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Thursday, March 27, 2025
Moisture Control and Coatings
Oregon Ballroom 203Moderator:
Mass Timber Protection: The New Zealand Context
New Zealand is an excellent testing ground for mass timber buildings due to its challenging seismic activity, weather conditions, wind, UV exposure, and other environmental factors. As a leader in developing innovative mass timber systems for various building typologies, this presentation will focus on applying these systems in the New Zealand context. Specifically, it will emphasize moisture management in an 8-level office building development in Tauranga, known as 90 Devonport Road.
The presentation will outline the strategies, materials, and applications used in the Temporary Timber Protection Strategy framework to ensure the structure’s protection in this demanding environment. Additionally, it will highlight the efforts needed to prepare a construction company unfamiliar with mass timber, transforming it into a high-confidence, highly knowledgeable workforce. We will also look into the prospects of a duplicable mass timber system that can be applied across different typologies, and the power of a moisture management strategy that can provide simpler complaince and acceptance from local authorities.
Lessons Learned: Holistic Moisture Management in Mass Timber Buildings
In this session, I will share insights from the Danish Technological Institute on effectively managing moisture in mass timber buildings. Drawing from real-life experience and our ongoing research in Denmark, I will present a detailed case study of our Build-in-Wood demonstrator building, as well as insights from other projects across the country. This includes everything from developing a moisture strategy to implementing the management plan, adding protective measures and using moisture-detecting systems. I will discuss the continuous surveillance of moisture levels throughout the building’s entire lifetime, as well as handling emergencies. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, I will highlight the risks identified and provide guidance and lessons learned to ensure the longevity and durability of mass timber structures.
Best Practices for Mass Timber Roof Design and Construction
Interest in mass timber buildings, and awareness of its advantages, have exploded in recent years. But with any new construction technique comes new challenges and questions about best practices for designers and contractors.
For roofs built over mass timber including cross-laminated timber (CLT) and other engineered wood panels there are several significant design and construction considerations that differ from roofing over concrete, steel decks, or light wood framing.
Roofs built over mass timber components require specific attention to careful moisture protection during construction and the protection utilized may also have important design considerations for the roof assembly longevity afterwards. Trapping moisture within mass timber roofs is of particular concern and therefore designs that are phased to keep the wood dry during the construction process and then allow drying in-service are preferrable where possible. Other questions arise around correct placement of air and vapor control and slope in both protected membrane and conventional roof assemblies along with how wind uplift and wind and fire insurance may be affected.
This presentation will summarize best practices for mass timber roofs and share experiences of successful solutions for keeping mass timber dry during construction and beyond and meet wind uplift and other roofing requirements.
