UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH

School of Engineering
PROGRAMME(S): MSc Civil Engineering/ MSc Water, waste and
environmental engineering
COURSE(S): Advanced Materials Engineering for Construction (CIVI 1137)
Coursework Presentation

TECHNICAL REPORT ON
CROSS-LAMINATED TIMBER (CLT)
INTRODUCTION

• The construction industry produces solid waste and it is responsible for 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emission.
• The increased usage of synthetic construction materials and the usage of steel and concrete are creating several impacts
on the environment.
• Research and development initiatives are taking place so as to incorporate more sustainable materials in construction
projects.
• Integration of innovative technologies with the already-existing structures is ongoing in the industry so as to satisfy the
upcoming need for sustainability.
• These innovations are also focusing towards reduced waste and with the goal of improving the strengths, durability, and
insulating qualities.
• CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) is a type of wood product composed of multiple crosswise-arranged layers of structural
grade timber.
• The report provided conclusions and suggestions to improve the usage of CLT along with the aspects of function,
applicability, sustainability, environment and health and safety. is
 MATERIAL DESCRIPTION
Cross-Laminated Timber

• Fast-growing wood, hardwood, bamboo, and local wood are

widely used in the production of cross-laminated timber
(Younis and Dodoo, 2022).
Production process of CLT
• Cross-laminated timber production includes different steps:

• Dried board strength or stiffness grading is the first step that occurs in the production of CLT (De Araujo et al., 2023).
• The second step is to cut down the local growth appearances
• Cutting of lamellas for the traverse and longitudinal layers of CLT is the third step.
• The creation of a single-layer panel is done in the fourth step.
• The fifth step is to create, assemble and adhesive bonding of the lamellas.
• Finally, the product is customised to the needed structural elements (De Araujo et al., 2023).
PROPERTIES

• Glued, layered wood, planks, or lamellas are the different materials used
to make the CLT.
• Using this technology in the construction industry will help to reduce
carbon emissions and does not have any severe impact on the
environment (Kwok et al.,2020).
• Landfill is another major issue created by concrete and steel buildings
but CLT is decomposable (Kwok et al.,2020).
• Although CLT reduces 15% of the material cost, it can create
deforestation and cannot provide any proper fire-resistant properties.
• However, CLT is beneficial as it protects the building from earthquakes
(Nakano et al., 2020).

Schematic view of CLT's layered configuration

FUNCTION AND APPLICABILITY

• CLT helps to minimise the production of trash on-site (Bhandari et al., 2023).

• The functionalities of CLT enable high design flexibility.

• CLT can be used as the form for pouring concrete on bridges (Li, and Tsavdaridis, 2023).

• The flexibility of the CLT panels made it suitable for ceilings, walls, furniture, floors, and roofs.

• The manpower needed for the construction using CLT is comparatively less

• The time needed for the completion of the project is also comparatively low.

• Other advantages include increased quality control, faster construction, and easier cleaning

(Pierobon et al., 2019).

SUSTAINABILITY

• CLT is a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials like cement and concrete and it is produced with less waste
and pollution than steel and concrete (Sandoli et al., 2021).
• CLT constructions are reliable and more strong than steel and concrete thus they are able to withstand adverse weather
conditions and natural catastrophes like earthquakes (Liisma et al., 2019).
• CLT is deconstructable and it is possible to reuse it in other buildings or to recycle it into new products (Ghobadi, and
Sepasgozar, 2023).
• It is an eco-friendly option because its production process requires comparatively small bits of wood, less energy and fossil fuels
(Sandoli et al., 2021).
• Laminated wood emits fewer greenhouse gasses and by being an alternative to steel and concrete, it prevents the emission of
CO2 (Andersen et al., 2022).
• CLT is made of wood and has the ability to both store and absorb carbon and also hybris CLT lower global warming potential by
15–26% (Pierobon et al., 2019).
• Compared to concrete and steel construction CLT require fewer slabs and foundation and thus it is significantly lighter and cost-
effective method.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE

• China and the USA are two countries where concrete is widely
produced and utilised large amounts of concrete and thus CO2
emission rate is high in these countries (Guardian (2019; Duan et
al., 2022).

