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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.
Advice
Tolerance discrepancies are +/- 24 mm for concrete and +/- 3 mm for wood).
Advice
Use concrete-to wood anchor systems that allow vertical and horizontal adjustment. Threaded rods and supporting nuts are used in combination with a base plate and grout to correct elevation discrepancies.
Advice
Timber installer must ensure precise location of vertical wood members on first level to prevent cumulative errors.
Advice
Use protective wrapping during transportation and installation, and use “just in time” delivery that minimizes weather exposure.
Advice
Ensure precise prefabrication of structural elements.
Advice
Handle [mass timber] structural elements with care to avoid damage and discolouration from moisture.
Advice
Minimize error possibility by allowing all team members (design, fabricators, manufacturers and all trades) adequate time to have access to a common design platform.
Advice
Install connectors prior to being on site.
Advice
Use BIM and an integrated project delivery (IPD) system from the start of the project.
Image c/o: StructureCraft
Advice
Drill holes in the floors for electrical wiring to pass through and treat the hole to resist fire. Use a mechanical shaft (for example, the garbage disposal chute) to bring electrical wiring together and reduce the amount of work.
Advice
On-site vs off-site fabrication: there can be problems either way.
Advice
Integrating MEP only after model completion results in significant delay (in one example, material ordering was delayed by 6 weeks).
Advice
Steel connectors should be the responsibility of the same party that owns the timber manufacturing scope. They should be modelled at the same time, resulting in the purchase of the correct parts.
Advice
General bracing advice, from the installer to the general contractor: At a minimum, shore the midspans.
