Cross-Laminated

Timber (CLT) Guidebook

Spring 2019

katerra.com
 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook

Table of Contents

Introduction 03

Why Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) 04

Design Benefits 05

Cost 05

Environmental & Sustainability Impact 06

Speed of Assembly 06

Labor Efficiency 06

Construction Site Improvements 07

Safety 07

Reduced Barriers to Entry 07

Why Katerra 08

World-Class Manufacturing: Spokane Valley CLT Factory 09

Technology-First Approach 09

Quality Products and Processes 10

Sustainability & Stewardship 10

End-to-End Services 10

A Best-in-Class Team 11

Technical Specifications 12

Katerra CLT Products 13

CLT Flat Panel Characteristics 14

Floor and Roof Panel Layups 17

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook

Introduction

We believe that Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) will fundamentally change

the way we design, manufacture and build. We also believe that CLT will
become the backbone for future generations of high-performance, low
carbon buildings.

Katerra’s goal is to develop world-class advanced building materials and systems,

while making them both more widely available and higher quality than ever before.
Katerra is uniquely qualified to be the supplier of choice to builder and developer
partners due to our experience across the building value chain, from design to
fabrication to construction and the quality and volume of our production capacity.

We invite you to learn more about CLT, Katerra’s approach to fabrication, and what
makes our line of products unique.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why CLT

Why CLT

Cross-Laminated Timber is a pre-fabricated, engineered wood building

material with unique and often superior building, aesthetic, environmental
and cost attributes.

Though introduced to the European market about thirty years ago, CLT is only now
being adopted in North America. This expansion in usage is creating opportunities
for developers, designers and builders to create structures that are sophisticated yet
easily installed, rapidly assembled yet structurally sound, affordable yet attractive.

As access to high-quality CLT continues to expand in North America, we believe that

it is the building material of the future and will become the product of choice across
building types and geographies.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why CLT

Design Benefits
Designers have enthusiastically embraced the inherent
benefits of creating functional and beautiful spaces with
CLT due to the following advantages:

• Potential for increased floor-to-ceiling height

• Thinner overall floor assembly comprised of fewer
independent materials
• Reduced weight on footings, gravity load, and bracing
requirements, due to lighter weight of CLT than
concrete (a CLT wall weighs ~75% less than concrete
for a similar strength level)

Beyond these functionally superior attributes, the aesthetic

qualities of building with CLT are widely recognized.
Exposed wood offers a natural beauty that can not be
replicated with other fabricated materials. Moreover,
recent studies demonstrate that simply being surrounded
by wood triggers a positive effect on the brain, and leads
to greater employee retention, productivity and health in
work settings.

Cost
Katerra’s CLT product line is cost competitive, and in
many cases, more affordable, than other building material
options. Cost savings are driven by efficiency in materials
production and by a reduction in manhours required to
complete installation. CLT is particularly cost competitive
in markets with high labor rates. Furthermore, faster
build times equates to more attractive project ROI for
developers, as assets can become revenue-generating on
a faster timeline.

For most residential, student housing and hospitality

projects of six to twelve stories, Katerra CLT will be cost
neutral with concrete and steel. For commercial offices,
Katerra CLT will also be competitive with concrete and
steel and in some instances should generate project
savings.

Residential, student housing and hospitality projects up to

Wood Innovation Design Center, Michael Green Architects
six stories that use only CLT floor panels may experience Vancouver, BC

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why CLT

a slight cost premium over traditional building materials. Working with CLT offers an opportunity to develop a
However, developers must consider the advantages virtuous cycle of benefits – supporting healthy forests
of speed to market, brand differentiation and superior with responsible harvesting techniques, shrinking the
aesthetics when making the decision to use this material. environmental footprint of the building industry, while
creating new jobs in rural communities.

