Permanent Wood Foundations 2016
Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation of Wall & Floor Assemblies
The following report contains the Transmission Loss (TL) results measured in accordance with ASTM E90-09 of 8 cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall assemblies and the TL results and normalized impact sound pressure level results measured in accordance with ASTM E492-09 of 26 CLT floor assemblies and 3 glulam floor assemblies. Reference tables containing the specimen number, sketch, short description, rating(s) as well as the page number of all the assemblies tested are found starting on page 16. The wall assemblies were built and tested between November and December 2014. The specimen descriptions and the reported mass per area of the 8 wall assemblies that were previously published under report numbers A1-006070.1 to A1-006070.8 have been revised in this report. The floor assemblies were built and tested between December 2014 and June 2015. The specimen description and the reported mass per area of floor specimen A1-006070-11F that were previously published under report number A1-006070.9 have been revised in this report. The following discussion section contains analyses and graphical comparisons of the tested wall and floor assemblies used to highlight key findings: In-situ TL vs. Laboratory TL Results 2. TL Results of Current Bare Assemblies vs. Previous Assemblies 3. TL Results of Walls vs. Floors 4. TL Results of CLT Walls 5. TL Results of CLT Floors 6. TL Improvement of Toppings and Resilient Membranes 7. TL Difference of Poured vs. Precast Concrete Topping 8. TL Interpolation for Floor Toppings 9. TL Improvement of Floor Coverings 10. TL Improvement of Hung Ceilings 11. TL Results of Glulam Floors The last three pages of this report contain additional test setup information for each facility. APPENDIX: ASTM E90-09 – Airborne Sound Transmission – Wall Facility APPENDIX: ASTM E90-09 – Airborne Sound Transmission – Floor Facility APPENDIX: ASTM E492-09 – Light Impact Sound Transmission – Floor Facility
CLT Diaphragm Properties
A testing program related to the evaluation of the mechanical properties of CLT diaphragms used in construction was carried out by the Advanced Building Systems (ABS) Department of FPInnovations in response to a request made by the Client, Nordic Engineered Wood Products. The main objective of this study was to determine the in-plane stiffness and potentially strength properties of CLT panels used in diaphragm applications. The test matrix consisted of three (3) series of two (2) specimens each. The CLT specimens were tested under third-point loading during the program. All specimens were manufactured by Nordic Engineered Wood Products and delivered to FPInnovations’ testing facilities in Québec City. The CLT panels were made of nominal 2×4 Black Spruce lumber (CLT Grade E1 – ANSI PRG 320).
Shear Modulus of CLT in plan loading
A testing program was carried out by the Advanced Building Systems (ABS) Department of FPInnovations in response to a request made by Mrs. Julie Frappier of Nordic Engineered Wood Products for the evaluation of the effective shear modulus of eight (8) different Cross-laminated Timber (CLT) configurations or series. The test matrix consisted of a total seventy (70) specimens and each specimen was submitted to four (4) bending tests, resulting in a total two hundred and eighty (280) tests. All specimens were manufactured by Nordic Engineered Wood Products and delivered to FPInnovations’ testing facilities in Québec City.
Monotonic Quasi-Static Testing of CLT Connections
This testing program was carried out by the Advanced Building Systems (ABS) Department of FPInnovations in response to a request from Mrs. Julie Frappier from Nordic Engineered Wood for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of three (3) different assemblies for attaching Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels. Each of the assemblies consisted of six (6) specimens for a total of eighteen (18) tests. All specimens were manufactured by Nordic Engineered Wood and delivered to FPInnovations’ laboratory in Québec City. The key objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties pertinent for the design of CLT panel connections exposed to in-plane loading such as diaphragms or shear walls. The evaluation of the ultimate loading capacity (𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐭) and the stiffness (K) of the connections are thus the main focus of this study.
Fire Safety Design In Buildings
In a recent survey of building specifiers, the majority perceived wood to be the most environmentally friendly building material. Compared to other major building materials, this is due mainly to: the renewability of wood the low energy consumption required for production the low levels of pollutant emission during manufacture Lately, environmental considerations have acquired more importance in the specification of materials. Technical and economic aspects of building materials have always been primary considerations for specifiers. Increasingly, however, they are considering the environmental effects when selecting appropriate building materials for their designs. Architects, engineers and designers require accurate information to assess the true environmental consequences of the materials they specify. The environmental impacts of various building materials have been examined by a Canadian Research Alliance using the internationally accepted method called Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA). The Alliance consists of researchers from the wood, steel and concrete industries as well as university groups and consultants.
