Overview
Background
Biography
Dr Juan P. Hidalgo is a Senior Adjunct Fellow within the School of Civil Engineering (honorary position) and is currently a Fire Safety Engineer at Airbus Operations GmbH.
Juan joined The University of Queensland in 2016 as the first of the three academic appointments in the Centre for Future Timber Structures to lead the research and teaching on the fire safety of engineered timber structures. His background is in fire safety engineering, building systems and timber construction. His research to date has primarily focused on the performance of building materials for sustainable and durable construction exposed to fire conditions. Juan's field of expertise comprises material thermal degradation and flammability, heat transfer, and fire dynamics, highlighting his vast experience in multi-scale fire testing. Juan is actively involved in multiple research projects focused on sustainable construction, such as timber, insulation materials, or composites, and studying the fire dynamics in modern buildings. At present, Juan contributes to supervision and research collaborations on fire safety for the built environment with the Fire Safety Engineering Research Group at UQ.
Juan completed his BEng-MEng in Industrial Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain), a five-year degree equivalent to Mechanical/Civil Engineering in the UK with a final year specialisation with a particular focus on structural engineering. He also attained an MSc in Industrial Construction and Installations at the same University. During his MSc, Juan joined PBD Fire Consultants S.L., a Spanish company specialising in fire safety design for the built environment. He worked for this company for two years as a consulting fire engineer in multiple national and international projects. Following the completion of his MSc in 2011, Juan joined the University of Edinburgh (UK) to pursue his PhD in Fire Safety Engineering sponsored by Rockwool International A/S, which was completed in 2015 with the thesis entitled “Performance-Based Methodology for the Fire Safe Design of Insulation Materials in Energy Efficient Buildings”. He continued his academic career at the University of Edinburgh as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, being involved in numerous research projects such as the FireComp project, and other projects focused on the fire performance of facades, timber construction, concrete and diverse construction systems.
Previous involvement in Teaching and Learning
During his appointment as academic staff at UQ, Dr Juan P. Hidalgo contributed to the teaching of Civil Engineering Bachelor and Masters programmes, including the BE-ME in Civil and Fire Safety Engineering (EA-accredited) and the MEngSc in Fire Safety Engineering. He was involved in the following courses:
- Introduction to Fire Safety Engineering (FIRE3700).
- Fire Engineering Design: Solutions for Implicit Safety (FIRE4610).
- Fire Dynamics (FIRE7620).
- Fire Dynamics Laboratory (FIRE7640).
- Structural Fire Engineering (FIRE7660).
- Fire Engineering Design: Explicit Quantification of Safety (FIRE7680).
- Research Thesis (FIRE7500).
- Design of Timber Structures (CIVL4334).
Availability
- Dr Juan Hidalgo Medina is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework), unknown
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh
Research interests
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Fire Safety of Facades and External Cladding
In the last decades, several tall buildings consisting of innovative external wall systems have been involved in disastrous fire events. The use of new products and systems, including combustible materials as external walls, represents a fire hazard in the built environment. This is essentially due to the lack of understanding and characterisation of the fire performance of these products, as well as methodologies and tools to assess their intrinsic fire hazard. At present many existing buildings have combustible façade systems, for example, including Aluminium Composite Panels made of two aluminium sheets bonded with a low-density plastic core or insulation materials. I was the chief investigator leading the Cladding Materials Library project funded by the Department of Housing and Public Works (https://claddingmaterialslibrary.com/). I led the development of an extensive, publicly-available database of combustible cladding materials based on their flammability through an audit of public buildings in Queensland. This database materialises one of the urgent recommendations established by the Queensland Non-Conforming Building Products Audit Taskforce to guarantee the safety of building occupants and emergency services in buildings with combustible cladding. The database is a crucial tool currently being used by fire engineers in the risk assessment and remediation of thousands of buildings affected by combustible cladding.
