ABQ Times

University of New Mexico mechanical engineering student Erin Lawlor has gained recognition at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Gulf-Southwest Section Conference in Texas. Her research on fire safety, stemming from her summer volunteer work as a firefighter in Anchorage, Alaska, has highlighted potential risks associated with 3D-printed wooden homes.

Lawlor's project emerged from curiosity after hearing about housing built from 3D-printed wood sawdust suspended in resin as a low-cost housing solution. She raised concerns about what happens to such materials when they catch fire. She shared, "This is a really neat way of creating a low-income housing option with lower manufacturing costs, but the wood-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic and when it catches on fire in a tiny home setup where they are packed close together, it spreads so much faster than it would in a community built with traditional materials."

The research, aided by Mechanical Engineering Professor Tariq Khraishi, led to a paper titled “Fire Behavior of 3D Printed Wooden PLA Materials,” which won second place in the conference's Best Student Paper Competition. This paper explores challenges posed to firefighters by such materials, as they may release more toxins and burn faster than conventional houses. Lawlor noted, “A real house fire would burn vertically rather than horizontally, and in the case of wood-filled PLA could result in melting and structural collapse.”

Professor Khraishi praised the work, stating, "Erin’s research problem was unique as no previous researchers have looked at the fire behavior of 3D printed plastics and wood chip composites, which look like a wood build. It is an exciting new area."

Lawlor expressed surprise and gratitude for the recognition and the support she received from Khraishi. She aims to expand her research by testing standard building materials and examining material changes microscopically. Lawlor is set to graduate this spring and plans to further her study with a master's degree in fire protection engineering.