Cross-Laminated Timber: A New Wood

Evolution of Building Materials in Construction

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), also known as mass timber, is a large-scale, prefabricated, solid engineered wood panel rising to popularity as a new type of sustainable building material. The sustainability stems from the fact that it is composed of wood, a renewable resource, and it doesn’t require the burning of fossil fuels throughout the production process.

The material comes as enormous panels that can be up to half a foot thick, made by placing layers of parallel beams on top of each other perpendicularly, gluing them together. This generates a steel-like strength, making CLT a common material for infrastructure and support in large construction sites — there are even skyscrapers being built with CLT parts. With its popularity starting in Europe, and slowly gaining attention across the world, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a new type of sustainable building material that stands out for its strength, versatility, and sustainability.

Strength

When it comes to the construction industry, it is important for building materials to be able to stand the test of time. Businesses need to know they are utilizing materials that are reliable and durable with longevity. Though concrete and steel have been the two major competing options, the implementation of mass timber dates centuries back.

CLT has comparable strength per weight ratio to concrete despite being 5 times lighter than concrete. The multi-layered wood panel spans in two directions, with each layer being placed cross-wise to adjacent layers in order to increase stability and strength.

Buildings using CLT as a core material carry the same strength as concrete, while minimizing cost and building time. The strength of mass timber also allows modern connection engineering to disseminate seismic forces in a more effective way, resulting in mass timber buildings outperforming other systems when it comes to cost and safety in earthquake zones.

Versatility

CLT and mass timber are highly versatile and cost effective for any construction project. The largest contributor to cost savings when it comes to CLT is prefabrication. The materials arrive ready for assembly on the job site, almost like large building blocks. This process reduces cost and increases time-efficiency because it limits preparation time on the job site. The project is installed in a shorter period due to the accuracy of the prefabricated materials, making it a smart use of finances in construction.

Prefabricated materials like CLT ensure a coordination between design, manufacturing and on-site construction. Project costs are significantly minimized because of a shorter construction schedule and ready-to install materials. Additionally, due to the prefabrication and seamless installation processes, site noise is greatly reduced, allowing construction in urban areas with minimal public disturbances. Construction utilizing CLT as a material can also proceed year-round, as it is not inhibited by weather.

Sustainability

Compared with steel or concrete, CLT or mass timber, is more cost effective, easier to assemble, and more fire resistant, due to the way in which wood chars. The material is also more sustainable. It’s proven to outperform concrete when it comes to job site waste, since most or all CLT panels are prefabricated. Manufacturers can also re-use any scraps for stairs or other architectural elements of the structure.

Wood is a renewable resource like any crop and it’s also a carbon sink, sequestering the carbon dioxide it absorbed during growth even after it is turned into lumber. It’s predicted that the planet’s urban citizenry will double within the next 50 years which will increase the demand for taller structures in denser cities. Whether architects and construction firms build those towers from unsustainable materials like steel and concrete or employ new materials like CLT could make a huge difference in the planet’s health.