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Mass Timber
Products and
Design
Momo Sun, PE, P.Eng. T3 Minneapolis
Regional Director
Architect: MGA | Michael Green Architecture, DLR Group
Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
WoodWorks / Wood Products Council Photo: Corey Gaffer courtesy Perkins + Will
Today’s agenda
Mass timber Mass timber construction
• What is it – products
• Spans and Grids
• design topics
Mass timber
What is it?
Mass timber is a category of
framing styles often using
small wood members
formed into large panelized
solid wood construction
including CLT, NLT or glulam
panels for floor, roof and
wall framing
Post & Beam
T3 Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Image Credit: Blaine Brownell
Two-Way Panels
5 PLY CLT PANELS, 2-WAY SPAN Brock Commons
~9’X13’ GRID OF COLUMNS Vancouver, BC
Images: acton ostry architects
Hybrid Light-Frame &
Mass Timber
Carbon 12
Portland, OR Virtuoso
Image: WoodWorks Vancouver, BC
Image: Seagate Structures
What’s in a mass timber building?
Products used
Mass timber products
glulam
Glulam = a structural composite of lumber and adhesives
• Recognized in IBC 2303.1.3 using ANSI/AITC A 190.1 and ASTM D 3737
• Can be used for floor, roof purlins, beams, arches, columns
Mass timber products
glulam
glulam specs:
Typical Widths:
3-1/8”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/8”, 5-1/2”, 6-3/4”, 8-3/4”,
10-3/4”, 12-1/4”
Typical Depths:
Increments per # of lams from 6” to 60”+
western species lams are typically 1-1/2” thick
depth
Southern pine lams are typically 1-3/8” thick
Typical Species:
Douglas-Fir, Southern Pine, Spruce
Also available in cedar & others width
Image: APA Glulam Product Guide
Naturally Decay Resistant Species
Natural Durability of North American Softwoods
Species Predominant in the Tree Heartwood Durability
Western Red Cedar Heartwood Durable
Eastern White Cedar Heartwood Durable
Yellow Cedar Heartwood Durable
Redwood Heartwood Durable
Douglas Fir Heartwood Moderately Durable
Southern Pine Sapwood Moderately Durable
Western Larch Heartwood Moderately Durable
Tamarack (E. Larch) Heartwood Moderately Durable
Western Hemlock Heartwood Slightly Durable
Eastern Hemlock Heartwood Slightly Durable
White Spruce Heartwood Slightly Durable
Source: Canadian Wood Council
Mass timber products
glulam
Glulam specs:
Pt readily available
FRT may be available,
varies by manufacturer
& treater
Can be cambered, curved
& tapered
Different Appearance
Photo credit: anthony forest products Grades available
Photo: Ema Peter Photography
Mass timber products
glulam
Glulam
Framing Grade Industrial Grade
appearance
grades
Architectural Grade Premium Grade
Images: American Laminators
Mass timber products
glulam
Glulam layup:
Vary strength of laminations High Strength Outer
Compression Lams
• Higher strength lams at top and bottom -
tension and compression stresses are high Medium Grade Inner
• Lower strength lams in center plies Compression Lam
Lower Grade
Inner Lams
Medium Grade Inner
Compression Lam
High Strength Outer
Tension Lams
Image: Apa
Flexibility of spans and shapes
Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, BC, Canada
Design Team: Cannon Design Architecture, Fast + Epp, Glotman Simpson
Photo Credit: Stephanie Tracey, Craig Carmichael, Jon Pesochin, KK Law Creative,
Ziggy Welsch
104’ Span Glulam Arches
Glulam purlins @ 4’ o.c
Lemay America auto museum
Photo Credit: western wood structures
First Tech Credit Union
Hillsboro, OR
5 stories
156,000 sf ARCHITECT: HACKER
IMAGE CREDIT: StructurLam
Mass Timber Products
Dowel Laminated Timber Mass Plywood Panel Photo credit: StructureCraft Builders/Freres Lumber
Nail Laminated Timber
Photo credit: structurecraft Builders
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
What is it?
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) is mechanically laminated
to create a solid timber panel. NLT is created by placing
dimension lumber (nominal 2x, 3x, or 4x thickness and 4
in. to 12 in. width) on edge and fastening the individual
laminations together with nails.
Image: Think Wood
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
When does the code allow
it to be used?
IBC defines NLT as
mechanically laminated decking
per IBC 2304.9.3
Permitted anywhere that
combustible materials and heavy
timber are allowed, plus more
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
When is it used?
NLT is typically used for
floor and roof panels.
Plywood/OSB added to one
face can provide in-plane
shear capacity, allowing the
product to be used as a
diaphragm. Can also be used
for walls, shafts.
