HONOLULU (KHON2) — A new construction framing style known as mass timber could soon be making its way into carpentry projects across the islands.
Mass timber is a framing style that carpenters across the nation are beginning to adopt, which is characterized by the use of large, engineered wood panels and often paired with wood columns and beams.
On Friday, the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund began training their workers on the mass timber style.
“We believe that the trend is coming, and we want our members to be as prepared as much as possible,” said Errol Kusunoki, HCATF Training Coordinator. “What we’re doing right now is getting our members familiar with what kind of anchoring systems are going to be used in mass timber installs, what it takes to lay out, making sure everything is level, firm and square.”
If mass timber does find its way into Oahu, the HCATF believes that it will be beneficial for projects in a variety of ways.
“It actually leaves less of a carbon footprint other than concrete and iron construction,” said Apprentice Chandler Johnston, “I think that’s the main benefit to using mass timber over other styles.”
Mass timber also comes with safety perks, particularly during fire season.
“It has a slight fire resistance as far as burn rate. It will burn, but it’ll char from the outside in, so the interior components will stay structurally sound,” said Kusunoki. “That’s the whole key with these modular systems, being that wildfires are a big subject here in Hawaii.”
A slower burn rate allows first responders more time to get to the structure in the event of a fire.
But beyond safety, some feel that the mass timber design is more aesthetically pleasing, moving away from the industrial look of steel beams, nails, and bolts, into a more calming vintage wooden feel.
“When everything is finished, it has a really nice, clean, sleek look, because a lot of mass timber you’re going to see the exposed timber on the insides of the interior,” said Johnston. “It kind of gives it a more natural, more calming effect to people, rather than seeing all these metal beams and concrete.”
Projects using mass timber have already begun on both Kauai and Lanai.