• Thus, this conventional material significantly contributes to an

increased rate of global warming (Ritchie and Roser, 2022).

• CLT is the best alternative to concrete and cement emits a very

low amount of CO2 and is equally capable of providing strong
support to the buildings (Abed et al., 2022).

• CLT is able to absorb CO2 and thereby significantly reduce the

CO2 emission and resulting global warming.

• According to Down to Earth (2019), approximately 150 million

tons of concrete waste are produced each year in India and it
contributes to air pollution and landfilling.

• CLT is a solution for this environmental issue because it creates

very few amounts of air pollution and comparatively less waste
production.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE ctn..

• CLT promotes sustainability by

reducing the environmental impact.

• However, the process of

manufacturing involves, cutting
brunches, smaller trees and leads to
the partial destruction of trees
(FABRIS, 2020).

• According to the Global CLT Industry Survey (2020), around 50 % of CLT production is happening in Australia and the country
faces the issue of forest loss and climate change (Conversation, 2022).
• During 2020- 2022, 0.4% of forest loss occurred in Western Australia and 0.5% occurred in Queensland (Rain Forests, 2022).
• CLT have a significant contribution to sustainability by improving the environmental condition, however, cutting the tree for the
manufacturing of CLT can make a negative impact on climate change.
HEALTH AND SAFETY

• CLT in the construction industry has significant impacts on health and safety because of respiratory problems
due to the high amount of wood dust (Hanes, 2019).

• However, when comparing cement dust and wood dust, cement dust leads to adverse respiratory problems
such as lung infection, breathing trouble, and allergy (Rahmani et al., 2018).

• Lower fire resistance of CLT is another problem and thus any explosion or flashfire lead to a tragedy.
However, the fire resistance of CLT can be improved by increasing the thickness, surface, and orientation of
the CLT panels (Wiesner et al. (2019).

• During the transportation, installation, or storage time of the CLT, especially in the winter season, the chance
of chance that moisture intrusion is high and ultimately leads to allergic reactions in the occupants (Kalbe et
al., 2022).

• However, CLT have the ability to purify the air by absorbing CO2 and thereby maintain a good working
atmosphere (BuHamdan et al. (2021).
CONCLUSION

• Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a sustainable material due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and
sustainability and its components can be used for ceilings, walls, furniture, floors, and roofs.
• CLT is advantageous over traditional construction method because it increased quality control and ensure faster
construction and easier cleaning.
• CLT is the best alternative for conventional materials like cement and concrete and it is lightweight and more stronger
and thus withstand adverse weather conditions and natural disasters.
• It significantly improves the environmental condition by absorbing CO2 and reducing the emission of CO2 and
greenhouse gases and thus it ultimately contributes to decreased global warming.
• However, the increasing deforestation for the manufacturing of CLT, health and safety issues such as respiratory
problems due to wood dust and moisture intrusion and slippery problems cannot be neglected.
• Thus CLT has negative and positive sides which need to be considered at the time of application.
RECOMMENDATIONS

• The lightweight property of the CLT can be useful for the pre-fabrication method.
• CLT can be used for the construction of multi-layered buildings
• Application of a hybrid combination of CLT and concrete can be tried.
REFERENCES
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Andersen, J.H., Rasmussen, N.L. and Ryberg, M.W. (2022) Comparative life cycle assessment of cross laminated timber building and concrete building with special focus on biogenic carbon.
Energy and Buildings, 254, p.111604.

Bhandari, S., Riggio, M., Jahedi, S., Fischer, E.C., Muszynski, L. and Luo, Z. (2023) A review of modular cross laminated timber construction: Implications for temporary housing in seismic areas.
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Bobadilha, G.S., Stokes, C.E., Kirker, G., Ahmed, S.A., Ohno, K.M. and Lopes, D.J.V. (2020) Effect of exterior wood coatings on the durability of cross-laminated timber against mold and decay
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Conversation (2022) New IPCC report shows Australia is at real risk from climate change, with impacts worsening, future risks high, and wide-ranging adaptation needed . Available at:
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