Supporting the Forest Service Mission through Mass Timber Fire Research
Join us for the fall Engineering Seminar Series as Laura Hasburgh, PhD, PE from Forest Products Laboratory presents Supporting the Forest Service Mission through Mass Timber Fire Research.The US Forest Service is dedicated to sustainable use of our Nation’s forest resources to meet the needs of present and future generations. This includes conducting forest products research that develops and increases the uses for small diameter timber, removing woody biomass to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Mass timber, such as cross-laminated timber, achieves the sustainable goals and is successfully being deployed in structures throughout the United States. However, widespread adoption has not occurred partially due to concerns about combustibility and the fire performance for larger and taller structures. Understanding how fire effects material properties of wood and the effects of exposed wood on the fire dynamics of a structure requires a multi-scale approach. This presentation will review recent research projects that are aimed at advancing and enhancing the safety of wood products for the built environment while meeting the Forest Service’s mission.
Presenter: Laura Hasburgh, PhD, PE - Forest Products Laboratory
About the presenter
Dr. Laura Hasburgh is a Materials Research Engineer at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, where she focuses on the thermal degradation of wood polymers, material properties at high temperatures, and timber construction with respect to fire growth, smoldering, and product fire endurance. Dr. Hasburgh actively participates in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers as a member of the committees on Professional Qualifications and Design Fire Scenarios. She is also a voting member and recording secretary of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and Chair for Subcommittee E05.33 on Fire Safety Engineering.
About the company
The Forest Products Laboratory is the only national research laboratory operating under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The Lab is responsible for scientific research on wood and developing innovative wood products. The Forest Products Laboratory collaborates in partnership with academia, private companies, industry, and governmental agencies. As a world-class wood utilization research laboratory and wood research institute, the Forest Products Laboratory has been contributing to and developing innovative ways to utilize the nation’s forest resources since 1910.
About the Engineering Seminar Series
The 91福利导航-Platteville Engineering Seminar Series is offered on campus and via zoom. Free and open to the public, these presentations showcase the plan, design, construction, and maintenance of real-world engineering projects and how they change our community. Attendees are eligible for one professional development hour.
For more information or to request disability accommodations, contact the UW-Platteville College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Dean's Office at 608.342.1561 or emsdeansoffice@uwplatt.edu.