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Trivia
Mass Timber
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Hot Takes!
All Wet
Chain, Chain, Chain
What in the What?
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Mass Timber Basics
Supply Chain
Moisture Mitigation
Fire Resistance
Seismic Considerations
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Start Over
$600
$800
$1000
Show me the Money
Logistics
Not my Type
Do the Right Thing
Grab Bag!
Sustainability
IBC Building Types
Project Logistics
Cost consideration
Miscellaneous
Final Trivia
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Play Standard Trivia
Double Trivia!
Show me the Money | $200
Is mass timber construction cheaper than building with concrete or steel?
View answer
Yes, if the building is optimized for fiber content, grid spacing and fire rating considerations. Additionally, leaving as much of the wood exposed as possible also keeps costs competitive with steel and concrete.
Return to Home
Show me the Money | $400
What’s the number one way to reduce the price of mass timber?
Reduce wood fiber volume.
Show me the Money | $600
Mass plywood panels can be cheaper than CLT, but what are they?
What other ways are there to save money when building with timber?
You could minimize ceiling finishes, use visual grade panels only where necessary or use MPP for roof decking or concealed areas
Show me the Money | $800
Is it cheaper to have many small panels or fewer large ones?
Usually, smaller (thinner) panels are less expensive. Hide columns in walls if possible and have more small panels.
Show me the Money | $1000
What about the price of hybrid frame projects?
They can be competitive, especially steel frame with CLT decking. Just make sure to have enough of each scope to keep productivity high.
Do the Right Thing | $200
Is timber a renewable resource?
Yes, if timber is obtained from sustainably managed forests. Sustainable management can be via a certification or a customized program.
Do the Right Thing | $400
How much less carbon is there in a wood structure vs. steel or concrete?
How much less carbon is there in a wood structure v. steel or concrete?
If wood is 1.0, steel is 5.25x and concrete is 6.25x on average.
Do the Right Thing | $600
Isn’t it worse for the planet to ship from Europe vs. obtaining panels more locally?
There are pros and cons of having material shipped from Europe. It depends on forest management practices, shipping method and other factors.
Do the Right Thing | $800
What is biomimicry and what does it have to do with mass timber?
Wood is a natural material and its inclusion in spaces make them warmer, inviting and more humane.
Do the Right Thing | $1000
Is a wood building as durable as steel or concrete? What happens at the end of life?
Mass timber buildings have similar lifespan as steel and concrete. At the end of their useful life, buildings can be deconstructed and members reused.
Chain, Chain, Chain | $100
Can the mass timber supply chain support the growing demand?
Yes, there is sufficient supply, with more plants coming online in the coming years.
17 Plants operating at 59% Capacity
Chain, Chain, Chain | $200
What’s the difference between North American and European mass timber suppliers?
The European market is much more mature, with more commoditized products and greater flexibility in element sizes.
Chain, Chain, Chain | $300
Does the wood species vary by supplier?
Generally, wood from the Pacific Northwest is Douglas Fir, in the southeast it is Southern Yellow Pine and in Europe it is Spruce/Pine/Fir. In addition to color, each species has slightly different structural capacities.
Southern Yellow Pine
Spruce/Pine/Fir
Douglas Fir
Chain, Chain, Chain | $400
When should a mass timber vendor be engaged during the design process?
The earlier the better. Conceptual Design is ideal to confirm mass timber as a viable design solution.
Chain, Chain, Chain | $500
Can anyone produce mass timber?
They need to be independently certified to ANSI/APA PRG320 standards. Steel connections must also be certified in the US.
What in the What? | $100
What are the most common mass timber elements?
(Typically LVL, PSL and other veneer products aren’t included.)
CLT: Cross-Laminated Timber
Glulam: Glue-Laminated Timber(beams/columns)
NLT: Nail-Laminated Timber
DLT: Dowel-Laminated Timber
MPP: Mass Plywood Panel
What in the What? | $200
What are the layers in mass timber called and what are they made up of?
Each layer is called a lamella. In North America, they are made from 2x material. In Europe, the lamella vary in size from 10mm to 40mm.
Parallel Lamellae
Perpendicular Lamellae
Finger Joints
What in the What? | $300
Is solid lumber the same thing as mass timber?
Solid lumber is referred to as heavy timber. The name mass timber is reserved for laminated products.
What in the What? | $400
Who installs mass timber?
Most often, carpenters claim the work, but it is much more similar to steel or precast erection. Often a composite crew of multiple trades is used.
What in the What? | $500
How are all of the layers connected together?
The layers are glued together using PUR, a formaldehyde-free adhesive and placed in a press.
Grab Bag! | $200
What is the tallest mass timber building in the world?
Ascent MKE Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 25 stories tall, completed in 2022. Previously, Mjosa in Norway at 18 stories. (Which is the usual height restriction on mass timber buildings.)
Photos property of Thornton Tomasetti
Grab Bag! | $400
What are the most common ways to join two CLT panels together?
Tongue-and-groove, Surface spline joint, Half lap joint are most common. Simple butt joints are allowable in some conditions.
Tongue-and-groove wall panel joint
Surface spline joint
Half lap joint
Grab Bag! | $600
What percentage of lumber from U.S. forests is used for mass timber production?
