CROSS Safety Report
Durability issues with engineered timber
Overview
A reporter has observed durability issues with engineered timber when there is water ingress or condensation issues. It appears to disintegrate more quickly than conventional timber, resulting in structural failure rather than distortion.
Key Learning Outcomes
For designers:
- Detailing to ensure watertight construction is particularly important with engineered timber components
- The introduction of high levels of insulation can lead to condensation build up and subsequent deterioration of engineered timber components
For designers, surveyors & building owners/occupiers:
- CROSS would be pleased to receive reports of similar instances
Full Report
Find out more about the Full Report
The Full Report below has been submitted to CROSS and describes the reporter’s experience. The text has been edited for clarity and to ensure anonymity and confidentiality by removing any identifiable details. If you would like to know more about our secure reporting process or submit a report yourself, please visit the reporting to CROSS-UK page.
Following three recent surveys, the reporter has concerns about durability problems with engineered timber when there is water ingress or condensation. While this does not necessarily relate to an issue with the engineered timber product itself, there appears to be significantly more disintegration than with conventional timber components which results in failure rather than distortion.
Structural failure of primary support members has been observed by the reporter, with rapid deterioration of the timber product compared to traditional timber. Examples of the issues are illustrated in Figures 1-3.
Figure 1 shows a top floor property within a development less than 15 years old. Water ingress and possibly condensation issues have resulted in significant deterioration of the engineered timber rafters and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) sheeting.
Figure 2 also shows a top floor property within a development again less than 15 years old. Water ingress and possibly condensation issues have resulted in significant deterioration of the OSB sheeting. The engineered rafters have been saturated but they are still sound in this case although they have areas of cracking after drying out.
Figure 3 shows a dwelling less than 13 years old. Again, this issue is likely a combination of water ingress and possible condensation issues because it has been designed as a passive house with high levels of insulation and cold bridging may have resulted locally. Engineered timber products were specified on the original plans, with glulam ring beams which the reporter notes have deteriorated significantly.
The reporter concludes that care is needed when specifying the circumstances in which engineered timber products will be used.
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Feedback
In Australia we have also observed the use of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) being used externally (in one case around pool decks, and in another as the perimeter beam to a balcony deck) where water penetration of the top edge of the LVL beam has caused rot and decay at the ends and along the length of the timber beam. This is a durability issue but also due to the inappropriate use of a timber product in a location where it should never be used. These may not be engineer designed elements but are structural elements.
Expert Panel Comments
Expert Panels comment on the reports we receive. They use their experience to help you understand what can be learned from the reports. If you would like to know more, please visit the CROSS-UK Expert Panels page.
In the UK, timber frame (TF) construction and the use of engineered timber products does not have the long history of traditional masonry and timber construction, however it is likely the issues highlighted by the reporter are related more to poor detailing or poor maintenance with regard to water ingress and condensation than the choice of timber based material. The problem is not so much that engineered wood products are less durable compared to solid timber but that, with increasing use of these products and systems, it is apparent that some parts of the industry need to better understand the DOs and DON'Ts of TF construction and the higher requirement for excluding water from such construction.
However it occurs, the presence of moisture in contact with wood based products can lead to difficulties and should be avoided. The most common causes of moisture build up are condensation and leaks.
CROSS is aware of considerable anecdotal feedback that 'durability' is not given the design attention it deserves, in particular the avoidance of water ingress through roof coverings, the avoidance of condensation and the limited ability to identify issues related to these before they may become so advanced as to require significant remedial measures.
CROSS Safety Report 852 – Rotting of cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof panels - covered similar issues and a section is repeated below for the convenience of the reader:
Typically, the onset of decay starts when the moisture content of timber is over 20%. When there is a significant amount of trapped moisture or water collected during construction, the timber will begin to deteriorate. If moisture or water is continuously fed to the timber via roof leaks and/or condensation and it is not able to dry, then the rate of decay is accelerated.
If a material is only suitable for a dry environment, then it is essential that water ingress is prevented by sound detailing and correctly applied coverings. Maintenance is similarly essential and owners should be vigilant in taking action if there are observable leaks or excessive condensation.
Sometimes the use of the wrong sheathing board could also account for the sorts of defect noted within this report. The National House Building Council (NHBC) and other warranty providers have specified what sheathing material specification are acceptable on a residential site, for example NHBC Standards Clause 6.2.7.
There were press reports several years ago of issues with timber framed housing in New Zealand and Canada that in both cases led to extensive repairs and financial difficulties for home owners.