Monday, May 19, 2025
Sterling Structural, a leading North American manufacturer of prefabricated mass timber and hybrid structural systems, has introduced a modular Mass Timber Shaft Wall System designed for multi-story construction. Engineered for versatility, the system is compatible with all major elevator brands and egress stair configurations.
“It’s easy to overlook the elevator shaft when considering building materials for a project,” said Michaela Harms, vice president of Mass Timber at Sterling Structural. “Yet it’s often the easiest, most cost efficient and quickest way to reduce cost and embodied carbon across a project. Our new system makes it turnkey to construct your shaft walls from domestically sourced and manufactured, sustainable CLT that reduces cost and time to installation without sacrificing performance, structural integrity or fire resistance.”
The new system incorporates prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for shaft walls—and in some cases, roofs—complete with integrated connection details and all required hardware. Sterling’s project management team oversees delivery logistics, ensuring panels are sequenced for efficient installation, whether the project utilizes platform or balloon framing methods.
CLT-based wall panels differ from traditional masonry shaft walls in several ways. Unlike poured concrete or masonry, CLT costs less and can be installed in any weather.
“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-hour 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,” said Lee Grawcock, a senior project manager with MLP Solutions, the project installer.
The panels meet the PRG 320 performance standard, certified by the International Code Council; are SFI Chain of Custody certified with third-party verification by SCS Global; feature a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) from EPD Hub; and are labeled Red List Free with a DECLARE certification from the International Living Future Institute.
Read more news on: mass timber, wall system, wood panel, CLT, North American woodworking
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