Dutchess Community College Truss Burn Test

[xfirefighter484x 234]

I will post in here when the videos are finalized, and edited and put on the web, hopefully an invaluable tool for all fire service personnel!

Structures set ablaze in burn tests

By Rasheed Oluwa

Poughkeepsie Journal

HYDE PARK — It took about five minutes Sunday morning before a surge of flames forced a 15-foot long, triangular wooden truss to collapse at the Dutchess County Fire Training Center.

The implications were apparent to the 10 students of Dutchess Community College's Fire Science Program who participated in the experiment. There is no way of telling when the structural supports in a building will come crashing down during a fire.

"You can get to the scene of a fire and the fire could be burning for a good five minutes — at least — before you arrive," said Justin Bohlmann, a Town of Poughkeepsie resident and one of the students who conducted the experiment. "It's pretty scary."

For the second year in a row, students in the Fire Science Program tried to determine the amount of time it takes for a wooden truss and wooden I-beam to collapse during a fire.

The beam and truss were placed over a large flame during two separate tests. Firefighters from East Fishkill stayed at the scene to help manage and control the fire.

The test was videotaped and the group plans to post the footage on the Fire Science Program's Web site for people to download.

"It's a concern for just about every firefighter across the country," Dave Walsh said.

Used in floors, roofs

Wooden trusses are supports connected by metal plates. They are used in the construction of floors and roofs.

From 1998 to 2003, 20 firefighters died while handling fires that involved wooden truss malfunctions, according to the National Institute for National Safety and Health.

Although the trusses are sturdy, they can deteriorate quickly in a fire because the metal plates connecting the wood expand and conduct heat. The supports can feel relatively sturdy until the time they collapse, giving firefighters a false sense of safety when they step on them.

The wooden I-beams pose a problem because they are held together by glue, which makes them combustible and weak during a fire. The wooden I-beam took about six minutes to collapse during the burn test.

Cinder blocks were placed on top of the truss and I-beam to simulate the weight and stress they go through during a real fire. Walsh said this was done to try and recreate the full force on these supports when they crumble.

"It's like a football team when the quarterback suddenly moves away from the field," Walsh said.

Walsh said fire tests are routinely done for entire structures, but there are few around that deal solely with trusses. He hopes Sunday's burn tests will give firefighters around the country a better sense of truss system failures.

Luis Rosado, an Ellenville resident and a student in the Fire Science Program, said Sunday's test was an eye-opener.

"This is what we learn about in class and this kind of proves it," Rosado said.

Rasheed Oluwa can be reached at roluwa@poughkeepsiejournal.com

Edited March 28, 2006 by xfirefighter484x

[JBE 328]

I wish they had this class when I went to DCC.

[xfirefighter484x 234]

This burn was held in cooperation with the DCC Emergency Services Club, and the Fire Science Program. It tied in with the Building Construction for Fire Protection class being run this semester.

This is the second structural member test the program has run. They hope to show up close, the actual failing of the members of the truss, and to get this video out and available to everyone for a better knowledge.

What was burned was a setup of 3 peaked roof trusses, and 3 TGIs, a.k.a. wooden I-Beams. This was a really informative, and eye opening experience to see happen exactly what we discuss in class.

Like I said before, I would be happy to post here the link to the site where the video(s) will be hosted, and everyone can learn something from this test!

-xfirefighter484x, a.k.a. President of the DCC Emergency Services Club

[Guest]

Great job guys! I would love to see the video.

[xfirefighter484x 234]

A copy of the local newscast in relation to this test is online, anyone interested is welcome to view it at:

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=381ENN9...WW1RN7ZXWQ5PTNA

The above link is a larger size file, for a smaller, and probably easier file to download and view, the link is as follows:

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1L5FD21...K917Z52LZIG3LUF

This is only hosted on here for up to 7 days, before it has to be uploaded, and it has been up for a day or 2 so far. If someone does not get to see it, and would like to, I can have it uploaded again, just let me know!

The videos strictly of the burn themselves are on the editing table now. What we hope to do, is compile several different angles, and hopefully actually capture on video, the failing of the connections themselves.

Again, I will post a hyperlink as soon as it is up!

Thank you for the interest guys! Its nice to see our experiments may one day help save firefighter's lives!

Edited March 29, 2006 by xfirefighter484x

[Porsha911gt3 8]

Who was that guy at the End of the Video and why would they ever allow him to talk on the news?

[xfirefighter484x 234]

Hahaha, gee, thanks a lot Porsha!!