CROSS Safety Report: Water ingress to cross-laminated timber structural frame

Simon Corbey introduces a practical new guide aiming to increase engagement between insurers and design teams to help identify and mitigate risks on mass timber projects.

This month we present a CROSS Safety Report discussing the need for regular site inspections to be conducted by the original design engineer. The report was submitted to, and processed by, CROSS-AUS, but the contents will also be of interest to readers within the UK and internationally.

This month's report concerns durability issues with engineered timber due to water ingress or condensation issues. Engineered timber appears to disintegrate more quickly than conventional timber, resulting in structural failure rather than distortion.