Dowel Lam Timber
Efficiency and Beauty in Mass Timber
Dowel Laminated Timber Explore a variety of dowel-laminated timber profiles and applications
DLT is a mass timber product that can be used for floor, wall, and roof structures. These solid wood panels use hardwood dowels to friction fit pre-milled boards together on edge, creating a panel which is particularly efficient for horizontal spans and allows for flexible architectural design.
DLT panels are the only all wood mass timber product – in concept, with only trace amounts of glue and no nails. DLT panels can be easily processed using CNC machinery, creating a high tolerance panel which can also contain pre-integrated acoustic materials and MEPF interfaces.
- Wide variety of surface profiles can be integrated inexpensively into the bottom surface of the panel, including an acoustic profile.
- Ability to use varying species or lamination widths (2x, 3x, 4x etc).
- One of North America’s only mass timber manufacturers with in-line automated, shop-applied coating line.
- High dimensional accuracy through individual board moulding and panel CNC machining.
- Integration of chases and runs for electrical, sprinkler, etc. Chase covers.
- 4 panel appearance grades - premium, select, standard and industrial.
- Variety of sealer and stain coatings available to shop-apply at exposed side of panels.
- All wood fibre spans in the primary span direction leading to thinner panels, low fiber volume, and cost savings compared to CLT.
- Significantly more efficient in a fire-rated scenario.
- Continuous laminations are created with certified structural finger joints which run over the full length of the panels.
- Single spans up to 60ft for roofs, 32ft for floors. Transverse (weak axis) spans up to 4ft are achievable with screw reinforcement, or greater with structural reinforcement.
- DLT is recognized by building codes across the US & CAN.
- Shop-installed sheathing as required (for diaphragm loads).
- ASTM E119 / CAN/ULC S101 fire testing has been completed to demonstrate 2hr Fire Resistance Rating for a 2x6 DLT panel (including a spacing gap between panels).
- DLT is the only all-wood mass timber panel.
- Higher Carbon Capturew.
- Contains only trace amounts of glue due to fingerjointing the boards, if finger-jointed boards are used (panels >20ft long). Less than 1% of the glue used in CLT.
- No other chemicals, VOCs, or metal nails.
- Healthier indoor air quality with no off-gassing.
- No glue = faster production.
- No nails or metal fasteners, DLT can be easily processed using CNC machinery and allow on-site modifications.
- ~3650lbs CO2 sequestered per ton, wood is the only renewable structural material.
- Wood fibre can be sourced from sustainably managed North American forests and locks in carbon dioxide, acting as a carbon sink.
- Integrated acoustic profile, achieving NRC 0.70 noise reduction, while keeping the wood exposed with a beautiful, refined linear wood ceiling look.
- Multiple acoustic insulation colors / types (including formaldehyde-free options).
- Removes need for dropped acoustic ceilings - beautiful ADLT panels can be fully exposed.
- Can source any wood species as input lumber, from any location (eg. for local sourcing requirements).
- Certified to carry chain of custody for PEFC, SFI or FSC, helping achieve LEED and responsible forest management goals.
- Reclaimed lumber.
- Large panels up to 12’ wide x 60’ long.
- Panels come with a Shop-Applied Temp Weather Protection Membrane.
- Speed of construction - 25,000 sqft floor plate erected in as little as a week due to coordinated prefabricated elements.
- Virtually no site waste due to optimized offsite prefabrication.
- DLT utilizes standard dimensional lumber which is more cost efficient to procure than lamstock.
- Lower manufacturing costs due to high speed production and removal of need for gluing or nailing.
- Less volume of material due to structural efficiency.
- Reduction in labor required on site due to pre-manufacturing.
- Reduced installation time with a ‘kit of parts.’
Profiles DowelLam offers a wide variety of architectural surfaces
Explore our beautiful profiles including our proprietary Acoustic DLT.
Standard Kerf
Narrow slots (or kerfs), 3mm wide x 8mm deep create a fine line architectural profile that highlights each lamella.
Hotel Magdalena's primary structure for the interior hotel rooms is DLT panels on light wood frame bearing/shear walls. The panels are exposed at the ceiling, creating a warm and welcoming aesthetic in the rooms. " />
Hotel Magdalena
Hotel Magdalena's primary structure for the interior hotel rooms is DLT panels on light wood frame bearing/shear walls. The panels are exposed at the ceiling, creating a warm and welcoming aesthetic in the rooms.
Chamfer
Beveled edges, 3mm wide at a 45-degree angle, which produces a softer effect than the kerf, but still highlights each lamella.
Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre Designed to meet aesthetic and structural requirements, the system combines dowel-laminated timber (DLT) panels for gravity and lateral load resistance with glulam and steel components for long spans and durability." />
Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre
Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre Designed to meet aesthetic and structural requirements, the system combines dowel-laminated timber (DLT) panels for gravity and lateral load resistance with glulam and steel components for long spans and durability.
