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Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Partner Content

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.

Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Partner Content

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.

CWC, Fire Safety

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.

CWC, Seismic Studies

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.

CWC, Residential Buildings

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.

CWC, Moisture & Decay

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.

CWC, Fire Safety

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.

CWC, Durability, Moisture & Decay

BP1 – Moisture and Wood-Frame Buildings

Throughout history, wherever wood has been available as a resource, it has found favor as a building material for its strength, economy, workability and beauty, and its ability to last has been demonstrated again and again. From the ancient temples of Japan and the great stave churches of Norway to the countless North American buildings built in the 1800s, wood construction has proven it can stand the test of time. The art and technology of wood building, however, has been changing through time. Can modern wood-frame buildings perform as well?

Protection of buildings from moisture is an important design criterion, as important as protection from fire or structural collapse. Designers, builders and owners are gaining a deeper appreciation for the function of the building envelope (exterior walls and roof). This includes the performance of windows, doors, siding, sheathing membranes, air and vapour barriers, sheathing, and framing. The capabilities and characteristics of wood and other construction materials must be understood, and then articulated in the design of buildings, if proper and durable construction is to be assured.

This guide will help design and construction professionals, and building owners understand moisture issues related to the design and construction of wood-frame buildings. The primary objective is to provide ideas and solutions to ensure wood-frame buildings perform as expected. The primary focus of the guide will be on the control of rainwater penetration in exterior walls, particularly for climates subject to high moisture exposure.

Partner Content, Sustainability

IBS5 – Thermal Performance of Light-Frame Assemblies

“A man’s home is his castle” is an old familiar phrase, but if truth be told, the castles of old were cold and draughty. Today’s homes are now havens of comfort with efficient central heating systems and well insulated building envelopes. We count on the walls and roofs of our houses to keep the heat in during the winter months and the heat out during the sweltering days of summer. Today’s home buyers demand energy efficient houses with high insulation values. “Lowering energy use” has become the goal as the cost and environmental implications of energy use are considered. Insulation levels are now being required by many code authorities. Stricter thermal requirements mean that designers must understand the impact of the materials and assemblies used on thermal performance. Because of its long history of use, wood-frame construction has well established insulating properties and record of performance. The effect of other construction systems on insulation properties is not widely known or understood. This publication will examine current knowledge of the thermal performance of wood and other framing techniques. This information will assist designers and builders to select construction techniques that provide the best thermal performance.

Acoustics, Fire Safety, Partner Content

IBS3 – Fire Resistance and Sound Transmission

Fire is an ever-present danger for building occupants. Research and experience confirm that fire safety in a house or apartment has little to do with the combustibility of the structural materials used in its construction. In fact, the occupants’ safety is far more dependent on their own awareness of fire hazards (open flames, etc.), the contents of their home (furniture, etc.), and the fire protection measures designed into the building. Minimization of sound transmission in single- and multi-family residential buildings is also an important factor to ensure occupant comfort, and is closely related to fire-resistant construction. The intent of this brochure is to demonstrate how wood frame buildings meet code requirements by providing examples of wood-based light frame building systems designed to maximize fire safety and minimize sound transmission.

Partner Content, Structural Engineering

IBS2 – Wood Trusses – Strength, Economy, Versatility

Wood trusses are engineered frames of lumber joined together in triangular shapes by galvanized steel connector plates, referred to commonly as truss plates.

Wood trusses are widely used in single- and multi-family residential, institutional, agricultural and commercial construction. Their high strength-to-weight ratios permit long spans, offering greater flexibility in floor plan layouts. They can be designed in almost any shape or size, restricted only by manufacturing capabilities, shipping limitations and handling considerations.

Metal plate connected roof trusses were first introduced into the North American market in the 1950’s. Today, the majority of house roofs in Canada and the United States are framed with wood trusses and increasingly, wood floor trusses are being used in residential and commercial applications. Wood truss use is not limited to North America. They are gaining acceptance around the world and are widely used in Europe and Japan.

Codes & Standards, Partner Content

The Historical Development of the Building Size Limits in the National Building Code of Canada

The use of wood is limited in larger and taller buildings by the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) based on concern of increased fire risk. The current requirements were developed long ago, under much different conditions than today. Since then the industry’s knowledge of fire science has evolved considerably, fire service equipment and capabilities have improved, detection and suppression systems have advanced, construction materials and techniques have changed significantly, and public awareness and education regarding fire safety has increased.

Having an understanding of the knowledge, capability, materials and methods used to develop the height and area limits and the risks they were intended to mitigate, sets the basis for re-examination of those limits in a current context. This can be achieved through a historical examination of the development of the limits and their bearing on the use of combustible construction in buildings.

Mid-Rise Buildings – Research

...Determining Deflections of Stacked Multi-storey Wood-based Shearwalls Design of Stacked Multi-storey Wood Shearwalls using a Mechanics Based Approach Linear Dynamic Analysis for Wood Based Shear Walls and Podium Structures Design...

