Engineers are still learning about how fire behaves in mass timber buildings, so codes – though evolving quickly – impose conservative limits on timber buildings. In this episode, Senior Principal Paul Becker and Vice President Kristina Rogers speak with Principal Ali Ashrafi about how fire risk is evaluated in mass timber buildings and how teams use performance-based fire engineering to design buildings that push beyond code-mandated size or occupancies – and how this process delivers safe mass timber structures and facilitates AHJ approvals.

The conversation explores the variables that influence fire safety, such as building height, floor area, occupancy type, amount of exposed timber, site constraints on fire department access, and neighboring exposures. Ali explains why mass timber requires a project-specific approach that combines layers of safety and risk-reduction strategies, especially for taller buildings.

Paul, Kristina, and Ali also discuss how forensic fire investigation; advanced modeling analysis; experimental research; and early conversations with owners, design teams, and AHJs can help build confidence in a mass timber fire strategy. The episode emphasizes robust design, clear communication, and informed decision-making as the mass timber industry continues to evolve.

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