Photo credit: structurecraft Builders
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
often exposed on underside
Structure is finish
Photo credit: woodworks
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
Nlt shrinkage/expansion design:
Rule of thumb: leave one ply out per 8’-
10’ wide panel
Mass timber products
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) panels
Nlt panels can be built on-site/in-place or pre-fabricated offsite
Photo Credit: john stamets Photo Credit: structurecraft Builders
t3 minneapolis
Minneapolis, mn
Image Credit: Ema Peter
Mass timber products
Dowel-Laminated Timber (DLT)
Photo credit: StructureCraft Builders
Mass timber products
Dowel-laminated timber (DLT) panels
DLT:
• Similar to NLT – Nails
Connecting Lams replaced with
hardwood dowels
• Not currently recognized as
prescriptively permitted
material in IBC
• Timber Framers Guild –
resources on dowel design
Photo credit: StructureCraft Builders
Mass timber products
Various profile options Dowel-laminated timber (DLT) panels
Photo credit: StructureCraft Builders
111 East Grand
Des Moines, IA
Credit: StructureCraft Builders
4 story, 66,800 SF Spec office building
Dlt panels, glulam frame
Mass timber products
Glue-laminated timber (gLT) panels
Photo credit: Structure Fusion Photo credit: unalam
Mass timber products
Glue-laminated timber (gLT) panels
Image source: manasc isaac
architects/fast + epp
Glulam decking:
• Similar to deep glulam beams laid on their side
• Same code references and manufacturing standards as
glulam beams and columns
• Be careful of design stresses and layups used – spec
Image source: structurecraft Builders
uniform layup (all lams same species & grade)
Mass timber products
Glue-laminated timber (gLT)
Same shrinkage and diaphragm
considerations as nlt:
• Gap panels to allow
movement
• Cover with wood structural
panel for diaphragm
• Available in variety of
lamination options
Mass timber products
Cross-laminated timber (cLT)
What is clt?
Mass timber products
Cross-laminated timber (cLT)
Solid wood panel
3 layers min. of solid sawn lams
90 deg. cross-lams
Similar to plywood sheathing
4 1/8” to 19 1/2”
10’X40’
8’X64’
Mass timber products
Common clt layups Cross-laminated timber (cLT)
3-ply 3-layer
7-ply 5-layer
5-ply 5-layer
9-ply 7-layer
7-ply 7-layer
9-ply 9-layer
Mass timber products
Cross-laminated timber (cLT)
Photo Credit: DR Johnson
Mass timber products
Cross-laminated timber (cLT)
Clt prefabrication
• Finished panels are planed, sanded, cut
to size. Then openings are cut with
precise CNC routers.
Photo Credit: Sissi Slotover-Smutny
• Third party inspection at factory
• Custom engineered for material
efficiency
• Custom designed for project
• Each panel numbered, delivered &
installed in predetermined sequence
ALBINA YARD
PORTLAND, OR
4 stories
16,000 sf
Green Roof ARCHITECT: Lever Architecture
IMAGE CREDIT: Lever Architecture
• 20’x20’ Grid, 12’ Floor to Floor
• 3-ply CLT floor panels with electrical conduit
ALBINA YARD
PORTLAND, OR
poured into 1” light weigh gypsum topping
• Wood shearwall core with open front design
for glazing wall
CLT panels for an entire floor
installed in less than 4 hours
Source: LEVER Architecture 1
ARCHITECT: Lever Architecture
IMAGE CREDIT: LEVER Architecture
Mass timber products
Cross-laminated timber (clt)
In 2015 IBC, CLT is now defined in Chapter 2 Definitions:
And is referenced in Chapter 23:
Grid options and member sizes:
What’s been done
Photo Credit: John Stamets
Bullitt center
Seattle, wa
11’-6” Beam Spacing
11’-6” column spacing at exterior
23’-0” Column Spacing at interior
Photo Credit: John Stamets 2x6 NLT Floor Deck
Clay creative
Portland, or
• ~8’ finished floor to bottom of beam
• 25’x30’ at perimeter
• 30’x30’ bays at center
• 2x6 NLT Spans 15’
• Exterior steel moment frame keeps
core area more versatile
HUDSON BUILDING
VANCOUVER, WA
• 25’x25’ Grid, 1 row intermediate
beams
• 15’-18’ floor to floor heights
• Composite floor: 2x4 and 2x6 NLT
floor panels with 3 ½”
reinforced concrete topping
Image Credit: Christian Columbres
t3 minneapolis
Minneapolis, mn
20’x25’ Grid
2x8 NLT Floor Panels span 20’ w/3” Concrete Topping
Image Credit: Ema Peter
Mass timber appeal
MARKET DRIVERS FOR MASS TIMBER
» Construction Efficiency &
Speed
P R I M A RY » Construction site constraints –
D R I V E RS Urban Infill
» Innovation/Aesthetic
» Carbon Reductions
S ECO N DA RY
» Structural Performance –
D R I V E RS lightweight
Image Credit: Structure Fusion
Mass timber appeal
Reduced construction time
1 Floor = 3 Days
17 Floors Erected
in 9.5 Weeks
Brock Commons, Vancouver, BC
Source: naturally:wood5
Mass timber appeal
Material mass
75% lighter weight than concrete
Source: Structurlam7
Mass timber appeal
Reduced embodied carbon
Brock Commons, Vancouver, BC
Photo credit: acton ostry architects
Source: Naturally:wood 9
Mass timber appeal
Minimal waste
Mass timber appeal
Energy efficient
CLT has an R-value of approximately 1.25 per inch of thickness.