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Fire Dynamics in Large, Open-Plan Compartments
The study of fire dynamics in compartments establishes the basis for the design of fire safety strategies in buildings. Even though the behaviour of compartment fires has largely been studied, the 'compartment fire' framework currently used for design is based on experimentation of cubic compartments of reduced floor area with low ventilation (Regime I fires). At present, open plan floor compartments are the norm in tall and new buildings, thus deeming the current design framework incomplete. I am working on a series of projects focused on modelling and analysing data from recent full-scale fire experimentation in open floor compartments with large ventilation (Regime II fires), which I contributed to developing when I worked at the University of Edinburgh (https://uqfire-news.org/2019/06/05/malveira-fire-test/).
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Fire Performance of Composite Materials
I collaborate with the UQ Composites Group in numerous projects aiming at the flammability characterisation and elaboration of fire design frameworks of novel composite materials.
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Fundamentals of Bushfires
The study of fire behaviour of bushlands is a research area of relevant need in Australia due to the increasing severity of bushfires. The improvement of risk models for loss prevention requires a fundamental understanding of the behaviour of vegetation under fire conditions. I am working on a couple of small projects aiming at the effect that moisture may play in the flammability of Australian vegetation and the role of convection and radiation in the ignition and flame spread in vegetation.
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Fire Safety of Engineered Mass Timber and Bamboo Structures
There is a growing demand from architects, developers and clients to create buildings from engineered timber products. Timber is both aesthetically appealing and environmentally advantageous; however, fire safety considerations are frequently cited as a major constraint on the use of timber within buildings. I contribute to research in this area and have been actively working to provide engineers with the knowledge and understanding required to build safely with timber – at a large scale. One of the highlighted projects under this theme was the project aimed at developing full-scale fire tests of cross-laminated timber compartments. The project was developed under the umbrella of the ARC Future Timber Hub, and enabled the development of unique tests worldwide (https://sites.google.com/view/arc-future-timber-hub-pr14/). Like timber, bamboo as a construction material has many appealing characteristics, ranging from its ability to sequester carbon during growth and store it for the life of the building, its relatively high strength-to-weight ratio, ease of prefabrication, and high aesthetic value. I have contributed to research in this area, working to provide knowledge on the potential of bamboo as a structural material and its fire performance.
Research impacts
Dr Hidalgo’s main research focus at The University of Queensland has primarily centred on the fire safety of tall buildings and mass timber construction. The research on tall buildings consists of two fundamental aspects: describing the complex fire dynamics in open plan compartments, common of tall buildings, and assessing the external fire spread risk in tall building design due to the use of combustible materials. These are key endeavours to enable the safety of mid and high-rise buildings, supported by his extensive previous contributions in the area of compartment fires and combustible insulation developed throughout his academic career.
With regards to mass timber construction research, since his arrival at UQ, he help lead fire safety research within the Centre for Future Timber Structures and the ARC Future Timber Hub. His expertise in fire safety of timber structures and tall buildings has become instrumental in achieving the main goal of the Hub, which is to enable tall buildings consisting of mass timber structures that are currently inhibited by the unquantifiable fire safety risks. These knowledge gaps are strategically well-aligned with Dr Hidalgo’s expertise.
Works
Search Professor Juan Hidalgo Medina’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Deactivation of chromated copper arsenate as a catalyst in smouldering of wood
Wu, Wenxuan, Wiesner, Felix, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey J. and Yermán, Luis (2024). Deactivation of chromated copper arsenate as a catalyst in smouldering of wood. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 183 106824, 106824. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2024.106824
2024
Journal Article
A taxonomy of concurrent upward flame spread models and sources of uncertainty
Hittini, Waseem, Wiesner, Felix, Lange, David and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2024). A taxonomy of concurrent upward flame spread models and sources of uncertainty. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 204 109218, 109218. doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2024.109218
2024
Journal Article
Compartment fires: Challenges for fire modeling as a tool for a safe design (IAFSS workshop, April 2021)
Beji, Tarek, Hidalgo, Juan P., Fateh, Talal, Floyd, Jason, Prétrel, Hugues and Hamins, Anthony (2024). Compartment fires: Challenges for fire modeling as a tool for a safe design (IAFSS workshop, April 2021). Fire Safety Journal, 144 104109, 104109. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2024.104109
2023
Journal Article
Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments
Pope, Ian, Gupta, Vinny, Xu, Hangyu, Wiesner, Felix, Lange, David, Torero, José L. and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2023). Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104022, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104022
2023
Journal Article
Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood
Wu, Wenxuan, Yermán, Luis, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey J. and Wiesner, Felix (2023). Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104003, 104003. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104003
2023
Journal Article
Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species
Wiesner, Felix, McGiveron, Brett, Liu, Tongming, Hidalgo, Juan and Morrell, Jeffrey J. (2023). Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species. Fire Safety Journal, 140 103884, 103884. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103884
2023
Conference Publication
Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering
Wu, Wenxuan, Yermán, Luis, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey and Wiesner, Felix (2023). Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering. Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering, Oslo, Norway, 19-22 June. Oslo, Norway: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2023). doi: 10.52202/069179-0225
2023
Conference Publication
A novel PIV seeding method for velocity measurements within a reactive boundary layer
Hittini, Waseem, Basnayake, Asanka, Lange, David, Carrascal Tirado, Jeronimo, Hidalgo, Juan and Wiesner, Felix (2023). A novel PIV seeding method for velocity measurements within a reactive boundary layer. 15th International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry, San Diego, CA USA, 19-21 May 2023. San Diego, CA USA: International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry.
