So particularly on Ascent with mass timber columns or glulam columns, we knew that char shorter duration we needed to actually quantify through physical testing.
Without a sustained heat source the charring of the outer layer of a big piece of timber protects the structure inside-try lighting a camp fire when you only have logs.
Anytime you have or you're thinking about words like caramelization, charring, even roasting or anything color is kind of where this could be an additional help, or just the main thing.
Buildings like this have to prove they can withstand fire for long periods with the wood charring instead of burning quickly - which is exactly what mass timber products are engineered to do.