mass timber
Mass Timber is an ultra strong natural material made from combining smaller lumber cuts to form larger structural members of engineered wood. Mass Timber has strong fire resistance, is resistant to rot and mold, and can be used even in high rise construction. Because Mass Timber products are made from primarily natural, renewable, carbon-sequestering materials, they have low embodied carbon and provide strong, carbon-conscious alternatives to steel and concrete (and at a much lighter weight). Mass Timber products can work alongside light frame or hybrid construction systems. Canada’s National Building Code permits 12 stories of mass timber construction.
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Mass Timber Types
While this is not intended to be a comprehensive definition of mass timber and its types, we wanted to provide a starting point (and link to further resources) for interested clients and community members who might be wondering if Mass Timber is right for their project. Below are three common types of Mass Timber systems.
Dowel-Laminated-Timber (DLT)
Our preferred mass timber product is DLT, which connects lumber cuts together with dowels to form strong structural members. DLT contains no glue or nails, and so can be easily disassembled and recycled at the end of its use life in a building. That it is a purely wood product also means that it can easily be cut using computerized numerical control (CNC) machines and can easily be changed or cut on site. DLT can be used in wall systems or even in place of concrete slabs in commercial and residential building types.
The Banff Recreation Grounds Pavilion was constructed using a prefabricated DLT structural shell.
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)
CLT consists of panels of wood layered in alternating directions and pressed together with structural adhesive. Because the wood is layered in alternating directions, it is able to transfer loads efficiently in all directions. CLT is suited to wall, roof, floor and ceiling construction, and can be used in any building type, including high rise construction.
CLT is also often cut to size offsite and can thereby reduce waste and improve installation time. CLT is increasingly widely recognized as an environmentally friendly alternative to steel, and is being used in timber skyscrapers.
Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam)
Glulam is composed of smaller dimensional lumber connected by moisture resistant glue and pressed together using a hydraulic press. Glulam provides the strength of large timber while using the wood harvested from a variety of smaller trees, which regenerate faster. It is also less prone to cracking than solid timber of the same dimensions. Glulam has proven performance from decades of use, and is well suited to long-spanning structures, like bridges.
More resources on Mass Timber and Wood Construction:
Naturally Wood
WoodWorks!