CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) is a solid engineered wood panel made from multiple layers of sawn timber boards glued together crosswise. The cross-laminated structure makes CLT strong in all directions and suitable as a load-bearing wall, floor or roof element in medium-rise construction.
Structure
A CLT panel consists of:
- At least 3 layers — typically 3, 5 or 7 layers of timber
- Cross-lamination — each layer is oriented at right angles to the previous one
- Adhesive bonding — layers are glued under pressure with polyurethane adhesive
- Dimensions — panels up to 3.5 m wide and 16 m long, thickness 60-300 mm
Application
CLT is increasingly used in construction:
- Residential buildings — walls, floors and roofs of houses
- Medium-rise buildings — apartment blocks of up to approximately 10 storeys
- Commercial buildings — schools, offices, sports halls
- Roof extensions — CLT is light enough for adding storeys to existing buildings
- Modular construction — prefabricated wall elements assembled on site
Advantages
- Sustainable — timber stores CO2; replaces concrete and steel
- Light — five times lighter than concrete at comparable strength
- Fast — dry construction, rapid assembly, less construction moisture
- Fire-safe — solid timber chars on the outside and retains its core strength
- Insulating — timber insulates better than concrete or steel
Related terms
- Timber-frame construction
- Plywood
- Timber
- Sustainable building
- Construction
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