Hosted by WoodWorks | A Canadian Wood Council Resource Program

1 ConEd Learning Hours

7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.

The decision to build with mass timber is driven by many factors. Chief among these are the push toward low carbon construction and a need to optimize construction efficiency in the face of a constrained workforce—challenges mass timber construction is uniquely well suited to address. The increased adoption of mass timber construction, however, represents a significant change to the way we build. The sector is evolving rapidly, and practising professionals must keep pace with code changes and the expanding opportunities for mass timber construction or risk being left behind.

This presentation provides a short general overview of mass timber in the marketplace leading to a more in-depth discussion of the relatively recent addition of encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC), which is a new construction type in the building code that permits wood buildings up to 12 storeys in height.

Discussion will also centre around the results of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program, which was conducted during the second half of 2022. The session will give an overview of a series of large-scale demonstration fire tests so participants understand how these latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. Each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what the results mean for future mass timber building design and Canadian building and fire codes.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the range of available mass timber products in the market and how they can be used in wood construction.
   
2. Review the NBC 2020 code provisions for EMTC, including encapsulation ratings, building sizes and types, permitted exposed mass timber, and additional requirements for other building components.
   
3. Understand the outcomes of the mass timber demonstration fire tests and how the results support code work currently underway that will impact future updates permitting larger buildings and a greater area of exposed mass timber.
   
4. Understand the mass timber technical resources and where to access them to increase capacity for wood design.
   

Marc Alam, PhD, EIT
Senior Manager, Codes and Standards – Fire & Acoustics., Canadian Wood Council

Hailey Quiquero, MASc, P.Eng., Technical Manager
WoodWorks Ontario | a resource program of the Canadian Wood Council