ELIGE MADERA CLT: Cross Laminated Timber in All its Splendor We’ve talked a lot about Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), but what is it, where did the idea come from, how is it made and what is it used for? We’ll answer these questions in this article. We’ve talked a lot about Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), but what is it, where did the idea come from, how is it made and what is it used for? We’ll answer these questions in this article. We’ve already talked plenty about the benefits of sustainable timber construction, how CLT is the engineered wood product that has made this possible globally, and how we hope it will continue to grow in the industry and help combat climate change. However, there are still doubts and skeptics as to the qualities of this material and why it’s so highly praised in the market; today we want to resolve some of these uncertainties. Make yourself comfortable and let's start thinking about wood. Where was CLT created? CLT is an engineered wood product that began to be tested in Austria and Germany around 1990, which, thanks to the advances of the time and research, led to its production as we know it today, in the mid-90s. Spruce is the main wood used in the manufacturing of CLT, but pine, larch and hardwood can also be used. First, the wood is smoothed, dried and cut; then the boards are stacked according to the required dimensions, forming a sheet. They are joined perpendicularly with the next sheet of wood, and add up depending on the thickness, always ending in an odd number. Finally, the sheets are glued with a non-toxic and ecological adhesive and hydraulically pressed until they are completely fixed. What is CLT used for? CLT panels can be used in construction for walls, floors and ceilings. Initially used for low and medium height constructions, today CLT can be seen in high buildings and even skyscrapers; the record for height being challenged on a daily basis in high-rise architecture. Research on this material has proven its capabilities for construction and it’s become an excellent substitute for concrete and steel, due to its structural properties. You can read more about this in Understanding Wood and its Structure, from the blog Let's Think About Wood. Advantages of CLT We can name numerous advantages of CLT compared to other wood products and building materials: CLT is more stable than other types of hardwood. Its cross-grain layered panels make it less prone to warping due to moisture. As a product of trees, CLT retains the ability to capture CO2. CLT panels optimize building times and reduce construction waste because they are prefabricated and assembled. It’s an easy-to-mold product compared to other materials. CLT can be more resistant to fire than other untreated steels; when exposed to fire, its outer layer becomes insulating carbon with a duration of 30 to 120 minutes. CLT uses half the energy needed to produce concrete and almost 1% of the energy used to produce steel. CLT panels facilitate the calculation of the material required for a structure and the planning of the process, thereby reducing the total cost. You can see the qualities and efficiency of CLT in the projects carried out by Niuform, a company specialized in wood structures and construction solutions, in a more efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible way. You can find more information about their conceptualization, modeling, manufacturing and installation processes at https://www.niuform.cl/.