Fire Safety and Security: A Technical Note on Fire Safety and Security on Construction Sites In British Columbia
The construction phase of any building represents a relatively short period of time in the lifespan of the structure during which a unique set of risk scenarios are present. The risks and hazards found on a construction site differ in both nature and potential impact from those in a completed building. This occurs during a time in which the fire prevention and protection elements that are designed to be part of the completed building are not yet in place. For these reasons, construction site safety includes some unique challenges. However, an understanding of the hazards and their potential risks is the first step towards fire prevention and mitigation. While there are many types of hazards and risks that require consideration during the construction of all buildings, this Technical Note focuses solely on fire-related aspects.
Fire Safety and Security: A Technical Note on Fire Safety and Security on Construction Sites In Ontario
The construction phase of any building represents a relatively short period of time in the lifespan of the structure during which a unique set of risk scenarios are present. The risks and hazards found on a construction site differ in both nature and potential impact from those in a completed building. This occurs during a time in which the fire prevention and protection elements that are designed to be part of the completed building are not yet in place. For these reasons, construction site safety includes some unique challenges. However, an understanding of the hazards and their potential risks is the first step towards fire prevention and mitigation. While there are many types of hazards and risks that require consideration during the construction of all buildings, this Technical Note focuses solely on fire-related aspects.
BP5 – Wood-Frame Construction: Meeting The Challenge of Earthquakes
North American single-family homes are considered by many to be the safest place to be in an earthquake. This is not surprising considering that North American housing is almost synonymous with wood-frame construction. The lightweight and high energy absorbing capabilities of wood framing provides a system strong enough to withstand the effects of powerful earthquakes. Experience from strong earthquakes, in North America and around the world, has shown that well-constructed wood-frame buildings provide safety to their occupants.
BP4 – Wood-Frame Housing: A North-American Marvel
North Americans enjoy the highest standard of safe and comfortable housing in the world. This is not by chance – wood-frame construction is the residential building system of choice and many countries wishing to improve the comfort and security of their citizens are adopting it. North America is blessed with resources of all kinds. A continuing abundance of forest resources has, since the earliest settlers, encouraged using wood to build housing. Today, as designers, builders and homeowners pursue safe, energy efficient housing that is easy on the environment and can perform in the face of major challenges like high winds and earthquakes, there are stronger reasons than ever to build with wood. Wood-frame construction is strong, durable, easy to insulate, easy to renovate and delivers value. It is backed by two hundred years of proven performance and a wealth of research and new product development to make it better than ever. And it is the only major building material that is renewable. Strong winds… heavy snow loads… high humidity… extreme temperatures – whatever your building challenges, wood-frame housing has proven technical solutions to overcome any problem. Wood sells houses. In addition to the shelter, warmth and safety provided by the wood structure, buyers recognize and appreciate the aesthetic value of wood for exposed applications like cabinetry, flooring, furniture and moldings. Not only is wood builder-friendly, it is also environmentally friendly. Wood products take less energy to manufacture, affect the environment less than other materials, and they come from North American forests that are abundant and increasing in size.
BP3 – Termite Control and Wood-Frame Buildings
Wood products have long been the building materials of choice for home construction in North America. The wood-frame construction system has a solid history of producing housing of the highest standards: It is easy to build, delivers economic value, has excellent strength in earthquake or high-wind conditions, is energy efficient, and is derived from a renewable resource. Modern wood-frame construction includes several types of engineered wood products that are economically viable in multi-story residential buildings and non-residential projects. Moreover, as described in Bulletins No. 1 and 2 in the Building Performance Series, wood framing supplies durability and fire safety performance where environmental and building code requirements are met. This bulletin describes how wood framing can also be used in areas of North America subject to insect attack, a threat to all types of buildings. It builds on the concept of integrated pest management that will provide long-term protection for wood-frame and other buildings against damage caused by insects, specifically Formosan and other subterranean termites. Also included is practical advice for building designers, contractors and owners to assist in assessing risk, and choosing appropriate mitigation measures.
BP2 – Fire Safety In Residential Buildings
Since wood-frame construction was first used in the early 1800’s, North Americans have developed and been sheltered by wood-frame building technology — from single family homes and progressing over the decades to larger, multi-storey apartment buildings and townhouses. In fact, over 90% of the 1.5 million homes built in North America each year are constructed using woodframe construction. Wood-frame construction provides North Americans with the world’s highest housing standards. There are many reasons for the success of the wood frame system: It is easy to build It has a proven track record It delivers excellent value It has a high strength to weight ratio It is energy efficient It is one of the safest building systems in extreme conditions like earthquakes Wood is an abundant renewable resource In addition, modern wood-frame construction provides a comparable level of fire safety to non-combustible construction. This technical bulletin will discuss some of the basic principles of fire safety, and dispel some myths about what makes residential buildings fire-safe for both single family homes and multi-family residential buildings.
