedures. Subsequently, the outcomes of two distinct approaches are evaluated, emphasising the disparities in the techniques employed and the difficulties inherent in performing more precise numerical simulations. The article will bridge and inform the gap between experimental tests and numerical analysis, focusing on identifying suitable approaches for such simulations. The study aims to provide a broader understanding of the topic and promote the development of fire-safe design and modelling of engineered timber construction using CLT.