Cross-laminated timber: towards a consistent structural insulated panel for passive buildings in Belgium

Nowadays, it is possible to build zero-energy houses or even positive energy buildings. Nevertheless, many incoherencies exists if we attach importance to the embodied energy of its constructions. The present paper lays on the logic of structural insulated panel which is used in many low-energy and passive houses and go further in order to reduce the global greenhouse gases emissions. For this purpose, cross-laminated timber is used instead of oriented strand board and the insulation used is made of wood wool. The structure, the technology and the thermal aspects are discussed as well as the fire resistance in order to show if its new product is economically and technically interesting. Results show that the embodied energy can be drastically reduced compared to the structural insulated panels. A wood consumption reduction of thirty percent can also be obtained compared to the classical cross-laminated timber construction.