Dowel Laminated Timber | DLT PROFILE HANDBOOK Mass Timber | Signature Structures Introducing DLT DLT Profile Handbook | pg.2 Dowel Laminated Timber The All Wood Mass Timber Product Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) is a mass HISTORY OF DLT StructureCraft is the first to bring DLT to the timber product that can be used for floor, North American Market with the world’s wall, and roof structures. It is known as The concept of using hardwood dowels largest automated DLT manufacturing dübelholz in Europe. These solid wood panels to connect softwood boards together was line now housed in our new state of the art use hardwood dowels to friction fit pre-milled conceived in Switzerland in the 1990s. Julius 50,000sqft facility in Abbotsford, BC. boards together on edge, creating a panel Natterer spearheaded the resurgence of NLT / which is particularly efficient for horizontal brettstapel to Europe in the 1970’s and 1980’s, spans and is architectural versatile. as he believed that this efficient method of construction could be used to make beautiful, DLT panels are the only all wood mass timber low carbon, healthy buildings that are quick product – in concept, they involve no glue and easy to build. or nails. With no metal fasteners, DLT panels can be easily processed using CNC machinery, In the early 1990s, DLT / dübelholz was creating a high tolerance panel which can also developed by a Swiss company. They saw contain pre-integrated acoustic materials, this product as a superior product to NLT / electrical conduit, and other service interfaces. brettstapel in every way – it used only wood, it was CNC machinable, and production of the Unique to DLT as a mass timber product, a panel was possible with automated machinery. wide variety of profiles can be integrated They proceeded to create the first automated inexpensively into the bottom surface of machinery line for DLT. the panel. Each finger-jointed board goes Several companies in Germany, Austria, and through a molder, allowing a limitless range of Switzerland adopted this idea and started different profiles to be explored and exposed manufacturing DLT commercially, using in the bottom of a panel, this includes high- automated systems for drilling and inserting performing acoustic profiles using wood fiber the dowels. insulation to absorb sound. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.3 PROFILES STANDARD DLT Profile Handbook | pg.4 PROFILES STANDARD Versatility of DLT Profile Moulding Profile Options New Profiles Each of the boards in a DLT panel are run Some examples of aesthetic and acoustic Developing a new profile is a simple process through our profile moulder, allowing custom profiles we offer are shown below. Each of the and can be done a project basis. Profiles profiles to be integrated into the bottom of the profiles are parametric - for example chamfers, are fully customizable to suit the particular panel. roundovers, or kerfs are available in any size, performance and aesthetic requirements of radius, or depth. The acoustic profiles are able each project. to develop Noise Reduction Coefficients of up to 0.80. ACOUSTIC STANDARD SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SQUARE with wood fibre FACTORY EDGE SQUARE EDGE FLUTED ACOUSTIC ROUND SAWTOOTH CHAMFER GAPPED ACOUSTIC SQUARE with felt KERF BULLNOSE GAPPED with wood fibre DLT Profile Handbook | pg.5 PROFILES TIMBER-CONCRETE COMPOSITES (TCC) DLT Profile Handbook | pg.6 Versatility of DLT Timber-concrete composite (TCC) is a There are many options for creating StructureCraft has conducted full-scale technology which connects the mass timber structural composite action between a stiffness and vibration testing of several floor slab with a concrete topping to create DLT panel and the concrete topping. The different composite systems and can provide a structural element which is stronger and principles behind three common methods timber engineering services to design these stiffer than either material separately. have been illustrated here. Robust design systems. Typically TCC floors are used when there are methodologies for each of these methods longer floor panel spans (>20ft), when floor have been developed in Europe, and have buildup height is to be minimised, or when been put into use in many buildings over the there are stringent requirements for floor past 10-15 years. stiffness or vibration performance. COMPOSITE with plywood sheathing & Acoustic Mat COMPOSITE Fluted COMPOSITE Notched DLT Profile Handbook | pg.7 VISUAL QUALITY COATINGS and FINISHES A variety of coatings are possible to the exposed face of DLT panels. We have worked extensively with coating manufacturers to develop a standard sealer and range of finish options which are durable for exterior exposure, and show well on the interior. