Canada Wood Japan Achieves Shear Wall Multiplier 20 Breakthrough, Advancing Midrise Wood Construction

Testing of Canada Wood’s High-Performance Shear Wall System

Canada Wood Japan has successfully developed a shear wall that exceeds a multiplier of 20, a major breakthrough for mid-rise wood construction in Japan. This achievement, made possible with support from the Government of Alberta, significantly improves earthquake resistance, bringing mid-rise wooden buildings closer to reality in a country with some of the strictest seismic building codes.

A Step Forward for Earthquake-Resistant Wooden Buildings

Japan’s Building Standard Law (BSL) limits the use of wood in mid-rise construction (4 to 6 storeys) due to seismic risks. Shear walls, which help buildings withstand earthquakes, are measured using a multiplier system, where higher values indicate stronger resistance. The current maximum multiplier is 5, increasing to 7 in April 2025. Until now, even high-performance shear walls reached only multipliers of 10 to 15, while mid-rise buildings require at least 20.

While many industry players are still working toward this goal, Canada Wood Japan’s latest tests have already surpassed a multiplier of 20, proving that this shearwall system made with Canadian dimension lumber and OSB can meet Japan’s seismic requirements.

Next Steps: Testing, Refinement, and Adoption

Further development and testing will optimize the design for commercial adoption. Full implementation is expected within two to three years. Canada Wood Japan’s technical team will continue to enhance strength, cost-efficiency, and constructability, while the promotional team will work with Japanese industry stakeholders to drive adoption.

As Japan’s single-family home market continues to decline due to demographic shifts, mid-rise construction and non-residential buildings have become the key growth sectors for wood construction. To support this transition, Canada Wood Japan is committed to developing innovative technical solutions that enable wider adoption of Canadian wood products in these emerging markets. Advancements like the high-performance shear wall are part of a long-term strategy to position Canadian wood as a viable and competitive material in Japan’s evolving construction industry.