{"id":889053,"date":"2016-05-31T15:00:24","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T21:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=889053"},"modified":"2016-05-31T15:00:24","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T21:00:24","slug":"likely-increase-of-use-of-wood-in-tall-building-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/likely-increase-of-use-of-wood-in-tall-building-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"Likely Increase of Use of Wood in Tall Building Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bart Kempf | Construction Developments | May 27, 2016<\/p>\n

Wood \u2013 architecture\u2019s oldest building material \u2013 \"Likelyhas experienced a renaissance of sorts in recent years, in the process providing a boost to the forest and wood products industry. Wood-product proponents tout a range of benefits relative to alternative materials such as concrete and steel, including: renewability; a smaller carbon and environmental footprint; and lower cost. Many argue that advances in wood technologies \u2013 especially mass-timber products such as cross-laminated timber<\/a> (CLT) \u2013 have been a \u201cgame changer\u201d in the construction industry, with such products providing vastly improved strength, durability, seismic performance, and fire-resistance. Supporters also assert that mass-timber products are easily installed and generate almost no on-site waste since they are pre-fabricated. Despite these advantages, there is no full recognition in U.S. building codes for CLT, although its use could be authorized under the \u201calternate methods\u201d of construction, \u00a7 104.11, and its use is recognized in Chapter 6 of the 2015 IBC.<\/p>\n

In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with private group support, announced the U.S. Tall Wood Building Competition. The 2015 west coast winner is a project which is a 12-story, multi-purpose building to be constructed primarily of CLT; the east coast winner is a 10-story condominium, which will be the largest wooden building in New York City. In London, the Oakwood Tower, at 1,000 feet, is planned to have a completely timber frame.<\/p>\n

The emerging potential and promise of wood products in construction is exemplified by two recent developments: (1) the introduction in the U.S. Senate of the bipartisan Timber Innovation Act of 2016, and (2) the establishment of a new pilot project by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that expands the types of wood certification programs that may qualify for credits under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design<\/a> (LEED) program.<\/p>\n

The Timber Innovation Act of 2016<\/h2>\n

The enthusiasm for CLT and other mass-timber products \u2013 and their potential for use in the construction of tall wood buildings \u2013 recently reached the halls of Congress with the introduction of S.2892, the Timber Innovation Act of 2016. The Act was introduced on April 28, 2016, by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (the \u201cSenate Agriculture Committee\u201d) and a bipartisan group of senators. The Act authorizes several programs to promote: (1) mass timber (defined as \u201ca type of building component or system that uses large panelized wood construction, including cross-laminated timber, nail laminated timber, glue laminated timber, laminated strand lumber, and laminated veneer lumber\u201d) and (2) tall wood buildings. (defined as \u201ca building designed to be constructed with mass timber and more than 85 feet in height.\u201d). Programs created by the Act include:<\/p>\n