2023
Journal Article
Numerical heat transfer model for swelling intumescent coatings during heating
Lucherini, Andrea, Hidalgo, Juan P., Torero, Jose L. and Maluk, Cristian (2023). Numerical heat transfer model for swelling intumescent coatings during heating. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 184 107922, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2022.107922
2023
Journal Article
Towards the development of a fire retardant sugar-cane bagasse ply for composite manufacture: a flammability study
Basnayake, Asanka P., Hidalgo, Juan P. and Heitzmann, Michael T (2023). Towards the development of a fire retardant sugar-cane bagasse ply for composite manufacture: a flammability study. Journal of Composite Materials, 57 (2), 297-311. doi: 10.1177/00219983221144709
2022
Journal Article
Effect of cavity parameters on the fire dynamics of ventilated façades
Mendez Alvarez, Julian E., Lange, David, Hidalgo, Juan P. and McLaggan, Martyn S. (2022). Effect of cavity parameters on the fire dynamics of ventilated façades. Fire Safety Journal, 133 103671, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103671
2022
Journal Article
Model characterisation of localised burning impact from localised fire tests to travelling fire scenarios
Khan, Aatif Ali, Nan, Zhuojun, Jiang, Liming, Gupta, Vinny, Chen, Suwen, Khan, Mustesin Ali, Hidalgo, Juan and Usmani, Asif (2022). Model characterisation of localised burning impact from localised fire tests to travelling fire scenarios. Journal of Building Engineering, 54 104601, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104601
2022
Journal Article
Factors influencing the fire dynamics in open-plan compartments with an exposed timber ceiling
Nothard, Sam, Lange, David, Hidalgo, Juan P., Gupta, Vinny, McLaggan, Martyn S., Wiesner, Felix and Torero, Jose L. (2022). Factors influencing the fire dynamics in open-plan compartments with an exposed timber ceiling. Fire Safety Journal, 129 103564, 103564. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103564
2022
Journal Article
Investigation of ammonium polyphosphate dilution with ground eggshells and lignin through the study of natural fibre composite flammability
Basnayake, Asanka P., Hidalgo, Juan P., Villacorta, Byron, Dunn, Kameron G. and Heitzmann, Michael T. (2022). Investigation of ammonium polyphosphate dilution with ground eggshells and lignin through the study of natural fibre composite flammability. Fire and Materials, 47 (1), 28-50. doi: 10.1002/fam.3066
2022
Journal Article
Large-scale compartment fires to develop a self-extinction design framework for mass timber—Part 1: Literature review and methodology
Xu, Hangyu, Pope, Ian, Gupta, Vinny, Cadena, Jaime, Carrascal, Jeronimo, Lange, David, McLaggan, Martyn S., Mendez, Julian, Osorio, Andrés, Solarte, Angela, Soriguer, Diana, Torero, Jose L., Wiesner, Felix, Zaben, Abdulrahman and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2022). Large-scale compartment fires to develop a self-extinction design framework for mass timber—Part 1: Literature review and methodology. Fire Safety Journal, 128 103523, 103523. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103523
2022
Journal Article
A simplified correction method for thermocouple disturbance errors in solids
Pope, Ian, Hidalgo, Juan P., Hadden, Rory M. and Torero, Jose L. (2022). A simplified correction method for thermocouple disturbance errors in solids. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 172 (Part A) 107324, 107324. doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2021.107324
2022
Journal Article
A competency framework for fire safety engineering
Lange, David, Torero, Jose, Spinardi, Graham, Law, Angus, Johnson, Peter, Brinson, Ashley, Maluk, Cristian, Hidalgo, Juan and Woodrow, Michael (2022). A competency framework for fire safety engineering. Fire Safety Journal, 127 103511, 103511. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2021.103511
2021
Journal Article
A flammability study of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) used with hemp/epoxy composites
Basnayake, Asanka P., Hidalgo, Juan P. and Heitzmann, Michael T. (2021). A flammability study of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) used with hemp/epoxy composites. Construction and Building Materials, 304 124540, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124540
2021
Journal Article
Towards a better understanding of fire performance assessment of façade systems: Current situation and a proposed new assessment framework