Eased
Rounded edges similar to ordinary lumber, with a 4mm radius that creates a softer effect than the chamfer, but still highlights each lamella.
T3 West Midtown is the second T3 office building ("timber, transit, technology") developed by the world's largest private developer, Hines. he gravity system is comprised of DLT floor and roof panels over a Glulam post and beam substructure. The lateral system consists of perimeter and internal steel brace frames, which were installed in sequence with the timber structure." />
T3 West Midtown
T3 West Midtown is the second T3 office building ("timber, transit, technology") developed by the world's largest private developer, Hines. he gravity system is comprised of DLT floor and roof panels over a Glulam post and beam substructure. The lateral system consists of perimeter and internal steel brace frames, which were installed in sequence with the timber structure.
Square
Square edges, at 90 degrees, which results in a more monolithic effect than the other standard profiles.
Music Row; The superstructure uses shop prefabricated spruce DLT panels, utilizing our standard Kerf profile, on Glulam columns and beams, with a central structural steel core as the lateral load resisting system. " />
Music Row
Music Row; The superstructure uses shop prefabricated spruce DLT panels, utilizing our standard Kerf profile, on Glulam columns and beams, with a central structural steel core as the lateral load resisting system.
Acoustic DLT - Standard
The Acoustic profile incorporates an acoustic void into the edge of each board which is acoustically engineered to trap sound waves. This void is filled with non-combustible, fibrous insulation strips which act as an absorbing material to shorten the reverberation time and create a higher acoustic performance inside rooms.
Kellog Middle School is the first Acoustic Dowel Laminated Timber Project in the United States. This new middle school in Shoreline, Washington uses DLT roof panels over the entry/commons area as well as the library. The panels not only address the structural requirements, but offer a beautiful finish ceiling with acoustic attenuation (NRC of 0.70). Integrated between each panel is a linear chase, up to 11" wide, that houses conduits and lighting. ." />
Kellog Middle School
Kellog Middle School is the first Acoustic Dowel Laminated Timber Project in the United States. This new middle school in Shoreline, Washington uses DLT roof panels over the entry/commons area as well as the library. The panels not only address the structural requirements, but offer a beautiful finish ceiling with acoustic attenuation (NRC of 0.70). Integrated between each panel is a linear chase, up to 11" wide, that houses conduits and lighting. .
More Acoustic Profiles coming soon.
Learn More about Acoustic DLT
Single Fluted
Panel layups using boards of different depths or thicknesses is possible with DowelLam. Fluted patterns create an interesting aesthetic if exposed, as well as allowing for service runs. The fluted panel has a structural performance which is between that of the two lamination depths.
Double-Fluted
Panel layups using boards of different depths or thicknesses is possible with DowelLam. Fluted patterns create an interesting aesthetic if exposed, as well as allowing for service runs. The fluting has a structural performance which is between that of the two lamination depths. Random patterns are also possible.
Bullnose
Sawtooth
Contact us for more information." />
Create your own profile
DowelLam offers a product so flexible that clients can work with our team to create their own custom profile. Contact us for more information.
Specifications Technical Specifications
Panel Depth
4" - 12” in nominal laminations
Panel Size
Lengths up to 60.5’ in any increments
Width up to 12’ in any increments
Lamination Width
2”, 3”, 4” (nominal)
Species
Spruce Pine Fir (SPF), Douglas Fir (D.Fir), Hemlock-Fir (Hem-Fir), European Spruce, Alaskan Yellow Cedar (AYC), Western Red Cedar (WRC)
Appearance Grade
Premium, Select, Standard, Industrial
Chain of Custody Certification
PEFC, FSC, SFI
Specifications Species
other species available upon request
Spruce Pine Fir (SPF)
Douglas Fir (D.Fir)
Hemlock-Fir (Hem-Fir)
European Spruce (Euro-Spruce)
Alaskan Yellow Cedar (AYC)
Western Red Cedar (WRC)
Specifications Coatings & Finishes
DowelLam can provide a wide array of shop-applied coatings. The final look can vary based on the species chosen. Below are some examples of our most sought-after finishes
Fabrication Process
Precision
Mass Timber Manufacturing
DowelLam’s mass timber manufacturing is highly automated and highly efficient, using the latest technology and machinery for optimizing, finger-jointing, moulding, CNC machining, and coating.
The manufacturing process of dowelling involves no glue or press curing time, and as a result panel production is faster than similar glued products such as CLT or GLT. Our DLT machines are the largest and fastest in the world with a fully automated loading and pressing process. This means that panels can be manufactured quickly, resulting in lower costs in comparison to other mass timber panels.
Resources
Access additional resources including our comprehensive DLT Design Guide and other technical documents.
View our resources