Green

...that wood products yield clear environmental advantages over other building materials at every stage. Wood buildings can offer lower greenhouse gas emissions, less air pollution, lower volumes of solid waste...

Energy Efficiency

...materials, largely because of reduced thermal bridging through the wood structural elements, including the wood studs, columns, beams, and floors. Wood loses less heat through conduction than other building materials...

Climate Change

...Forest Products Industry “30 by 30” Climate Change Challenge (Forest Products Association of Canada) www.naturallywood.com www.thinkwood.com Building with wood = Proactive climate protection (Binational Softwood Lumber Council and State University...

Life Cycle Assessment

...and contributing to the circular economy. Life cycle of wood construction products Photo source: CEI-Bois For further information, refer to the following resources: www.naturallywood.com Athena Sustainable Materials Institute Building for...

Codes & Standards

...of Canada Wood in non-combustible buildings Wood Standards CSA O86 Engineering design in wood CSA S-6 Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code CSA S406 Permanent Wood Foundations CSA 080 Wood Preservation...

Energy Code

...in contact with ground, e.g., permanent wood foundations. In addition, the NECB specifies the maximum fenestration and door to wall ratio based on the climate zone in which the building...

Acoustics

Wood is composed of many small cellular tubes that are predominantly filled with air. The natural composition of the material allows for wood to act as an effective acoustical insulator...

Combustible construction

...Code of Canada (NBC) categorizes wood buildings as ‘combustible construction’. Despite being termed combustible, common construction techniques can give wood frame construction fire-resistance ratings up to two hours. When designed...

Encapsulated mass timber construction

...for EMTC is determined through the ULC S146 test method. In order for structural wood elements to be considered ‘mass timber’, they must meet minimum size requirements, which are different...

Lumber properties

...known as in-grade testing. In the early 1980s, the Canadian lumber industry conducted a major research program through the Canadian Wood Council Lumber Properties Program for bending, tension and compression...

Non-Pressure Treated Wood

...very rapidly in wet wood. Copper moves more slowly because it reacts with the wood. For dryer wood, glycols can be added to borate formulations to improve penetration. Over-the-counter wood...

Edmonton Transit System – LRT Stations

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is a fast-growing city with a population of 1,200,000 people in the overall metropolitan area. It boasts comprehensive bus and light-rail...

CWC, Infrastructure, Woodworks

Fire Safety and Insurance In Commercial Buildings

Throughout history, protecting commercial structures from fire has been important. Fire poses risk in terms of safety to occupants, building integrity, business interruption...

Commercial Buildings, CWC, Fire Safety, Insurance

R-Town Vertical 6 | Mass Timber Midrise

The R-Town V6 pilot project is the first 6-storey, mixed-use, multi-unit residential building developed in Ontario that fully employs mass timber as the main structural...

Residential Buildings, Woodworks

Red Deer College Student Residence – Red Deer, Alberta

Red Deer College (RDC) Student Residence is a 5,800-sq.m. (60,000-sq.ft.), five-storey wooden structure with 145 units, designed and completed to meet the 300-bed demand for...

Academic Buildings, CWC, Woodworks

Wood in Civic Buildings

This case study examines two wood buildings, both with primary retail commercial occupancies, but which employ different mass timber products to achieve very different...

Civic Buildings, CWC, Woodworks

80 Atlantic Avenue – Toronto, Ontario

Ontario’s first mass timber commercial building in over 100 years, 80 Atlantic pioneers a new urban office typology for potentially many more timber-frame projects across...

CWC, Residential Buildings, Woodworks

Green Gables Visitors’ Centre – Cavendish, PE

Mark Twain called Anne of Green Gables, “The sweetest creation of child life yet written.” He sent the author Lucy Maud Montgomery a letter of praise, congratulating her...

Civic Buildings, Woodworks

Wood in Commercial Buildings

In 2009, the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) was amended to permit residential buildings of up to six storeys to be constructed in wood. Since then, through a five-year...

Commercial Buildings, CWC, Woodworks

Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture – Sudbury, ON

Located in Sudbury, Ontario, Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture is the first new school of architecture to be built in Canada in 40 years. Its mandate is...

Academic Buildings, CWC, Woodworks

IBS4 – Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis for Residential Buildings

Environmental awareness in building design, construction and operation is stronger than ever. But how can we meet the world’s rapidly growing need for buildings and still...

Partner Content, Residential Buildings

Vertical Movement in Wood Platform Structures: Basics

Movement in structures due to environmental condition changes and loads must be considered in design. Temperature changes will cause movement in concrete, steel and masonry...

Partner Content, Structural Engineering

Vertical Movement in Wood Platform Structures: Design and Detailing Solutions

Most buildings are designed to accommodate a certain range of movement. In design, it is important for designers to identify locations where potential differential movement...

Partner Content, Structural Engineering

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