b'MASS TIMBER CONSTRUCTIONMASS TIMBER BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONITS PROGRESS AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION By Warren HeeleyAFTER MORE THAN A DECADEAs an example in Canada, the 2020Though typically load-bearing materials, of hard work to unlock andNational Building Code was updated toMT can also be used for many structural demonstrate the potential for massallow 12-storey buildings to use MT. Sinceneeds in buildings such as beams, timber in Canada, the industry is readythen, some provinces including Ontariocolumns, flooring, roofs and wall panels, to scale, according to the Mass Timberand B.C. are upping their regulations toas well as studs, roof rafters and door/Roadmap (MTR) published in June 2024.18 storeys so more residential high-risewindow headers. There are many types Building construction using mass timberMT buildings can be constructed andof MT including cross-laminated timber (MT) is growing significantly, with thehelp alleviate the housing shortage. The(CLT), glued-laminated timber (glulam), MTR indicating there were almost 700rapid success of MT is mainly due to thenail-laminated timber (NLT), dowel-MT buildings completed at that time inprefabrication of the MT building sections,laminated timber (DLT) and structural Canada and more than 140 MT buildingwhich means quicker construction timecomposite lumber (SCL), which includes projects either being built or in theand less costs. products like laminated veneer lumber preconstruction stage. WHAT IS MT? (LVL) and parallel strand lumber (PSL).In fact, despite Canadas MT industryMass timber describes a family ofWHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF growing rapidly, it is significantly behindengineered wood products known forUSING MT?other regions of the world such astheir strength, durability, versatility and1.MT buildings take less time sustainability. Mass timber products Europe and Australia in MT buildingsare made by taking smaller woodto assemble than traditional constructed. Because of the sustainableelements such as dimension lumber,construction methods becauseaspect of using MT and the need inveneers or strands and connectingMT sections are typicallymany regions including Canada to buildthem with adhesives, dowels, nailsprefabricated off site.faster, particularly in the residentialor screws to create larger structural sector, governments on a global scale arebuilding components, according to2.Labour, equipment rental andworking on codes and regulations to allowNaturally:Wood, a B.C.-based organizationtransportation costs are reduced MT construction and increase where itthat acts as a comprehensive because of the quickercan be used. wood resource.construction time.20Quarter 42025 BUILDERSDIGEST'