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Mass timber structures have proven to be a reliable, safe, and environmentally friendly building form in Canada and Europe, and are gaining increasing popularity in the United States as well. Despite the fact that in 2015, the International Building Council (IBC) in the United States...The International Building Code (IBCC) imposes height restrictions on heavy timber buildings, but in places like Colorado, many large-scale timber projects are still being planned and implemented. With ongoing innovation and research into the fire resistance of heavy timber structures, these height restrictions will eventually be overcome, leading to a market with enormous growth potential.
Starting with the Timber Innovation and Design Center (WIDC), North America's first heavy timber high-rise building, an eight-story office building, in 2014, multi-story heavy timber construction has demonstrated its immense potential.
Photo: WIDC Building, North America's first heavy-duty multi-story timber-framed building.
In 2014, the Laurel Village building on the Colorado State University campus became the state's first heavy timber structure project built using CLT materials.
Many people may still believe that heavy timber structures are significantly more expensive than traditional concrete or steel structures. However, this misconception stems from a lack of efficient design and streamlined production processes, as well as ineffective management of prefabrication and construction. Several points require additional attention in heavy timber construction projects:
Structural Layout | Structural design is the most significant cost driver for heavy timber framing. Larger spacing, deeper glued laminated timber (GLLT) beams, and thicker CLT panels all contribute to this cost. Therefore, the proper design of building unit spans and spacing has a crucial impact on cost. Traditional spatial grid layout methods used in steel and concrete structures are not suitable for heavy timber framing projects.
Repeatable design | Any reproducible CLT panel specifications, uniformly sized column members, and the use of common connectors will reduce the cost of component prefabrication and assembly. Utilizing heavy-duty timber framing can significantly save on-site construction time and costs compared to any alternative structure.
Production Planning | Production and transportation schedules are planned according to the installation sequence of CLT panels to ensure timely delivery to the site. Without such advance planning, a large storage area is required to grade and classify the CLT panels before installation, thus extending installation time.
Humidity Control | Timber is highly sensitive to humidity changes over time. This is especially important in dry climates. Continuously monitoring humidity during construction protects the timber from the effects of rain and snow. Good building drainage and moisture-proofing also ensures that the timber can continue to expel moisture after the building is completed.
Protection | During construction, wood surfaces may become soiled due to deposits or "rust" at metal joints. Handle wood components carefully during transport and throughout the construction process, applying a protective coating or primer to all steel reinforcement joints and a protective sealant to all wood products.
This is a very brief overview of successfully planning and executing heavy timber structures. Continuously learning from projects will ensure better cost-effectiveness for your next project.