Question

Write a short paragraph explaining the similarities and differences between Glue Laminated Timber (Glulam) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).

In your explanation, briefly cover how both materials are assembled, key differences in their mechanical performance and how those differences influence how the materials are used in construction.

Answer 1

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Glue-laminated timber (glulam) are both engineered wood products that are commonly used for pre-fabricated structural applications in mass timber construction.

laminated timber
Laminated timber is an engineered wood product that constitutes two or more pieces of timber laminated together. The timber is laminated together using durable adhesives.

difference:
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is when ‘layers of timber, known as lamellas, are glued together with the grain alternating at 90 degree angles for each layer’. Glue-laminated timber (glulam) is when laminates are glued together by layering them with the grain, which produces larger and longer length members.

Advantages of Cross-Laminated Timber

There are many benefits of CLT construction, these include:

Strength and uniformity of properties	Reductions in assembly time and labour
Fire resistant	Sound absorption
Insulating properties	High aesthetic quality
Lighter than concrete	Easy to erect
Similar characteristics to pre-cast concrete	Sustainable building material

Advantages of Glulam
There are even more benefits of Glulam, these include:

Straight and curved members for architectural and design benefit	Stronger than solid timber
Large section sizes and long lengths	High degree of dimensional stability
Structural capabilities	Glulam post and beam allows for more open plan office spaces with a reduction of overall timber applied for the same result
Fire resistant	Sustainable
Increase construction speed	Save between 5-25% of building costs
Sound absorption	Easy to erect and install
One of the best Life Cycle Assesments of all building materials

CLT and Glulam can go hand in hand. A Glulam beam and post ‘grid’ offers open plan design options for applications such as offices and commercial buildings. In these scenarios, laminated hardwood beams and posts are used as supporting grids that incorporate CLT or glulam floor members.

The advantage of using Glulam over CLT is that the open plan of a grid system allows partition walls to be constructed and/or removed when required, and best of all, is cheaper to construct because it has less volume of timber. The ‘honeycomb’ CLT systems are commonly used as load-bearing walls and are fixed in position to make a closed-plan design.

Both CLT and Glulam are sustainable, strong and viable options for mass timber construction. Glulam allows the flexibility of different shapes and the ability to change a space, whereas CLT offers a static system. Which one is best suited to a project will largely depend on design and the building structure.

The future of CLT & Glulam
The mass timber construction industry is on the rise in Australia. We’re seeing more architects and engineers embrace mass timber options, existing buildings include:

• Barangaroo International Building Sydney – Glulam and CLT
• RMIT Garden Building – Victorian ash Glulam Beams, concrete floor
• Latrobe Regional Gallery – Victorian ash Glulam
• Public Library Docklands – Glulam and CLT
• Deakin Trade Training Centre – Victorian ash Glulam
• Marist College Bendigo – Victorian ash Glulam
• Melbourne Zoo (Predator Precinct) – Glulam
• And the list goes on…

With many industry professionals opting for mass timber, it will be exciting to watch the development of this inspiring industry.

ASH has an entire product range called MASSLAM to cater to mass glue-laminated beams, we have serviced many projects including the RMIT Garden Building and the Latrobe Regional Gallery. MASSLAM column and beams are sustainable, strong, affordable and fire resistant.

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