McLaggan, M.S., Hidalgo, J.P., Osorio, A.F., Heitzmann, M.T., Carrascal, J., Lange, D., Maluk, C. and Torero, J.L. (2021). Towards a better understanding of fire performance assessment of façade systems: Current situation and a proposed new assessment framework. Construction and Building Materials, 300 124301, 124301. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124301
2021
Journal Article
The effect of moisture content and thermal behaviour on the ignition of Eucalyptus saligna leaves
Ramadhan, Mohamad L., Carrascal, Jeronimo, Osorio, Andres and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2021). The effect of moisture content and thermal behaviour on the ignition of Eucalyptus saligna leaves. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 30 (9), 680-690. doi: 10.1071/wf20069
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Juan Hidalgo Medina is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Studying the impact of technological change on the resilience of buildings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Mason, Associate Professor David Lange
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Doctor Philosophy
Framework to model the rate of external fire spread rates in facades consisting of combustible cladding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor David Lange, Dr Felix Wiesner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of smouldering in engineered and CCA treated timber products
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Felix Wiesner, Dr Luis Yerman
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Doctor Philosophy
Studying the impact of technological change on the resilience of buildings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Mason, Associate Professor David Lange
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The role of fuel moisture content on the flammability of Eucalyptus saligna leaf litter
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Jeronimo Carrascal Tirado
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Open-plan compartment fire dynamics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk, Associate Professor David Lange
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Fire Dynamics in Multi-Scale Timber Compartments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Fire Performance Assessment for the Design of Safe Laminated Bamboo Structures
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Parametric Analysis of the Fire Performance of Laminated Veneer Lumber
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk, Associate Professor David Lange
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the fire dynamics in Ventilated Facades
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Martyn McLaggan, Associate Professor David Lange
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Solid-phase temperature analysis and correction for multi-scale fire experimentation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk, Dr Felix Wiesner, Associate Professor Jiwon Kim
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Moisture Safety for Energy-efficient CLT Envelopes: Pathways to Net-zero Operational Energy for Engineered Wood Multi-storey Buildings in Australian Tropical and Subtropical Climates
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lisa Ottenhaus, Associate Professor Paola Leardini
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of Convection and Radiation at the Preheating Stage during Fire Spread in Fuel Beds
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Jeronimo Carrascal Tirado, Associate Professor David Lange
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the material properties that influence fire growth of fire retardant natural fibre composites
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Luigi Vandi, Dr Byron Villacorta, Dr Michael Heitzmann
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Critical Conditions for the Self-extinction of Timber
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Risk Assessment based on Maximum Allowable Damage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk, Associate Professor David Lange
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamentals of thin intumescent coatings for the design of fire-safe structures
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Fire and structural performance of Structural Insulated Panels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cristian Maluk
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Juan Hidalgo Medina directly for media enquiries about:
- Fire Dynamics in Buildings
- Fire Performance of Sustainable Construction
- Fire Safety Engineering
- Fire Testing
- Flammability of Insulation Materials
- Timber Engineering
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