SBC 201The helps establish the regulatory framework for building design and life safety in Saudi Arabia. Developers and design professionals should identify the applicable requirements at the beginning of a project, especially when considering unfamiliar structural systems or complex building layouts. Early assessment can help the team understand design constraints and prepare suitable documentation for approval.

Mass timber is attracting interest because engineered wood products can support efficient construction and contemporary architectural design. These buildings still require careful fire safety planning. Timber behaviour, structural connections, fire-resisting assemblies, smoke management, and evacuation must be considered together.

Vortex Fire’s Saudi code article discusses changes in the 2024 Saudi building and fire code editions. Its mass timber service describes work supporting code compliance and fire resistance assessments for projects in Canada. The relevant lesson is that innovative construction needs a documented engineering approach, while the specific rules must always come from the jurisdiction governing the project.

2. Identifying the Main Fire Risks

Fire risk assessment starts by understanding how a building will be used and how a fire could affect its occupants and structure. Important factors include occupancy type, building height, floor layout, potential ignition sources, fuel loads, and the movement of people during an emergency.

In a mass timber building, the structural material requires particular attention. Exposed timber can contribute to a fire, while structural elements may lose part of their cross-section through charring. The extent of the effect depends on the product, dimensions, fire exposure, and protection measures. Engineers should not assume that every timber element will perform in the same way.

Concealed spaces also need review. Gaps around service penetrations, floor edges, shafts, and wall junctions can create pathways for fire or smoke. Incomplete fire stopping may allow a fire to spread beyond the compartment where it began.

A useful assessment identifies credible fire scenarios and examines how different safety measures work together. The aim is not to claim that a building has no risk, but to show how foreseeable risks are controlled in a manner consistent with applicable requirements.

3. Selecting Materials and Protective Assemblies

The choice of structural timber product should be coordinated with the fire strategy. Cross-laminated timber panels, glued laminated beams, columns, and other engineered components have different structural roles and design considerations. Product specifications should be reviewed before the engineering assessment is completed.

Protection may involve encapsulating timber with suitable materials, limiting exposed surfaces where required, or demonstrating the performance of the proposed assembly through recognised methods. The appropriate solution depends on the building, its intended use, the relevant code provisions, and the supporting technical evidence.

Designers should pay close attention to interfaces. A wall assembly may achieve its intended fire performance only if its joints, openings, and connections are detailed correctly. Fire-rated doors must fit their openings, and service penetrations must use compatible fire-stopping systems. An isolated product rating does not automatically establish the performance of a complete assembly.

A project team should also consider how protective materials will be installed and maintained. Details that are difficult to access or inspect can create problems during construction and later alterations. Clear drawings and installation requirements help contractors understand what must be achieved and which substitutions need approval.

4. Planning Safe Evacuation and Smoke Control

People must be able to recognise a fire emergency and move towards a safe location. An evacuation strategy should consider the expected occupants, building configuration, exit locations, travel distances, stairway arrangements, and any occupants who may need assistance.

Fire alarms and detection systems provide warning, while emergency lighting and clear signs help people find their way. Where required, smoke control measures may support visibility and reduce smoke exposure along designated escape routes. These measures need to be selected and coordinated according to the building’s design and the applicable regulations.

Timber construction does not change the basic need for a complete life safety strategy. However, the structural arrangement, open spaces, and connections between floors may influence how smoke could move through a building. Designers should examine potential pathways and ensure that compartmentation and smoke management are coordinated.

For example, an office building may contain a large shared atrium and several floors of open-plan workspaces. The team should consider how occupants would leave different floors and whether smoke could affect shared circulation areas. The resulting strategy should be supported by appropriate analysis and reviewed through the relevant approval process.

5. Applying Fire Engineering Analysis Responsibly

Some projects include features that are difficult to assess using standard prescriptive provisions alone. In these cases, performance-based engineering may help the team evaluate whether a proposed design achieves defined safety objectives. The process should begin with a clear question, measurable criteria, and appropriate methods of analysis.

Fire and smoke modeling can be used to investigate selected scenarios, such as the movement of smoke through an atrium or the conditions occupants may encounter along escape routes. The model should reflect the building geometry, ventilation conditions, fire assumptions, and relevant system performance. Its limitations must be explained clearly.

Suppose a design includes an unusually large internal space connected to several occupied levels. Engineers may compare smoke movement under different scenarios and assess whether the proposed controls support the intended life safety objectives. The results can inform design decisions, but they should not be presented as proof that every possible event has been eliminated.

Engineering analysis should be transparent and reproducible. Reports should identify the assumptions, methods, input data, acceptance criteria, and conclusions. Where appropriate, sensitivity checks or independent review can help establish whether the findings are robust enough to support the proposed design.

6. Building a Reliable Compliance Workflow

Good compliance management brings the right specialists together early. Architects, structural engineers, fire engineers, contractors, and building owners should understand their responsibilities and share design information before key decisions become difficult to change.

A practical workflow includes:

Confirming the project location and applicable code edition.
Establishing the occupancy classification and building characteristics.
Reviewing the structural system and fire performance of proposed materials.
Coordinating exits, compartmentation, detection, suppression, and smoke management.
Identifying where calculations or specialist assessments are needed.
Preparing coordinated drawings, specifications, and compliance reports.
Obtaining required approvals before implementing alternative measures.
Inspecting critical fire protection details during construction.

The team should manage design changes carefully. Replacing a material or altering a connection can affect performance, even if the change appears minor. Proposed revisions should be reviewed by the responsible professional and approved where required.

Quality assurance is equally important. Records of product information, installation checks, fire stopping, and corrective work help demonstrate that the finished building reflects the approved strategy. Owners should receive clear information about inspection, maintenance, and any restrictions affecting future alterations.

7. Conclusion

Safe mass timber construction depends on more than selecting a strong structural product. The project must integrate code compliance, structural fire resistance, compartmentation, evacuation, fire protection systems, and construction quality. Early planning gives the team more opportunity to resolve design challenges and document the basis for important decisions.

fire and smoke modelingWhen a project requires additional technical evaluation, qualified engineers can use recognised calculation methods and to assess defined fire scenarios. The final design must remain consistent with the applicable local regulations, professional requirements, and authority approval conditions.

FAQs

What is the first step in a mass timber fire assessment?

Begin by confirming the building’s use, location, applicable code requirements, structural system, and main fire safety objectives.

Why do connections matter in timber buildings?

Connections transfer structural loads and may be exposed to heat. Their design and protection can influence the performance of the complete structure.

Can one country’s code approval be used in another country?

Not automatically. Each project must meet the regulations and approval requirements that apply at its location.

What should a fire engineering report contain?

It should explain the design question, applicable criteria, assumptions, assessment methods, findings, limitations, and any measures needed to achieve the required safety objectives.

SBC 201: A Guide to Fire Safety and Building Regulations

The SBC 201 helps establish the regulatory framework for building design and life safety in Saudi Arabia. Developers and design professionals should identify th