The timber has a sacrificial layer that can burn without compromising the structural integrity of the building. Once this char layer is created, the fire is self-extinguished.
1% Mass Timber
99% All other Uses
Grab Bag! | $800
What are the most common mass timber market sectors?
Advanced planning during transportation and where the timber is being stored on site is needed. Shop coatings, wraps, fluid-applied or membrane waterproofing can all be used. A water mitigation plan is required for every project.
Higher Education
Residential
Office
Civic
Healthcare
K-12
Grab Bag! | $1000
How many mass timber projects started in 2022?
Mass timber projects: 175 in 2022, more than one per week!
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
One Project Every Three Days
Hot Takes | $100
Does Mass Timber burn?
Yes, but so do steel and concrete buildings.
Char Layer
Heated Zone
Ambient Temperature Wood
Fire Sprinklers
Hot Takes | $200
How are mass timber buildings protected from fire?
Through an engineered char layer.
Hot Takes | $300
Can a mass timber building be restored after a fire?
Recent multi-national research efforts have described a methodology to repair mass timber components after fire events.
Before fire restoration
After fire restoration
Hot Takes | $400
What measures are taken during construction to prevent fires?
Fire watch, fire extinguishers, hot work permits, etc.
Hot Takes | $500
How do insurers look at fire risk for mass timber buildings?
Many insurers still look at mass timber like stick-built wood framing, but that is starting to change.
All Wet | $100
Can mass timber be used in wet climates?
Yes, if the project has a robust water mitigation plan.
All Wet | $200
What is the best way to protect mass timber from wet weather?
It depends. Shop coatings, wraps, fluid-applied or membrane waterproofing
Applying Liquid Flash
Protection for floors and decks and remains permanently installed
Engineered wood products made by bonding together individual pieces of lumber with adhesives
Column Wraps
All Wet | $300
If wood gets stained, how can it be cleaned?
All Wet | $400
What part of the wood is most important to protect?
End grain soaks up the most water and should be the focus of additional water protection.
Radial (Quartersawn)
Transverse (End Grain)
Tangential (Flatsawn)
Flatsawn detail
Quartersawn detail
All Wet | $500
Most wood buildings have steel connections. How do projects prevent rust staining?
A zinc-rich primer is sufficient to prevent staining. Galvanizing is optional, but not required.
Shake, Rattle and Roll | $100
Can mass timber buildings be built in high seismic zones?
Yes, with an engineered lateral system. Smaller buildings can use wood shear elements, but larger buildings typically have concrete or steel brace frame cores.
Shake, Rattle and Roll | $200
What type of seismic testing has been done on mass timber buildings?
The buildings have undergone rigorous engineering analysis and shake table testing
Shake, Rattle and Roll | $300
Is plywood sheathing on top of CLT panels required for a structural diaphragm?
Not necessarily. If properly engineered, the panels can form a diaphragm on their own.
Typical Spline Connection
Shake, Rattle and Roll | $400
Can mass timber be used for essential facilities, aka Risk Category IV?
Yes, several buildings of this type have been successfully engineered, permitted and built
Shake, Rattle and Roll | $500
How much lighter is a wood building than one built with concrete and steel?
A wood building can be 40-60% lighter and may reduce the size of the foundations required.
Logistics | $200
Is mass timber suitable for projects with tight site constraints?
Yes. Typically craning and hoisting are easier due to the reduced weight of the pieces
Logistics | $400
How are mass timber pieced rigged?
Panels can come from the shop with picking eyes or they can be attached with screws in the field. Pieces can also be basket rigged.
Logistics | $600
Do panels really need to be stacked on the trucks in a certain order and can they be picked and placed directly into their final location?
Yes. Each panel has a unique location. The panels can be picked directly from the trucks without double handling.
Logistics | $800
How do the tolerances of wood, concrete and steel compare to each other?
The tolerances in the wood are much tighter. Each piece is milled to exact dimensions.
Logistics | $1000
How do panels get to the site?
The last mile is typically by truck and trailer. They can get to a staging location via ship, rail or truck and can be in a container or “break bulk”.
Not My Type | $200
What type of construction are buildings which are made primarily with wood as described in the 2021 IBC?
2x framed buildings are Type III and mass timber are Type IV
Not My Type | $400
What are the key features of Type IV-A?
Max height 18 floors (270-ft), all timber must be concealed
Before passive fire protection
After passive fire protection
Not My Type | $600
What are the key features of Type IV-B?
Max height 12 floors (180-ft), 40% of floors plus beams and columns can be exposed
Adoption of 2021
Adoption of 2024
8 to 12 stories of partially exposed mass timber
8 to 12 stories of exposed mass timber
Not My Type | $800
What are the key features of Type IV-C?
Max height 9 floors (85-ft), protection only at shaft walls and in concealed spaces
Not My Type | $1000
What are the key features of Type IV-HT?
Max height 6 floors (85-ft), makes provisions for solid lumber, no concealed spaces allowed
Final Trivia!
What's the main reason more mass timber projects aren't being built today?
What’s the main reason more mass timber projects aren’t being built today?
Lack of education and knowledge sharing about what's possible with mass timber
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