# Experimental data of charring of timber elements under natural fire: Full-scale fire testing of timber structures using the room corner test method

## TL;DR

This study provides detailed experimental data on how timber elements char during natural fires, helping improve fire safety models.

## Contribution

The study introduces full-scale fire test data on timber charring under realistic fire scenarios using the Room Corner Test method.

## Key findings

- Charring rate is affected by radiative and convective heat fluxes, not just direct flame exposure.
- Charring depths vary along the height and sides of timber elements due to heat exposure differences.
- The dataset includes temperature measurements, photographic, and thermographic records of charring processes.

## Abstract

The paper presents results of an experimental investigation of charring of full-scale timber elements exposed to natural fire conditions. Fire experiments were conducted in the Room Corner Test facility, in which natural local fire scenarios were simulated to assess realistic charring rate and thermal response of timber structures. The analysis of experimental data evaluates the effects of timber orientation relative to the fire source, heat transfer dynamics, and other duration of fire exposure. The results demonstrate that charring rate is influenced not only by direct flame exposure but also by radiative and convective heat fluxes, leading to non-uniform charring depths along the height and across different sides of timber elements. The provided data include detailed temperature measurements at multiple depths of timber elements, high-resolution photographic and thermographic documentation to demonstrate charred layer formation, pyrolysis depth, and material loss. The dataset, made available for further research, provides a valuable foundation for numerical fire model validation and supports the development of probabilistic approaches for predicting variability of charring.