University Honors

This study investigated the emissions from three different wood materials, hem-fir wood, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) treated wood, and pressed wood, all commonly found in housing structures. The lumber was burned in a controlled burn chamber with a sampling system pulling burn emissions onto filters, sampling media, and a gas analyzer so further analysis could be conducted. OCEC analyzer data showed that organic carbon dominated the emission profile of each lumber sample, with an average organic carbon to total carbon ratio of 86%. Ion chromatography and X-ray fluorescence compared charged ions and metals, which showed clear differences between the materials, particularly in ACQ treated wood with its metal based production treatment. A major observation found was that certain metals are not immediately mobilized into the emission plumes, suggesting that metal concentrations found in communities following major urban fires are attributed to ash mobilization that takes place after a fire has occurred. A Horiba 5 gas analyzer was used to acquire real time data for emission gasses throughout each burn and was used to calculate the modified combustion efficiency (MCE). Material treatment and production products have an influence on emission profiles, signifying the importance to understand material properties that influence released emissions during structural fire events.