#123 Ready-to-Use Fire and Acoustic Certified Solutions for Off-the-Shelf CLT Construction
Mass timber construction is growing in Australia, but its use is still limited by complex fire and acoustic compliance requirements. Because there are no standard Deemed‑to‑Satisfy pathways for cross-laminated timber (CLT) and related products, each project requires bespoke testing and engineering, making approvals slow, costly and inconsistent.
This project aims to remove those barriers by creating a pre‑certified suite of CLT and XLT floor and wall systems that meet national fire and acoustic performance requirements. It will generate validated performance data, standardised construction details, and certification‑ready documentation to support adoption under the ABCB Voluntary Certification Scheme.
Outcomes will include:
- Ready‑to‑use, compliant system designs for typical mid‑rise and commercial buildings
- Reduced need for project‑specific fire engineering and acoustic reports
- Greater confidence for designers, builders, and regulators in using mass timber systems
Project team: Dr Bernard Gibson, Amitha Jayalath, Karen Alavi
External parties:
- Carbon Fire Engineering (advisory on fire engineering)
- Australian Building Codes Board (advisory on voluntary certification)