Panels & Furniture Asia November/December 2021

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
stabilise the construction. The S-beams
are also used for installing an insulation
layer. In the two top floors, there is a
traditional timber frame construction
reinforced with cross-laminated timber
plates to take up the loads.
“We have a stiff, yet elegant and slim
structure, which transfers the heavy
wind, snow and seismic loads to the
foundation made of concrete,” Hansen
pointed out.
The intermediate floor consists of
elements which form a stiff plate to
transfer the loads to the end walls and the
walls in between the apartments. Each
element consists of Kerto LVL Q-panels
on the top and Kerto LVL S-beams as ribs
and bottom flange. This structure allows
floors of up to 9m in open span.
STRONG CONNECTIONS
Various steel plates and parts, bolts,
screws and glued-in rods are used
together with the floor and wall elements
to create a stiff, stable and massive
construction.
The wall elements of these multi-storey
buildings are connected with bolts to steel
plates on the bottom, and the beams are
assembled in between the elements with
strong steel angles. The frame is connected
to the floor elements with adjacent steel
parts and massive bolts.
FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIALS
The multi-storey apartment buildings
are built according to strict firesafety
regulations, with a sprinkler
system installed. The exterior walls
are constructed as R90 walls, and
the intermediate floor elements are
constructed as REI60 floors.
Part of the fire concept is the massive
use of Kerto LVL, which has 60 minutes
fire resistance. It is also combined with
gypsum boards to provide fire protection
layer in the floors.
LONG-TERM COOPERATION
Arca Nova wanted to develop its own
construction concept to build tall timber
apartment buildings and was impressed
with Metsä Wood’s Kerto-Ripa design
system.
Hansen said: “They have supported our
learning with their help and knowledge.
It was great to visit Metsä Wood’s mill
and see showcase buildings in Finland.
Our cooperation has been vital for our
success to create a new design system
for the Norwegian housing market.” P
This article was first published on Metsä Wood’s official
website (https://www.metsawood.com/global/Pages/
default.aspx) and is reproduced here with permission.
62 Panels & Furniture Asia | November / December 2021