One of Framework’s main missions is to provide a regulatory pathway for future mass timber projects while building local knowledge and skills on constructing from mass timber.

Mass timber has resistance to fire due to its charring properties. The resistance assessment was based on the worst possible fire that could occur within an apartment or office space and the duration of that fire. The performance demonstrated that the building will survive full burn and remain structurally intact, in the unlikely event of the sprinklers failing and the Fire Department not intervening.

For these standards, the project conducted component testing of the CLT panels and Glulam beams/columns. The testing met ASTM E11 and was carried out for a fire resistance rating of 2 hours. Testing included connections between beam and columns; the floor and ceiling area; and beam-to-floor assemblies.