What is Nail-Laminated Timber?
Also known as “warehouse decking,” Nail Laminated Timber (NLT) is a high-performance, factory-built substitute for the concrete slabs and steel decking commonly used in commercial and institutional buildings. The NLT system is created by stacking dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, or 2×12) on edge, then nailing it together in patterns calculated for strength. It is a cost-effective mass timber construction solution that’s been used for a century because it is simple, attractive, and economical. When left exposed, NLT’s design aesthetic is uniquely appealing. NLT panels can be used in flat applications as well as undulating roofs.
The Many Benefits of NLT
In China, Japan and Korea, Canada Wood Group has identified NLT as a potential cost-competitive alternative to CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) for the mass-timber construction market. Additionally, the NLT-midply beam configuration is being tested for use as a heavy-duty component of large-scale buildings in Japan. In both China and Japan, fire testing has shown NLT assemblies to have fire-resistance ratings that comply well with local fire codes.
Demonstration
Demonstration projects are currently underway in Korea to showcase NLT’s benefits when used in the construction of public buildings. In 2020, Korea’s first NLT office building underwent construction. The 4-storey building in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam province, was converted from the original concrete design to a mass-timber structure by using the glulam post & beam with a structural NLT floor system. The project is slated to be completed in mid-2021. Canada Wood Korea provides continuous support to this project.
