Gary Raftery

Researchers at the University’s Structural Timber Innovation Laboratory are breaking ground with durability programmes to open new applications for low carbon cross-laminated timber in demanding outdoor environments. The novel product, which is made by stacking layers of thick solid wood boards crosswise and gluing them together, is increasingly used as a low-carbon option for walls, floors and roofs in buildings. However, its use is largely limited to indoor environments, and has only rarely been used in applications such as bridges, facades, outdoor pavilions, and other infrastructure. “Our research aims to change that,” says Dr Gary Raftery, a research director in the University’s Circular Innovations Research Centre. …Raftery says cross-laminated timber is known for its strength and architectural versatility, but unprotected exposure to the elements can lead to biological degradation like rot and mold, dimensional instability, and structural compromise.