Thursday, May 2, 2024
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Concrete has been considered as an essential building material for decades. The concept has become super choice for the builders that offer us the possibility of shaping our cities rapidly and effectively. Not only that, it allows them to rapidly expand into urban peripheries and reaach heights. According to the researchers who have invented the concept, “The whole concept was previously unimagined by mankind. Now it’s possible.” New timber technologies have started to deliver similar opportunities, among them, Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is the superior.
What is CLT?
CLT – the word stands out for its large-format elements and meticulous joinery, resulting in a high degree of prefabrication that delivers both remarkable structural strength and aesthetic appeal. The multi-layer construction, featuring at least three layers of wood glued crosswise, endows CLT with outstanding stability, allowing for expansive spans without sacrificing structural integrity.
CLT help to excel not only in technical performance but also in environmental sustainability. Sourced from responsibly managed forests, the wood used in CLT plays a crucial role in carbon dioxide storage. As a natural construction material, it supports a healthy indoor environment by being free from harmful emissions, making it perfectly suited for residential and commercial buildings as well as extensions.
Difference between laminated timber and CLT
Laminated timber is the result of joining boards to form a single structural unit. While they can be curved or straight, the grains are always aligned in one direction. With CLT, however, the stacking of boards in perpendicular layers allows the manufacture of plates or surfaces – or walls. It’s a plywood made of boards that can reach enormous dimensions: between 2.40 m and 4.00 m high, and up to 12.00 meters long.
Does CLT have any environmental impact?
CLT was first established in Austria with the great aim of reusing lower value timber. Today, the use of wood is again becoming a major and relevant factor in the construction industry because of several environmental factors.
Generally, Concrete is the preferrable choice of builders but it is evident that the environmental footprint of concrete is enormous compared to that of wood. CLT contains ‘sequestered carbon’ or carbon naturally stored in that particular wood during the tree growth.
Therefore, the future of CLT is promising as it offers a sustainable future and becomes a preferred choice to the wood lovers!
Source: Archdaily
Read more news on: Cross-Laminated Timber, timber construction, Stora Enso
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