Source: US CLT Handbook 10
Mass timber appeal
Disaster resilient
Live blast performance of mass timber testing project on-going
Initial results promising
Image Credit: USDA FS FPL/SLB/WoodWorks Live Blast Testing at Tyndall Air Force Base
http://www.woodworks.org/publications-media/blast-testing-research/
Fire resistance
Photo Credit: fPinnovations
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
Source: Aitc
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
Similar to heavy timber, mass timber products
have inherent fire resistance properties
Source: AWC’s TR 10
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
Source: IBC 2015 Table 601
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
Source: US CLT Handbook
Construction type selection dictates
prescriptive fire resistance requirements:
• Type IV Construction (minimum sizes)
• Other than type IV: Demonstrated fire resistance:
• IBC 703.3 allows several options, including:
• ASTM E119 assembly test
• Calculations per IBC 722 NDS Chapter 16
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
Mass timber in other than Type IV Construction:
• IBC 703.3 allows several options, including:
• ASTM E119 assembly test (none currently exist for NLT)
• Calculations per IBC 722 NDS Chapter 16
MT Fire Resistance Ratings (FRR)
Nominal char rate of 1.5”/HR is
recognized in NDS. Effective char
depth calculated to account for
duration, structural reduction in
heat-affected zone
Credit: ARUP
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
For Exposed Wood Members: IBC 722.1 References AWC’s NDS
Chapter 16 (AWC’s TR 10 is a design aid to NDS Chapter 16)
Mass timber design
Fire resistance
2015 NDS Chapter 16 includes
calculation of fire resistance
of NLT, CLT, Glulam, Solid Sawn
and SCL wood products
Source: AWC’s NDS
Mass timber products
ACOUSTICS
Mass timber design
Air-borne sound: acoustics
• Sound Transmission Class (STC)
Measures how effectively an
assembly isolates air-borne sound
and reduces the level that passes
from one side to the other
Structure-borne sound:
• Impact Insulation Class (IIC)
Evaluates how effectively an
assembly blocks impact sound from
passing through it
Mass timber design
Acoustics
Lightweight concrete topping
or other similar materials can
provide improved acoustical
performance, increased
durability
Image credit: Maxxon
Mass timber design
Acoustics
Acoustical mat - typically installed
between subfloor and topping or
flooring
Image credit: Pliteq
Mass timber design
Acoustics
Common mass timber
floor assembly:
• Finish floor (if applicable)
• Underlayment (if finish
floor)
• 1.5” to 3” thick
concrete/gypcrete
topping
• Acoustical mat
• WSP (if applicable)
• Mass timber floor panels
Image credit: AcoustiTECH
Mass timber design
Acoustics
Options without concrete
topping:
• Gypsum/cement board
(Fermacell, Permabase, etc.)
• Proprietary products
Image credit: AcoustiTECH
Mass timber design
connections
Connection design
considerations:
• Structural capacity
• shrinkage
• Fire
• Constructability
• Aesthetics
• cost
Photo Credit: alex schreyer
Mass timber design
connections
Long self tapping
screws used
extensively
throughout mass
Photo Credit: alex schreyer timber construction
Mass timber design
connections
Beam to beam
Photo Credit: myticon
connections
Photo Credit: alex schreyer
Mass timber design
connections
Photo Credit: structurecraft Builders
Beam to column
connections
Photo Credit: structurecraft Builders
Photo Credit: alex schreyer
Mass timber design
connections
Beam to column &
column to column
connections
Photo Credit: John Stamets
Mass timber design
connections
column to
foundation
connections
Photo Credit: alex schreyer
Mass timber design
connections
Braced frame
connections
Photo Credit: alex schreyer
Questions?
Helpful Resources:
woodworks.org
apawood.org
awc.org
Photo Credit: tom harris
