CLT

Today a former student sent me an email asking what I thought about Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).  I was mulling a response when, just a bit later, an email came in from APA ... happening to be an announcement of their New Standard for Cross-Laminated Timber.  (Is that wild, or what!!!)

You can download the Standard from APA (probably you'll need to register): http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=pub_PubUpdate_January2012

I also found this clip on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLqiwBL28v4

The youtube clip talks about some things we have been talking about a bit in class:

1)  the `heavy timber' fire rating ... these are SOLID WOOD PANELS.  They do NOT `burst into flames'!!!  Solid wood is actually quite fire safe.

2) use of wood is net carbon negative ... the effect on global carbon is WAY better than use of steel or concrete.

The video also talks about sustainability ... use of the CLT in high-end structures in Europe ... and good life cycle performance.

GOOD STUFF!!!