CLT Shaft Wall System

Sterling Structural showcases project in North Carolina.

submitted by Sterling Structural

Sterling® Structural, a division of Sterling Solutions, a leading U.S. manufacturer of sustainably sourced, domestically produced cross laminated timber (CLT) structural systems, introduces a CLT elevator shaft wall system for new construction, part of its TerraLam® structural product line. The system supports all major elevator manufacturers and egress stair designs, saving builders elevator shaft wall installation time and costs without sacrificing fire safety or structural integrity. Reducing embodied carbon compared to concrete or masonry shaft walls, the new system features CLT panels for shaft walls and, in some cases, roofs, along with coordinated connection details and all necessary hardware. Sterling’s project management team coordinates deliveries, sequencing panels for easy installation whether the project uses platform or balloon framing. “It’s easy to overlook the elevator shaft when considering building materials for a project,” Sterling Structural Vice President of Mass Timber Michaela Harms said. “Yet it’s often the easiest, most cost-efficient and quickest way to reduce cost and embodied carbon across a project.” Unlike poured concrete, CLT is:

• Lower cost: CLT panel installation does not require as much labor or use of multiple tradespeople.
• Not weather-dependent: CLT panels can be installed in all weather conditions, enabling more predictable scheduling and maintaining project timelines.
• Quicker to install: Prefabricated panels can be installed in hours by a single trade and require only a single inspection.
• Sustainable: Sterling’s CLT panels are made from 100% domestically grown regenerative timber, dramatically reducing embodied carbon and supporting the health of U.S. forests.

Sterling Structural’s CLT-based panels were recently used at a Candlewood Suites hotel at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The six-story, 207-room, 122,000-ft2 building was constructed almost entirely from mass timber, including the elevator and stair shafts. The facility was designed to meet the highly restrictive military Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection requirements under the Privatized Army Lodging program. Lee Grawcock, senior project manager with project installer MLP Solutions, said:

“We’ve been incredibly impressed with how much time this product saves during the installation of CLT mass timber walls, especially for stair and elevator shafts. Not only does it eliminate the need for interior drywall to meet the 2-h fire rating — which is a huge win — but it also integrates seamlessly with all the structural systems we work with, including cold-formed steel, precast concrete and traditional metal deck systems. It also streamlines site work by not having to schedule a mason/concrete subtrade. The installation process is straightforward and efficient, making it a real game-changer for our carpenters to drive the critical path of our projects.”

About TerraLam

Sterling’s TerraLam® structural product line offers competitively priced, mass timber panels designed for seamless integration into wall, floor and roof applications. Sterling Structural serves as a one-stop shop for mass timber or a hybrid structural shell. Its panels are certified to the PRG 320 performance standard by the International Code Council; certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Chain of Custody; third-party verified by SCS Global; have an Environmental Product Declaration; are third-party verified by EPD Hub; and carry a Red List Free™ DECLARE® label through the International Living Future Institute.
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