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.8 VISUAL GRADES Versatility of DLT There are many visual grade options for DLT Board Widths Custom Finishes panels available, depending on the wood species Unique to DLT, any board width can be used - not Custom finishes like band sawn, rough sawn, are selected. just nominal 2x material. Thicker boards using possible on a project specific basis. 3x, 4x, or even 6x material can be processed Visual grading of the lumber is purely an through our finger-jointer, moulder, and DLT aesthetic choice for designers and has no affect machine (up to a maximum of 6” thick boards). on the structural performance of the panel. This gives a range of aesthetic options for the visible side of the panels. INDUSTRIAL VISUAL CLEAR DENIM PINE SHOU SUGI BAN DLT Profile Handbook | pg.9 VISUAL QUALITY SPECIES and GRADES DLT Profile Handbook | pg.10 Versatility of DLT Any wood species recognised in North Treated Lumber Reclaimed Wood American grading rules can be used in DLT. FRT treated lumber can be used in DLT panels. Other wood sources, including project-specific Some examples of species are shown below - wood sourcing is possible. but many more options are possible. External Use Unlike glued mass timber products, DLT is Sustainability and Certification Because each of the boards in a DLT panel recognised as a mass timber product which StructureCraft is FSC certified, and can provide spans itself between supports, the structural can be used in exterior exposure. Finger joints FSC or SFI certified DLT panels. As DLT is 100% performance of a DLT panel is very simple - like in the boards are certified exterior finger-joints. wood, there are no VOC’s and the sequestered a group of floor joists placed side-by-side. This This means DLT can be used for decks, carbon is highest of any mass timber product. means the structural values recognised for balconies, and canopies. wood species in CSA O86 or NDS 2015 can be used to design DLT panels, and there is no need for product-specific testing. WESTERN RED SPF DOUGLAS FIR ALASKAN HEM-FIR YELLOW CEDAR CEDAR DLT Profile Handbook | pg.11 MANUFACTURING The StructureCraft DLT manufacturing line is fully automated and high capacity, using the latest European technology and machinery for optimising, finger-jointing, and moulding. The manufacturing process of doweling involves no glue or press curing time, and as a result panel production is faster than similar glued products such as CLT or GLT. The StructureCraft DLT line has a throughput capacity greater than most North American CLT manufacturers. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.12 DLT Manufacturing Line A year in research and development, StructureCraft’s custom-designed DLT machine is the largest and fastest in the world. The fully automated loading and pressing process means a panel can be manufactured as quickly as every 5-10 minutes. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.13 DLT MANUFACTURING PANEL PROCESS Stage 1: Optimising Saw Stage 2: Finger-jointer Stage 3: Profile Moulder Visual defects are marked and Boards up to 6” x 12” in cross Each lamella is run through a moulder, automatically cut out as necessary section are structurally finger- ensuring exact board thickness and in the Optisaw jointed, creating continuous applying the many different profile lamella up to 60ft long options to the bottom of the board Stage 4: DLT Press Stage 5: Panel Planer Stage 6: CNC Machine Lamella are automatically fed into the DLT press, Each panel is run through a planer Openings, notches, and drillings are where 10 tons of pressure are applied both vertically which ensures exact width and milled into the panel based on project- and horizontally on the panel. Hardwood dowels thickness of the panel and creates a specific requirements using a gantry- are hydraulically pressed into tight-fit holes drilled smooth finish if required style CNC machine sideways through the panel. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.14 DLT MANUFACTURING DOWELING PROCESS Step 1: Boards Pressed Step 2: Holes Drilled Step 3: Dowels Inserted The first package of lamellas is A drilling aggregate drills 3/4” diameter The 3/4” diameter hardwood dowels automatically fed into the DLT machine holes into the wide face of the lamellas are hydraulically pressed into the and then hydraulically pressed vertically with a custom-designed drill bit. holes. and horizontally to ensure a flat panel, and remove any gaps between boards. Step 4: Process Repeat Step 5: Moisture Equilibrium Additional packages of lamellas are As the drier dowel comes into pushed into the DLT press and doweled moisture equilibrium with the into the previous packages until a full surrounding lumber, it expands, width panel is created creating a tight friction fit between the two materials. DLT Profile Handbook | pg.15 DLT PROFILES DLT Profile Handbook | pg.16 Standard Profiles The standard