The structural properties of CLT make it an excellent material for hurricane proof construction.
CLT is an engineered timber building material with unique strength, durability and environmental attributes. CLT panels are manufactured by joining perpendicular layers of timber boards to one another using structural adhesives. The fusion of perpendicular layers gives CLT its unique biaxial strength and rigidity. The result is a monolithic structural panel that can be used for floors, walls, and roofs in any type of building.
CLT’s ability to resist high racking and compressive forces has enabled architects and engineers to design and build medium and high-rise buildings exclusively in wood. As of March, 2019 the tallest CLT building was the Mjøstårnet in Norway at 280 feet - taller buildings are in the works.
THE BENEFITS
OF BUILDING WITH CLT
HURRICANE PROOF
Favourable linear elastic qualities give CLT shear walls and diaphragms excellent resistance to the lateral wind loads generated by hurricanes. All Offsite buildings are engineered to a minimum wind tolerance of 185 mph. Higher tolerances are easily achieved if specified by a client.
stronger
Offsite buildings are designed and engineered to be stronger than their reinforced concrete counterparts. CLT has a better strength-to-weight ratio than reinforced concrete and the steel brackets we use to tie the panels together are more commonly seen in medium and high-rise construction.
faster
Offsite cuts the “concept to completion” timeframe in half. Rather than building brick-by-brick, entire wall, floor and roof panels are craned into place. The building envelope (including windows, doors and interior walls) for a typical bungalow is assembled by a 3-man team in 5 days. Reduced time onsite minimizes a project’s exposure to inherent risks including inclement weather and human error which can lead to delays.
COST-EFFECTIVE
From concept to completion every aspect of building with CLT is more efficient than traditional construction. These efficiencies allow Offsite to produce CLT structures at a lower cost than builders using reinforced concrete and other traditional methods.
BUDGET CERTAINTY
Offsite uses Building Information Management (BIM) software to design and build projects virtually before any materials arrive on site. Planning with BIM allows budgets to be accurately calculated; the reduced emphasis on onsite labour minimizes the opportunity for budget overruns.
PRESSURE TREATED
Offsite uses pressure-treated CLT that has been developed by Egoin specifically for use in the tropics. Pressure treated CLT is termite and rot-resistant and exceeds the requirements of the Bahamas Building Code.
FIRE Safety
If mass timber burns the exterior portions char creating a non-combustible outer layer which insulates the inner portions from damage. This charring phenomenon is a natural product of evolution which enables trees to survive forest fires. The monolithic form and volume of CLT panels, together with the exterior charing phenomenon, give CLT an inherent fire-resistant quality.
CUSTOM DESIGN
CLT panels can be manufactured to almost any shape and size making it well suited to custom designs. Our in-house architects and designers use advanced Building Information Modelling software including Revit and Cadworks to model each panel, bracket, anchor and connector necessary to make your project a reality.
QUALITY
CLT panels are fabricated in state-of-the-art factories. To ensure quality control each and every wooden board used in the fabrication of CLT is scanned for external and internal defects. After fabrication state-of-the-art computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines mill complex 3-D cut-outs for installation of anchors, connectors and brackets as well as simple cutouts for windows and doors. The accuracy of the fabrication and milling processes means that all components come together seamlessly on site.
CARBON NEGATIVE
If the international concrete industry were a country it would be the third largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world surpassed only by China and the US. In contrast CLT is carbon negative. During a tree’s life cycle, carbon is continuously being removed from the atmosphere and converted into wood. When a tree is felled all the carbon removed from the atmosphere during that tree’s life remains trapped in the timber. When that timber is used in construction the resulting buildings become carbon storage devices. As CLT is exclusively comprised of timber sourced from sustainable forests, the entire supply chain for CLT acts as a conveyor belt, constantly removing carbon from the atmosphere, converting it into wood, and storing it in the walls, floors and roofs of CLT buildings.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
CLT has superior thermal performance compared to reinforced concrete and light-frame construction. Furthermore, as the panels are manufactured and milled to within 1mm tolerances, the building envelope of CLT structures is incredibly tight which minimizes thermal loss and maximizes energy efficiency. As a result, the interior temperatures of a finished CLT building can be maintained with less than 50% of the energy required by a reinforced concrete structure.
