Fast + Epp completes six-month point-supported CLT testing program
January 25, 2024
After 6 months of experimentation, Fast + Epp along with our Concept lab team have completed our punching shear testing of point-supported CLT floor and roof systems in January 2024. The teams tested (6) repetitions of many variables for the point-supported CLT floor system, including wood species, manufacturers, CLT panel grade, screw reinforcing pattern, panel thickness, panel geometry, column types and baseplate geometry and column locations. In total there were 30 different configurations for a total of 180 tests conducted in our lab, and additional full-scale panel testing is scheduled to be completed at UNBC, Prince George.
The data from this testing program will be shared publicly and sent to code-review committee members to get point-supported CLT recognized as an engineered mass timber building system in future Canadian building codes. This will help other engineers to understand the state-of-the-art methods for designing, analyzing, and detailing point-supported CLT panels, and in turn will help to maximize the use of our important timber resource to create sustainable and efficient structures.
The program was done in partnership with UNBC, NSERC Alliance, GCWood through NRCAN and the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund.
Current papers on the testing program:
- Point-supported CLT Floors
- Punching shear strength of Point-supported CLT panels
- A Comparison of Punching Shear Design Approaches for Point Supported CLT Panels
- Experimental Research on Point-supported CLT Panels: Phase 1: Rolling Shear Strength
- Post + Panel: Next Generation Point Supported CLT Floors