Environmental and Sustainability Impact

Speed of Assembly
The environmental and sustainability advantages of
building with CLT as compared with concrete and steel are Logistical challenges normally associated with traditional
derived from the inherent qualities of wood as a carbon construction are drastically minimized with just-in-time
capture material, the CLT production process and the delivery made possible by the panelized CLT approach.
efficiency of installation. Seamless coordination between trades has the potential
to accelerate construction schedules up to 30%. This
Material Attributes efficiency is driven by the unique qualities of CLT and the
• Wood is a renewable resource that can be regenerated CLT planning process, which include:
through sustainable forestry • Pre-fabrication of CLT panels to meet building design
• Trees are 50% carbon by dry weight; when a tree is and requirements
cut down, it sequesters carbon, and when a new tree • Pre-determined logistics plans
is planted, the carbon-capture potential for that plot of
land is doubled • Coordination with the factory to load trucks in the
sequence required on-site
Production Process • Pre-located pick locations to simplify and accelerate
• The abundance of wood as a raw material in North rigging in the field
America means that building materials need not be
Further efficiencies can be realized through effective
imported from overseas, reducing the transportation
coordination between the design team, manufacturing
footprint generated by imported steel and concrete team and construction team, and the use of multiple
• Less energy is consumed in the production of CLT cranes on the same site.
than steel; by some estimates, wood production is
estimated to be roughly five times more efficient than Labor Efficiency
cement and roughly 20 times more efficient than steel
• Due to the close connection between design Greater on-site efficiency is made possible by CLT’s
and production, there is very little waste material inherent material and assembly attributes. Fewer workers
generated during the production process are required onsite as compared with traditionally -
built structures – an average crew size is 15 people, as
Construction compared with 30 for a concrete build. This efficiency is
• Less heavy machinery is required for shorter periods driven by:
of time • Pre-installation of building features, including routing
• Given the relatively light weight of CLT, less concrete and passages for wiring and plumbing, waterproofing,
and steel is required to support the building structure insulation, flashing and cladding
– these two materials account for as much as 15% of • Simplified designs that facilitate easy installation
global carbon emissions
• Fewer panel picks due to large panel size

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why CLT

Construction Site Improvements adopted in Washington State and Oregon), including:

The pre-fabricated, easy-to-install nature of CLT lends o Type IV-A: Maximum 18 stories, with gypsum
itself to improvements on the construction site, including: wallboard on all mass timber elements
o Type IV-B: Maximum 12 stories, limited-area of
• Less construction site noise
exposed mass timber walls and ceilings allowed
• Fewer truck deliveries and less lay-down area required
o Type IV-C: Maximum nine stories, all exposed mass
• Smaller and potentially fewer cranes due to lighter timber designed for a two-hour fire resistance
weight of materials to hoist
Beyond technical code changes, government support,
• Reduced foot traffic onsite, due to reduced labor
public sentiment and demand for mass timber
crews
construction has spiked over the past few years. National
• Decreased dependency on good weather conditions press coverage has reported on the nearly 500 projects
(compared to concrete) currently in design or construction in the US. As interest
in this building material has grown, so has the ecosystem
of support and service providers. Developer partners are
Safety
increasingly responding to consumer and client demand
Fewer people onsite and CLT installation sequencing lead for the aesthetic properties of CLT.
to more effective field oversight and, therefore, fewer
We welcome our developer and builder partners to engage
safety concerns. CLT crews experience fewer safety
with Katerra to optimize CLT building design and materials
incidents for the following reasons:
procurement.
• Prefabricated structural elements are safe to work
above and below once installed
• Concurrent completion of walls and floors reduce
incidence of falls
• Fewer power tools are required

Reduce Barriers to Entry

North America is currently experiencing a boom in CLT
design and construction, driven by code revisions and
increasing consumer and developer demand for mass
timber building. Katerra seeks to fuel this expansion by
introducing the highest quality CLT at the most efficient
cost.

Developers and builders seeking to enter this market will

benefit from expanded building code permissions:
• In December 2018, The International Code Council
(ICC) released voting results on amendments to the
2021 International Building Code (which are already CLT installation at the Postmark jobsite in Shoreline, WA.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why Katerra

Why Katerra

Katerra’s unprecedented capital investment in CLT manufacturing, design,

engineering and construction will dramatically accelerate the growth of mass
timber markets in North America and beyond.

