Get the latest news from Industry Professionals
Knowledge Base
Designed for both industry experts and newcomers across the supply chain, Mass Timber Planning is a platform and knowledge base that addresses mass timber’s implementation, delivery methods, and best practices.
Dedicated to helping developers, engineers, installers, manufacturers, and more, we help you discover the growing power of mass timber’s functionality, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.
Sharing Value
We help shape an unparalleled learning environment that is informed by industry experts. Browse through our key posts to stay up-to-date on trends and broaden your knowledge base.
Image c/o: StructureCraft
Advice
Understand all aspects of the process, starting with the design, detailed design, and the fabrication model, all the way through to installation. If there are any parts not fully understood or covered by you or your team, hire expertise to fill the gaps as early as possible.
Advice
Mass timber helps address client’s sustainability targets.
Advice
Cost premiums with mass timber are offset by the more rapid construction process with pre-fabricated construction.
Advice
The timing of contractor engagement impacts the ability to get construction input on structural assembly sequence & detailing.
Advice
Use hybrid structural systems (timber/steel/concrete) to optimize for the best properties of each.
Advice
A bracing plan is important, and has a large effect on installation. Establish a bracing plan early and integrate it into the connection details. A good bracing plan allows the connections to assist with temporary stability and requires over-designing, but saves time, money, headaches, and patching.
Branching Out
Looking for inspiration? Filter your search by the various Roles and Phases to see what industry experts have to say about Mass Timber.
Image c/o: © 2020 Erika Brown Photography
Advice
Problems arise when project designs are not complete enough to schedule.
Advice
Key factors to manufacturing success: — project managed in depth with RFI control — mutually agreed to schedules — tracked submissions — dedicated resources to resolve issues
Advice
Fabrication design/detailing is usually a scheduling pinch-point.
Advice
Supplier partners can get off the ground running when BIM models are shared, if the engineers/architects sign off on geometry and provide the base model.
Advice
A brief list of mass timber advantages in BC: schedule, aesthetics, 3D BIM provides risk mitigation, fast installation times, lower carbon footprint, local materials, reduced foundation loads
Advice
Fully implement BIM standards and sharing between consultant and supplier. Client otherwise pays double: consultants develop models independently, and suppliers interpret and develop the models they need on their own. This duplication of effort costs time and money.
Advice
Innovation is needed around pre-fabricated facades that are quick to erect and keep the mass timber structure dry.
Advice
Use hybrid structural systems (timber/steel/concrete) to optimize for the best properties of each.
Advice
Industry research on best practices for water management is needed (eg. tarping, membranes, allowing water penetration and refinishing, etc.).
Advice
Once there are more North American mass timber manufacturers, the mass timber in North America will become more cost competitive compared to the European supply.
Advice
Using structural mass timber as part of the interior finish saves on interior finishing but floor-to-floor acoustic challenges and in-room acoustics must be addressed.
Advice
Detailed fabrication input is limited by construction contract type (unless it is possible to engage a mass timber manufacturer during design).
Advice
The timing of contractor engagement impacts the ability to get construction input on structural assembly sequence & detailing.
Advice
Some AHJ’s (authorities having jurisdiction) are unfamiliar with mass timber construction, which increases client risk. New BCBC adoption should help.
