Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in the Construction of Nonresidential Buildings

Abstract

Wood has likely been used to build human structures throughout the existence of mankind. It is a renewable resource that is visually appealing. Over the past 60 years, foresters have substantially increased yields of southern yellow pines, providing an ample supply for the construction of nonresidential wood buildings. However, the inability to obtain extended-length pieces of wood that meet building codes has often limited the ability to use wood for the framing and structure of taller buildings. There are other concerns about using wood in the construction of nonresidential buildings. For example, wood can be burned in fires and lose its structural capabilities. Fire-retardant wood can be used in residential construction to reduce ignition and minimize damage from fire. Many people do not realize that during intense fires in larger buildings, large structural pieces of wood will, in fact, hold their form better than steel, helping to maintain building integrity. Large pieces of wood only char and are not completely consumed in fires. Of course, this characteristic associated with larger pieces of wood (larger diameter trees of many species, for example) allows us to conduct prescribed burns in forests without substantial tree mortality.

Citation

VanderSchaaf, C.; Khademibami, L.; Maggard, Adam. 2023. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in the Construction of Nonresidential Buildings. Agricultural Communications, Mississippi State University. 6 pages.