A Modern Approach to Sustainable Design
The 2021 International Building Code (ICC IBC-2021) includes provisions to increase the height limits for certain occupancies to eighteen stories utilizing mass timber construction. Each state or city adopts the IBC at various times. In California, for example, tall mass timber provisions were adopted earlier鈥攊n July 2019鈥攑rior to adopting the ICC IBC-2021
This shift reflects a growing trend towards mass timber construction, fed in part by an emphasis on sustainability. Also influencing this shift is that new mass timber products make wood a more viable material than ever. In the past, heavy timber buildings may have posed a fire hazard, but that is no longer necessarily the case.
With any other construction type, as architecture evolves and technology advances, creative solutions to daylight and glazing systems are integral to design and performance. As mass timber construction gains momentum, leading glazing contractors and manufacturers will be at the forefront of developing and adopting new systems and practices.
Benefits of Mass Timber Construction
Mass timber construction provides enhanced sustainability compared to most other modern carbon-intensive building materials such as concrete, because timber is a renewable material. Trees contribute to carbon sequestration and lead to an overall reduced environmental carbon impact.
Mass timber construction is also appreciated for its aesthetic appeal. The biophilia characteristics that include the warmth and natural beauty of exposed timber are often preferable to the harshness of steel, concrete, or plastic. There is currently a growing demand for design elements that are reminiscent of living things and nature.
have proven the versatility of timber, in building everything from boutique hotels to visitor centers to commercial buildings. Thanks to CNC technology, wood can be cut into a huge variety of sizes and shapes.
The Role of Glazing Systems in Mass Timber Structures
A building requires additional materials beyond wood, however. Wood on its own will not enable natural light to penetrate the exterior. Glazing systems are necessary for maximizing natural light, helping to reduce reliance on artificial lighting and provide occupants with a connection to the outdoors.
Glazing systems are also important for thermal performance. Energy-efficient glazing insulates against temperature extremes that include both heat and cold. They act on passive solar design principles for temperature regulation.
On a practical note, one major benefit of using mass timber is the speed of construction it provides at the job site. This is due to the prefabricated manufacturing of mass timber products.
That speed, however, creates a challenge to consider in reference to moisture management of mass timber materials. Trees live and grow by drawing up water from the ground. Consequently, wood has a certain amount of natural absorbency — a problem not presented with either metal or plastic, for example.
With accelerated structural construction schedules comes the significant challenge of water infiltration, should columns and beams be exposed to the elements for lengthy time periods. As the mass timber structure rises, it is critical to protect the structure from the elements as quickly as possible. Pre-assembled and glazed systems, such as unitized curtainwalls, provide synergies with mass timber structures by rapidly enclosing the building as it rises, giving the structure the necessary protection while delivering complementary aesthetics and thermal performance.
Technological Advances
Recent developments have enhanced the possibilities for integrating sustainable building materials into pre-assembled systems for mass timber buildings, without compromising the sustainable goals inherent in such projects.
- Emerging technologies such as smart glazing for dynamic light and heat control, enhancing occupant comfort and energy efficiency, can be easily incorporated into the glazing system, as well as products like vacuum-insulated gla