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SmartLam Technologies Group, the first manufacturer of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) products in the United States, today announced it is now certified under the American National Standards Institute approved ANSI/APA PRG 320-2012 Standard for Performance-rated Cross-Laminated Timber.
SmartLam Cross Laminated Timber is an engineered wood building system made from several layers of solid lumber boards, stacked crosswise to each other and bonded together with a non-VOC and formaldehyde free adhesive. This provides dimensional stability, strength and rigidity, making the product a viable alternative to concrete, masonry and steel in many applications. The standard adopted by ANSI details the manufacturing and performance requirements for quality assurance.
“The validation of this certification is a point of pride among our employees, but more importantly a verification for our customers,” said Casey Malmquist, president and general manager, SmartLam. “As CLT use continues to grow across the United States, certification underscores the viability of this material as a future mainstream construction practice.”
First developed in Austria more than 25 years ago, CLT has a documented track record supporting its widespread use across Europe. Adoption of this construction method has grown with the green building movement. With careful, yet conventional planning and engineering considerations, the service life of a CLT building can last as long as buildings constructed from other materials like concrete or steel. Unlike concrete and steel, CLT is made entirely from wood, the only renewable building material.
In addition to this certification standard for manufacturing and performance requirements, application standards are also being adopted: the use of CLT was incorporated into the 2015 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) as well as the 2015 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code.
“With our wide range of products and services, we provide unmatched support to a wide variety of markets,” said Malmquist. “We continuously update and improve our processes to keep pace with developing codes and standards, today and in the future.”
For more information visit smartlam.com.
