Dowel Laminated Timber
This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2022.
Dowel laminated timber, or DLT, is a mass timber structure product. It is similar to nail-laminated timber in design with the major difference being the use of wooden dowels instead of nails or screws to mechanically fasten softwood lumber into...
Dowel laminated timber, or DLT, is a mass timber structure product. It is similar to nail-laminated timber in design with the major difference being the use of wooden dowels instead of nails or screws to mechanically fasten softwood lumber into panels that can be used for structural bearing and shear walls. The lumber typically used in DLT is softwood species such as spruce, douglas fir, pine and cedar. The dowels, which are pressed into the lamellas of the softwood lumber, are commonly hardwood such as beech. DLT panels used as shear walls can have plywood or OSB sheathing attached to one side. Unlike Glulam, DLT does not use any glues or adhesives for structural strength purposes, but it may use adhesives for finger-jointing when panels are longer than 20 feet. Such adhesives were outside of the scope of this CP. DLT provides some fire resistance because mass timber products char on the outside, slowing fire spread. Fire retardant-treated lumber can be used in DLT panels, and may add additional hazards not considered in this Common Product. During construction and installation, DLT should be kept dry in order to prevent increased moisture content or rotting; and should be used with a water vapor barrier for added protection.