With the largest production capacity in the world and partnerships with leading
technology, manufacturing, design, engineering and construction innovators, Katerra
will supply and accelerate projects across markets, project types and geographies.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why Katerra

World-Class Manufacturing: Spokane Valley

CLT Factory
Katerra’s state-of-the-art, 250,000ft2 mass timber
manufacturing facility will scale the production of CLT in
North America, driving growth across the industry. This
facility optimizes core manufacturing processes in order
to develop the highest quality CLT panels at the lowest
possible cost by:

• Automating processes
• Integrating industry-leading technological solutions
• Operating at the highest level of standards and quality

With the ability to produce 185,000m3, which equates to

13,000,000ft2 of 5-ply panels annually on a 2-shift, 5-day
operation, Katerra’s Spokane Valley factory can easily
scale to manufacture 1,500 master panels per month
or 18,000 master panels per year. Our initial product
offerings will include both 5-layer and 3-layer panels,
used primarily for floors. We will quickly test and certify
7-layer and 9-layer panels including CLT shear wall panels
to be used for lateral stability, providing even faster and
cheaper construction. At full operation we will process the
volume of lumber equivalent to 50 250,000ft2 commercial
office buildings per year, at a speed of 140 boards per minute
running down our lines. Master panels will come out of our
press with a format size of 12ft wide x 60ft long, creating the
greatest possible production flexibility.

Our Spokane Valley facility will open in June, with material

available for third-party sales as early the third quarter of
2019. At full operation, this will be the largest producing
by volume CLT plant in the world.

Technology-First Approach
Katerra is, above all else, a technology company. This informs
our approach to design, construction, and manufacturing –
and this holds true for our production of CLT. Our Spokane
Valley factory leverages manufacturing innovation from
across industries to optimize production speed, efficiency
and quality, while remaining a low cost provider.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why Katerra

Our technology-first approach begins with our raw Our quality assurance and quality control processes and
materials: we will deploy advanced geometric and procedures are governed by the requirements approved
biometric scanning of lamstock and high capacity sorting by our third party approval agency, with strict process
to accelerate raw materials intake. We will use advanced control, product testing, reporting and document control,
panel algorithms for layup and scanning technology to traceability and ongoing third party audits to ensure
assess the aesthetic attributes of each board including compliance with both our quality control manual and
knot sizes, pith and wane. These innovations will result in regulatory standards. We have invested the time and
a consistent, high-quality product. resources in the tools, equipment and processes necessary
to consistently deliver a best-in-class CLT product.
We are setting the industry standard for tracking and
monitoring of panels as they progress throughout the
product lifecycle. Every piece of lamstock will have a Sustainability and Stewardship
unique set of characteristics or “DNA” that can be tracked
Katerra is committed to creating a CLT product and
from beginning to end, providing transparency and quality
process that reduce the environmental impact of buildings
control. This data will support rigorous testing and controls
from manufacturing to construction to day-to-day building
to help us achieve our aggressive output goals.
usage. This will be achieved through a number of industry-
leading approaches:
Quality Products and Processes
• Katerra has adopted strict internal policies to govern
Our commitment to quality flows throughout our sourcing procurement of lamstock from well-managed forests
and manufacturing processes, and includes: • By supporting an integrated end-to-end building
• Strategically sourcing spruce-pine-fir (SPF) species process that takes material usage into account at
from the inland Pacific Northwest forests known for the design phase, we are decreasing waste at the
their tight grain structure, integrity and quality manufacturing and construction phases

• On-site scanning, sorting, and re-drying capabilities to • Precise tracking of materials through the
ensure each board in our process meets our standards manufacturing and delivery process eliminates waste
and overproduction
• CLT press technology that squeezes panels during the
curing of the adhesive in three directions to ensure Katerra will attain a Environmental Product Declaration
consistent, quality bond and minimal gaps between (EPD) specific to our product line after a minimum
boards 12 months of production in our factory has occurred.
• Precision CNC equipment profiles that yields products The pursuit of an EPD aligns with our core value of
products to extremely tight tolerances transparency of our materials and manufacturing process,
in addition to being good stewards of healthy buildings for
• Panel finishing, including a factory-applied surface thriving and vibrant communities.
treatment that provides protection from moisture and
other environmental effects during transport, storage
and installation End-to-End Services

The factory itself has been designed and built to ensure By integrating traditionally fragmented steps in the design-
consistent quality; we have invested in extensive build process, Katerra’s end-to-end model offers a unique
mechanical systems and controls to maintain heat and value proposition: a fully integrated building partner with
humidity control. robust technology systems. Add the buying power of
Katerra’s materials sourcing and procurement services,

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Why Katerra

it further eliminates the need of distributors and brokers, To learn more about these opportunities, contact
accelerating delivery time while reducing costs. Katerra [email protected].
offers services to support clients throughout the CLT
development process, including:
A Best-in-Class Team
Design
Expanding our vision of a future in which quality and
 Full design services (SD | DD | CD)
efficiency align with reducing costs and affordability, from
 Evaluation of building material options initial design, through the life of the building, Katerra has
Estimating partnered with the best in the CLT industry. With their
unique strengths and expertise, we believe that our shared
 Material take off and cost estimation
mission to transform the way buildings and spaces come
 Design option analysis to life will revolutionize the industy.
Component Design
Michael Green Architecture (MGA)
 Translation of design elements into pre-fabricated MGA is a strategic design partner located in Vancouver,
building components, including CLT
BC which is internationally renowned for their leadership in
Sourcing building with advanced wood products and technologies.
 Sourcing of CLT hardware and connections
Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS)
 Sourcing of glulam and other related mass timber LAS is a respected architectural and design firm with a focus
building elements
on innovation across the spectrum of architecture, landscape
Manufacturing architecture, planning, preservation, and interiors.
 Supply of completed, detailed CLT members per design Equilibrium
specifications
Equilibrium is a full-servce, award-winning engineering
Logistics firm specialized in mass timber building structures.
 Delivery planning
Washington State University
 Loading and shipment of all CLT building components to Washington State University’s Composite Materials and
building site
Engineering Center is a leading interdisciplinary research
Construction organization focused on innovative, practical solutions for
 Construction management and oversight over labor and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Katerra has installed
trades equipment and established process parameters onsite at
WSU to test and certify processes and outputs.
 CLT erection
Through our team and our partners, Katerra brings
Katerra is currently offering developer and builder clients
together technology, manufacturing, and design
two avenues for partnership:
excellence to offer more sustainable, cost effective, and
• End-to-End Building Solution: Katerra provides elegant architecture solutions to North American and
design, manufacturing, and construction services to global markets.
completely serve the needs of the client
• Materials Supply: Katerra supplies CLT and related
hardware and materials, derived from detailed
specifications provided by the client

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Technical
Specifications
 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Technical Specifications

Katerra CLT Products

Katerra is developing an entire line of CLT-related products for manufacture, organized in the graphic below. This
document focuses on defining the Katerra CLT Flat Panel base product and its derivative use products, CLT Flat
Roof and Floor Panel.

Each Katerra CLT product includes a variety of thicknesses and layer combinations (layups) resulting in a catalog
of sizes. End users may select the layup that best meets the building product-specific structural, fire, acoustics,
and environmental performance requirements.

Base Products
CLT Flat Panel

Floor / Roof Panel Wall Panel Ribbed Panel

Future State
Use Products Floor Panel

Acoustic Floor Shear Wall

Assembly Future State
Finish Products Future State

Defined in this document

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Technical Specifications

CLT Flat Panel Characteristics

Characteristic Features
Master Panel Length Actual max/min 60’-3” (60ft nominal)
Format Size Width Actual max 11’-9” (12ft nominal)
Actual min 9’-9” (10ft nominal)

Notes:
1. The maximum and minimum widths presented above
are based on the use of 10’ and 12’ long laminations
at layup and trimming the master panel to square after
pressing.
2. Consult with manufacturing for custom master panel
widths between the stated maximum and minimum
widths.

Illustration sketch for 2.2 now 1 (Actual size versus Nominal size)

Actual Size versus Nominal Size of Master Panel

(ref. Section 2.2 Master Panel Format Size)

Nominal 12'-0"
Squared 11'-9"

Maximum
Maximum Master Panel
12' x 60' (Normal)
11'-9" x 60'-3" (Actual)

Nominal = 60'
Squared = 60'-3"
At layup = 60'-6"

Nominal 10'-0"
Squared 9'-9"

Minimum

Minimum Master Panel

10' x 60' (Normal)
9'-9" x 60'-3" (Actual)

Nominal = 60'
Squared = 60'-3"
At layup = 60'-6"

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Technical Specifications

CLT Flat Panel Characteristics Continued

Standard Lengths 60'-0" Notes:

Finished Panel 30’-0”
20’-0” 1. The subdivisions presented above are
Format Lengths
15’-0” symmetric. Asymmetric subdivisions
and Widths Cut can be manufactured. The designer is
from Master 10’-0”
cautioned to subdivide master panels in
Panel 8’-0”
ways that result in a high rate of master
panel utilization.
Widths (12ft) 11'-9"
2. Selection of finished panel width
5’-9”
and length to be informed by logistics,
9'-9" erection, design, etc.
Widths (10ft)
4’-9”

Panel Thickness See layups in section 2.3

Laminations Layers (plies) 3, 5, 7, and 9

Orientation Adjacent layers are perpendicular
Thickness Post-planed - approx. 1.08 - 1.38 inch
(see layups below)
Width Post-planed - approx. 5.31 inch

Species / All panels are comprised of a single

Species Group species / species combination

Adhesives Face bonding 1-component polyeurethane

(formaldahyde-free)
End joints 2-component polyeurethane with RF
curing (formaldahyde-free)

Examples Finished Panels Cut from a Master Panel

Master Panel Master Panel

(4) Symmetric Finished Panels (4) Asymmetric Finished Panels

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Technical Specifications

CLT Flat Panel Characteristics Continued

Master Panel Thickness +/- 1/16" or 2% of panel thickness,

Tolerances whichever is greater

+/- ¹/8"

+/- ¹/8"

¹/8" max (difference in length two panel

face diagonals measured
between corners)

/16" max
1
(deviation of edges from a
straight line between adjacent
panel corners)

Finish Panel CNC Fabrication tolerances using factory CNC equipment will
Tolerances generally be +/- 1/16".

Moisture
12% +/- 3%
Content

Surface Industrial Architectural

Classification Appearance Appearance

Dependent on species used (Reference the National Design Specification

Density
(NDS) for Wood Construction).

Use Conditions Dry (Ref PRG 320 – Section 1 – Scope).

Panel Longitudinal layers (long boards) are parallel to the long dimension of the mas-
Orientation ter panel.

Factory Applied Temporary coating for moisture and organic growth control may be applied
Treatment prior to leaving the factory for delivery.

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 Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Guidebook | Technical Specifications

Floor and Roof Panel Layups

Lamination Thicknesses in CLT Layup (in)

CLT Layup CLT
Designation Thickness (in) T T T T
= = = = =

K3-0320 3.24 1.08 1.08 1.08

K3-0350 3.54 1.08 1.38 1.08

3-ply

=
=

K3-0380 3.84 1.38 1.08 1.38

K3-0410 4.14 1.38 1.38 1.38 3-ply

K5-0540 5.40 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08

K5-0600 6.00 1.08 1.38 1.08 1.38 1.08

=
5-ply

=
=
K5-0630 6.30 1.38 1.08 1.38 1.08 1.38

K5-0660 6.60 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.32 5-ply

=
K7-0760 7.56 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 =
7-ply

=
=

K7-0970 9.66 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 7-ply

=
K9-1120 11.22 1.38 1.08 1.38 1.08 1.38 1.08 1.38 1.08 1.38 =
9-ply

=
=
=
K9-1240 12.42 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 9-ply

Note:
1. Layup Availability
Estimate for release Q2 2019
Estimated for release Q3 2019
Estimated for release Q4 2019
2. “=” indicates laminates are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panel,
3. “ ” indicates laminates are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel
T
4. “CLT Layup” is classified as a “CLT-Grade” in the PRG-320 standard
5. See appendix for associated structural design values for each CLT layup designation

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CLT Guidebook
For more information, please contact [email protected].

katerra.com 18