Fire is a disaster that can cause significant financial, emotional, and physical damage, and sometimes even cost lives. To ensure effective fire prevention, it is crucial to pay attention to the fire safety of building materials. Contributing to this is VILNIUS TECH scientist, Dr. Tomas Veliseicik, a PhD graduate in construction engineering, who has developed a composite construction material that provides better fire protection.

This summer, Dr. Tomas Veliseicik defended his dissertation at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) on the topic, “Development of autoclaved fibro-cement composite and its properties in standard fire temperature conditions.” Fire safety is a well-known field to Dr. Veliseicik, as he has been studying and researching it for over 20 years, and he currently works at the Firefighters’ training school and the Fire research Centre.

However, he says there is still room for discovery in this discipline. Doctoral studies provide an excellent opportunity for research. According to Dr. Veliseicik, fire safety PhD programs are relatively rare, and only a few universities worldwide offer such studies. At VILNIUS TECH, he combined this discipline with materials engineering, focusing on developing a fire-resistant construction material.

"My dissertation is about a cement-based material used in the production of facade panels and cladding sheets in construction. The relevance of the research is highlighted by tragic high-rise building facade fires worldwide, including the Grenfell Tower fire, which showed the importance of ensuring the fire safety of construction products. Moreover, the increased use of wood and organic materials in construction calls for greater attention to fire safety measures," shares the VILNIUS TECH scientist.

Dr. Veliseicik chose a construction material for his research that closely resembled the composition of a mass-produced building product, proportionally modifying certain components that altered the composite's properties. In developing the new composite material, he also considered the impact of fire, as synthetic materials and changing environments affect the dynamics and intensity of fires.

"I conducted two independent studies. In the first one, I used components that participate in the hardening of the cement material and the formation of new compounds. The research results showed that the additive used increased the fire resistance of the composite.

In the second study, I used a reinforcement component that improved the mechanical properties of the composite, but exposure to fire temperatures had a destructive effect on such a composite. I found that the use of an additive, which was a by-product of industrial production, created a composite more resistant to the effects of fire temperatures, which helped reduce the amount of cement or quartz sand in the composite. This also presents an environmental solution.

In addition to the usual research methods applied in material science, I also conducted fire tests, subjecting the composite to higher fire intensity than standard fire tests typically prescribe," shares the fire safety expert.

The VILNIUS TECH scientist admits that writing the dissertation presented various challenges—from the global pandemic to losing the text of the dissertation—but the people who accompanied him during his doctoral studies helped him overcome them all. He expresses his gratitude to his dissertation supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Ramune Zurauskiene, the staff of the VILNIUS TECH Department of building materials and fire safety, the Building materials institute, the Lithuanian expertise centre, the Fire research centre, colleagues from the Firefighters’ training school, the dissertation reviewers, UAB "Eternit Baltic," AB "Silikatas," and other university employees.

Although the research conducted during his PhD studies helped discover the composition of a construction composite material that provides better fire protection, this is just the first step, says Dr. Tomas Veliseicik. As construction products are standardised, a global application of the developed composite would require further testing of its resistance to cold, sunlight, and other standard characteristics.