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WHAT IS IT?
Timber (typically spruce) is harvested from Europe's sustainably managed forests, and are planed into boards, kiln dried, and quality controlled (grading).
The boards are then sent to a manufacturing facility to be joined together layer by layer in right angles, using an adhesive, creating Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).¹ This process allows the timber to have excellent structural rigidity in both directions.² Alternatively, boards can also be joined together in a single direction with dowels, creating Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT).³
CLT / DLT is then cut to size, and sent to site for assembly. They can be used for structural walls, flooring and roofing.
CLT vs DLT:
CLT uses adhesives while DLT is a fully wooden product.
CLT is easily sourced in the UK (predominently from European sources) whereas DLT is currently produced and used in exclusively America and Europe.
DLT has more structural integrity for one-way spans.⁴
DLT has grooves which can be customised to fit different aesthetics and to be filled with acoustic materials.⁴
CLT and DLT are typically used in different contexts and are not exactly interchangable.
*Other types of laminated timber include:
Glue Laminated Timber (GLT/Glulam)
Nail Laminated Timber (NLT)
CLT KEY INFORMATION:
CLT is a solid, prefabricated wood panel.
CLT is mainly imported to the UK, however UK companies like UK CLT are using reclaimed timber to produce CLT.
Figure A's CLT construction detail example shows 400mm minimum for exterior wall construction,185mm for interior walls.
CLT is pre-cut into panels before arriving on site, allowing for quick assembly and less waste.
The current tallest CLT-only structure is 10 storeys tall, to build taller other supporting structure is needed such as glulam columns.⁵
Excellent fire resistance. ⁶
Excellent sound absorption, ideal for constructing cinemas and theatres. ⁶
How much does CLT cost?
How much does CLT cost?
Because of the bespoke nature of CLT panels and the difference in every project, this is a challenging question to answer. Speaking generally, CLT costs about the same as concrete. However, cost savings are made up in areas like logistics where the offsite construction methods mean that considerably fewer deliveries are needed. Furthermore, the reduced weight of CLT results in lower groundwork costs or additional storeys can be placed atop the current structure, allowing for a better return on investment.⁷
Challenges with using CLT:
Built Examples using Cross Laminated Timber
Sources:
https://www.istructe.org/IStructE/media/Public/Resources/ARUP-Embodied-carbon-timber_1.pdf
Figure A: Dynamic Evaluation of a Nine-Story Timber-Concrete Hybrid Building during construction - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-slab-and-wall-sections-of-the-finished-construction-in-House-Biologen-1_fig2_367416307 [accessed 16 Aug 2024]
INFO ON CLT:
¹ https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/cross-laminated-timber-manufacturing-process/
² https://www.naturallywood.com/products/cross-laminated-timber/
⁵ https://www.the-possible.com/clt-high-rise-building-tall-with-engineered-timber/
⁶ https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/cross-laminated-timber-construction/
https://www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk/news/cost-gap-between-clt-and-concrete-is-narrowing/
https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/mass-timber-construction/building-products/clt
INFO ON DLT:
³ http://www.wooddesignandbuilding.com/dowel-laminated-timber/
⁴ https://structurecraft.com/materials/mass-timber/dlt-dowel-laminated-timber
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