Fire Damage
The structural performance of fire-damaged wood needs engineering assessment once a fire is extinguished and it is safe to observe. Fire damage is a thermal wood deterioration that can occur from lightning strikes, chimney fires, or electrical overload. In some cases, the charring of wood in slow-burning old growth lumber, such as oak, can still provide enough cross-member dimension to carry a load. In other cases, the damage is so severe that new structural members will be necessary or additional support members can be added in an effort to leaving evidence of original material in place. Moisture content (result of steam off-shoot in a fire) remaining in the wood must also be evaluated post fire, to ensure that the strength of the wood has not been compromised.