Durability and protection of mass timber structures: A review

Abstract Mass timber (MT), a group of large engineered structural wooden panels, is becoming increasingly popular due to sustainable construction. Despite the numerous benefits of MT-based buildings, such as low-carbon emission, short construction time, and cost-effectiveness, the concerns regarding the durability of MT may limit their market acceptance. These concerns prompted studies on minimizing the degradation risk of MT structures, which was the focus of this paper. MT products fabricated from dimensional lumber with low natural durability increases their susceptibility to biological degradation. Durability issues, including degradation under weathering and biological attack, have been reported for cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (Glulam) subjected to outdoor conditions. Several protocols have been implemented for wood protection, which could be explored for MT-based structures. Therefore, this review paper explores the application of the established wood protection protocols to MT structures. We reviewed the current knowledge in wood protection, the need for large dimension building elements such as MT, and the possible implementation of the already established wood protection protocols for MT structures.