The first wooden high-rise buildings began to be built in Russia. 5 reasons why they are the future

The first multi-storey wooden houses in Russia have begun to be built in the Vologda region. Employees of the Sokolsky Woodworking Plant will live in two four-storey buildings from CLT, where they produce materials for construction. Considering that this is a new material for Russia, which began to be actively studied from scratch just a couple of years ago, many have doubts about its safety. At the request of the International Construction Forum and the 100+ TechnoBuild exhibition, Vladimir Stoyanov, Director of the scientific and technical department of the Association of Wooden House Construction, Candidate of Technical Sciences, explained why such concerns are groundless and what kind of development CLT buildings will receive next.

The name CLT comes from the English Cross Laminated Timber (cross-glued timber). In the Russian regulatory and technical base, the material is called "cross-glued wood" (WPC). The essence of the method is that wooden planks stacked perpendicular to each other are glued together under high pressure into a massive panel. So why is this method waiting to be developed?

1. The Government has approved a multi-year program to finance research and development activities in the CLT area.

That is, the work on the development of wooden structures is being carried out quite actively. In 2021, amendments were developed to the main joint venture on wooden structures (Joint Venture 64.13330), which allow the official application of CLT. Thus, everything is being done to make wooden multi-storey construction widespread in Russia.

2. The direction of fastener development is actively developing.

The process is aimed at unifying fasteners and speeding up installation. These are steel plates working on the "dovetail" principle, and T-shaped brackets with self-drilling nails, and high-strength structural screws, supporting parts of columns. Special attention is now being paid to the development of CLT panel mounting units in multi-storey construction.

3. The direction of strengthening wooden structures with polymer composites has been greatly developed.

Wood is famous for its resistance to chemically aggressive influences, therefore, modern polymer composites are considered as a reinforcing element, which, in addition to high strength, are also resistant to aggressive influences. Methods have been developed to strengthen structures both in the production process and existing ones. It is especially important that these methods allow you to preserve the appearance of structures. Due to this, they can be used not only in new construction, but also on objects of historical and cultural value.

4. A unique domestic development is being improved – glued stubble.

Almost all large-span structures in Russia are built on this technology. The technology originated in the 80s, but it is still relevant. In particular, the rigid support units of wooden uprights have recently been successfully tested.

5. Work is actively underway in the field of fire safety of wooden structures.

Improved compositions for processing large-span structures have been developed, which make it possible to achieve a fire hazard class of structures K0 (45). Work is also underway in the field of the regulatory framework for the development of compensatory measures to weaken the current rather strict restrictions on the use of wooden structures.

More details about the prospects of modern wooden construction were discussed on April 27 at a joint webinar of 100+ TechnoBuild and the V. A. Kucherenko Central Research Institute (SIC "Construction"). The recording of the broadcast is available on the 100+ TechnoBuild YouTube channel. In addition, the topic will be discussed at the 100+ forum, which will be held in Yekaterinburg from October 18 to 21, 2022.