Mass Timber: A Sustainable Future in Construction

Mass timber is gaining recognition as a sustainable source for the global construction industry. As timber-framed buildings become popular and viable alternatives to traditional materials, the focus is shifting towards innovative technologies in the wood industry, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Although the UAE is a relative newcomer to the mass timber trend, companies like DesertBoard are at the forefront of this movement. Their groundbreaking Palm Strand Boards (PSB?) showcase cutting-edge technology in the wood industry landscape.

Types of Mass Timber

Mass timber is engineered wood where layers of planks are crossed over each other to offer an exceptionally strong and load-bearing structure. These materials are significantly lighter and can be utilized to construct large buildings, providing sustainable architecture solutions and eco-friendly structures.

Different types of mass timber products include:

• Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT): Created by stacking wood in alternating directions and bonding them together with structural adhesives.
• Dowel-Laminated Timber (DLT): Uses an all-wood joinery approach, stacking softwood lumber panels that are friction-fitted together with hardwood dowels.
• Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT): This consists of timber sheets stacked and fastened with nails.
• Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam): Composed of wood laminations bonded with durable, moisture-resistant adhesives, with laminate grains running parallel to the length of the wood member.
• Hybrid Mass Timber Systems: Combine wood, steel, concrete, and other materials in construction.

Mass timber products offer great flexibility and can serve as beams, columns, floors, roofs, and walls, depending on the directional strength of each wood product.

Benefits of Mass Timber

Mass timber is a low-carbon footprint construction alternative, acting as a carbon sink and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It offers several advantages:

• Speed and Efficiency: Components can be constructed off-site, shipped, and installed quickly, reducing project downtime.
• Adaptability and Design: Provides greater adaptability to building designs and enhances urban landscapes.
• Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Offers an excellent ratio along with thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant benefits.
• Cost and Time Savings: Faster construction times result in cost savings and minimal waste.
• Environmental Impact: As a natural fiber, it sequesters CO2 and helps decarbonize buildings.

For the end user, a modular, healthy, natural building adds aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits, contributing to a sustainable urban landscape.

Mass Timber Buildings Around the World

Mass timber buildings are emerging globally, from Canada to Japan. Examples include:

• Brock Commons Residential Tower in Vancouver: An 18-storey building completed in 70 days in 2017.
• T3 Office Block in Minneapolis: A seven-storey building completed in less than ten weeks in 2016.
• Terrace House in Vancouver: A 19-storey mixed-use property completed in 2020.
• T3 Goose Island in Chicago and an 11-storey mass timber building in Newark, New Jersey.
• Hotel Magdalena in Austin, Texas: The first hotel in the US built using mass timber.

In Nordic countries, Western Europe, and Asia, wooden buildings are rising, including the AEAJ Green Terrace in Tokyo, Japan, which won the "Grand Prize" in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government-sponsored "Wood City Tokyo Model Architecture Awards."

Innovating with Wood in the UAE

The UAE is becoming a leader in the Middle East in adopting green building materials. DesertBoard is advocating for sustainable construction with its innovative PSBs. The process involves turning bio-based palm fronds into small biomass parts, processed with pressure, heat, glue, and wax.

The end product offers high performance, durability, and a local decarbonized solution. For every cubic meter of a board with 800 kg density, the retained carbon sink contribution is 401 kg of CO2e for the entire lifetime use of the board. Designed for 100-plus years of durability, DesertBoard ensures a long life and circular economy with a take-back and reuse/recycle program for local customers.

DesertBoard has successfully created double-storey buildings using their PSB? and beams, demonstrating their suitability as a mass timber component.

Matthias Gelber, DesertBoard’s Brand Ambassador, stated: Can we turn cities into sequestered carbon structures? This offers a golden opportunity to bring nature back into the home. The product should be the first choice for developers for mass timber in the UAE and the broader Middle East. It is deforestation-free, scalable, and offers incredible benefits without a single tree being cut. Made in the UAE, these climate-resilient building materials are biodiversity-positive and can be adopted in a range of formaldehyde-free modular products. This innovation could be a part of a mass timber revolution in the UAE construction sector.

DesertBoard is not just setting a new standard in the construction industry; it is leading a green revolution that prioritizes sustainability without compromising on strength or durability. As mass timber continues to gain traction globally, DesertBoard's innovative PSB? highlight the UAE's commitment to eco-friendly building solutions. By leveraging local resources and cutting-edge technology, DesertBoard is paving the way for a future where sustainable architecture becomes the norm. Join us in embracing this transformative approach to construction and be part of the movement towards a greener, more sustainable world.