WOOD RESEARCH Volume 71, Number 3, 2026
Yuxin Guo, ZIDONG GUO, Hailing Yue, and TIANWEI ZHANG

Influence of Traditional Plaster Layer on the Combustion Performance of Larch and Korean Pine Wood

This study investigated the effects of traditional plastering on the combustion behavior of timber used in historic structures. Larch and Korean pine specimens treated with the traditional one hemp fibre and five plaster layer technique were tested using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA). The plaster layer shortened the time to ignition and promoted fire propagation during the early combustion stage, while markedly reducing the peak heat release rate and toxic gas production and increasing the char yield of the wood specimens. These findings clarify the dual effect of traditional plastering on timber combustion and provide experimental evidence for assessing the fire performance of traditionally plastered components in historic timber buildings.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 66, Number 6, 2021
Zhigang Wu, Xue Deng, LIFEN LI, Liping Yu, Jie Chen, Bengang Zhang, Xuedong Xi, and Qiaoyan Zhang

Investigation the fire hazard of plywoods using a cone calorimeter

A high-efficiency fire retardant composition was prepared with dicyandiamide, phosphoric acid, boric acid, borax, urea and magnesium sulfate and it was used to process veneers which were then to prepare the plywood. Meanwhile, heat release and smoke release from combustion of plywood were tested by a cone calorimeter, including heat release rate, mass loss rate, CO yield, CO2 yield and oxygen consumption. Results showed that the plywood with this fire retardant treatment had the better flame-retardant performance and smoke suppression effect as well as the stronger char-forming capability compared to plywood without fire retardant treatment. The average heat release rate, total heat release, average effective heat of combustion, total smoke release, CO yield and oxygen consumption of the plywood with fire retardant treatment were decreased by 63.72%, 91.94%, 53.70%, 76.81%, 84.99% and 91.86%, respectively. Moreover, the fire growth index of plywood treated by fire retardant was relatively low (3.454 kW·m-2·s-1) and it took longer time to reach the peak heat release rate, accompanied with slow fire spreading. The fire performance index was relatively high (0.136 s·m2·kW-1) and it took longer time to be ignited, thus leaving a long time for escaping at fire accidents. The fire hazard of plywood with fire retardant treatment was low, and its safety level was high.