The next generation of heavy timber building systems is about to transform the design and construction of many buildings in Australia.
Products that make up heavy timber construction include:
Cross-laminated timber (CLT)
Expan: post-stressed frames and box beams
Glulam and LVL beams, planks and floor systems
An engineered timber building product, CLT is widely used internationally, particularly in Europe. Although it is not currently widely used in Australia, the potential for its specification in dividing walls, floors and ceilings is increasingly evident, particularly for multi-storey residential buildings. These buildings have acoustic requirements, stipulated in Australia by the National Construction Code, Building Code of Australia (BCA) or by a relevant Local Government Authority.
Previous acoustic research programs covering CLT have been conducted in Europe and North America. The applicability of this data to the Australian market is limited due to the design of the testing to address codes that are not relevant to Australia. The overseas test elements also often include construction materials that are not available or not in widespread use here.
