Abstract
The paper is an attempt to answer the question whether the material-optimized roof construction using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is safe in terms of moisture content in the demanding northern costal climates. The proposed roof structure meets the strength requirements. The partition is diffusionally open, which facilitates moisture transport. However, there is a concern whether the applied layer system allows maintaining a safe level of moisture content below critical moisture content (CMC), which has been set at 20%. The article presents the annual hygrothermal calculation of the proposed roof slope for four locations of northern Europe and Greenland characterized by costal or subpolar climate. Four scenarios of indoor air relative humidity were considered: free floating, RHmin = 40%RH, RHmin = 50%, RHmin = 60%. In all cases, the minimum indoor temperature was 20 °C. The analysis was carried out using WUFI®Plus software. The calculation results showed that the moisture content did not exceed 20% in the CLT layer at any of the described locations. However, for the two coldest climates the assumed level of safety has been exceeded in the roof oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing.
Highlights
Sustainable construction is becoming one of the most important aspects in the fight against negative changes occurring in the natural environment
There is a concern whether the applied layer system allows maintaining a safe level of moisture content below critical moisture content (CMC), which has been set at 20%
The calculations were of made for four different climates characterized by internal control scenarios, two variants in ventilated partition using cross-laminated timber (CLT) in cold coastal climates
Summary
Sustainable construction is becoming one of the most important aspects in the fight against negative changes occurring in the natural environment. What is becoming increasingly important is the entire “building life cycle”: from the material production process and construction of the building, through cheap exploitation to its utilization. Mass timber products (MTPs); including mainly structural composite lumber (SCL), glued-laminated timber (GLT, glulam), cross-laminated timber (CLT), and nailed-laminated timber (NCL) perfectly correspond to this trend. The production process allows for the optimal use of raw materials compared to traditional wooden construction because of the smaller amount of waste remaining from the cross-section of the tree after the production process. MTPs can be prefabricated with precise dimensions and openings in factory, which enables faster assembly with minimal construction waste [1]. CLT is capable of obtaining the lowest global warming potential (GWP) of timber structures [2]
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