Timber Engineering Notebook series. No. 11: Cross-laminated timber construction – an introduction

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are engineered, load-carrying, timber-based panel products that can be used in walls and roofs of residential and light commercial buildings. These lightweight panels combine the structural and thermal envelope of the building; they are manufactured offsite in a factory and shipped to the construction site, offering advantages to the build programme. This panelised form of construction allows SIPs to be assembled to form highly airtight, energy-efficient building envelopes.

This article continues from the previous instalment in the series, and aims to guide engineers in assessing the extent of corrosion of steel frames and in selecting appropriate treatment methods.

The Timber Engineering Notebook series concludes by examining the use of glued-in rods for timber connections. The increased use of manufactured timber, such as glued laminated timber (glulam) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), with improved mechanical properties and the ability to produce cross-sections of almost unlimited size,has driven the timber engineering industry to come up with improved connection systems. Glued-in rods and plates have been used in the UK as a method of connecting timber since the 1970s. They offer the possibility of creating concealed connections that are capable of transferring large forces and moments with minimal slip due to their high stiffness.