The MEP / Fire / Acoustics expert sub-group met to take on some of the biggest challenges for mass timber, particularly around perceptions and code assumptions about fire safety. The group also explored the implications of MEP penetrations on structural integrity, inter-floor heights, and acoustical transmission. Further discussion points included cost trade-offs around acoustic matting and floor finishes, and appropriate sizing and cladding approaches. Fundamentally, most questions revolved around the owners’ and architects’ impulse to expose timber, and reconciling this desire against sustainability, fire protection, and speed-versus-cost considerations.

Participants:

• Matteo Andreottola, Technical Consultant, Rothoblaas s.r.l., Cortaccia, Italy
• Peyman Askarinejad, President & CEO, PAN Partners, New York City, United States
• