Services
Engineering & Design
Establish design goals through discussions among the various project stakeholders, including the designer and builder, and use them as a guide in decision making throughout design and cost analysis. Get an experience timber engineer on early. We work with partners from around the world to support the development of projects using our technologies. We are not able to make recommendations about the engineering services you choose, however we can provide three references and you can conduct your own investigation. In terms of product design, our products are produced under strict manufacturing guidelines and controls. A third-party independent certified Quality Control system is used for the manufacture of all engineered timber products as associated items.
Shop Drawings
It is vitally important to clearly define the engineering scope of work for the mass timber system and its interface with other building elements. Sometimes a timber engineer will be responsible for providing signed engineering drawings. If this is the case, clearly define which firms will provide design and detailing for the lateral system, connections and foundation anchorage. The shop drawing process is an add-on to the engineering and architectural designs for the building. We are able to provide shop drawing services if suitable documentation is available for review and progressing to 3D & 2D modelling. We maximise panel sizes to minimise machine cutting, material waste and costs. Unique geometries and varying slab edge conditions can increase costs; balancing the design with budget is an imperative.
Naturally Engineered
Timber is naturally engineered by nature and therefore is not a homogenous product in the way it performs. Timber is also prone to defects, differences in strength within individuals boards and between trees within a plantation. The variation in surface appearance (knots, gaps, colour variation etc.) of timber is not within the control of CLTP. However we can improve the appearance with select docking of imperfections. CLTP follow the ISO 16696-1:2019 CLT Manufacturing Standard and the Annex B for CLT Appearance Classification.
Project Management
It is important to approach mass timber design as a modular system. Start to think of your design on a module of 2.4m or 3m - depending on your project type. For comparing material systems, the 2.4m module also works well for steel and concrete. The module can be refined early in the design development phase. For projects that include structured parking, consider modules that work well with the parking layout to minimise structural transfers. Optimise structure, vibration, fire resistance and acoustics while minimising the thickness of the floor/roof panels. These areas usually have the biggest influence on cost.
Cost Estimation
Mass timber buildings are relatively new to the Australia and as such not enough data is available to predict costs with the unit cost method. Cost estimating mass timber systems requires a holistic approach to compare costs and yield savings. A holistic approach takes into account the financial benefits of a shorter construction schedule. A direct comparison of the price of a mass timber structural frame to the price of a steel/concrete frame will not provide an accurate overall project cost comparison.
