Amid global environmental concerns, prioritizing sustainability has become crucial in all industries. The need for environmentally friendly construction methods is at an all-time high. In response, the method of mass timber construction has grown in popularity.
According to the American Wood Council mass timber is defined as “buildings [that] are constructed with large pre-manufactured, multilayered, solid wood panels resulting in solid timber floors and walls typically ranging from 5 to 12 inches in thickness. Typical mass timber products include cross-laminated timber (CLT), nail-laminated timber, glued-laminated timber (glulam), and structural composite lumber—all renewable and sustainable engineered wood products.”
Mass timber breaks norms with its distinctive structural diagrid and modular design, offering an innovative approach to construction. When comparing mass timber and steel constructions with the same duration of non-combustible protection, mass timber tends to outperform steel. After undergoing the same amount of fire protection, mass timber buildings are less likely to rapidly heat up and fail compared to steel structures, and they tend to burn slowly.
How does Mass Timber Lend a Hand to Sustainability
Mass timber is valued for its consistent durability and versatility. This innovative approach to construction promises to reshape the building landscape, offering a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials like concrete and steel.
Weight is of the utmost significance as wood is lighter than steel or concrete, so particular emphasis is required while laying building foundations to confirm accurate weight distribution. Recent code revisions allow mass timber buildings to reach heights of up to 18 stories, proving the technique’s growing influence and transformative impact on building standards.
In comparison to more traditional building materials, the production of mass timber elements results in a significantly lower carbon footprint; further proving its superiority as a sustainable option.
Due to the overall char pattern of wood, mass timber has inherent fire resistance. The Wood Products Council reports that “As wood members are exposed to fire and the wood begins to burn, a char layer is formed. The char layer acts as an insulator and protects the core of the wood section. Mass timber elements can be designed so a sufficient cross-section of wood remains to sustain the design loads for the required duration of fire exposure.”
Designing low voltage technology for mass timber construction has unique challenges. Designers must ensure seamless integration to guarantee that technology functions as intended within the frame. Any misalignment may compromise functionality or render the technology ineffective.
Clemson University is advancing its commitment to sustainability with the introduction of the new Forestry and Environmental Conservation Building, boasting an 85,230GSF mass timber frame build. All timber elements have been fabricated using locally sourced wood, native to South Carolina.
The Colleges of Architecture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, will benefit from the new facilities. This includes cutting-edge classrooms, teaching laboratories, and a GIS Laboratory with computational sharing capabilities streamed to a video wall in the lobby.
The design for the technology in the building provides a modern and secure educational environment with enhanced access control points and an upgraded video surveillance system covering high-traffic areas all smoothly added into the frame. In addition to its environmental benefits, mass timber construction also offers aesthetic advantages.
The natural appearance of wood creates a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere for students, faculty, and visitors. This aesthetic appeal can enhance the overall learning experience and contribute to a positive campus environment.
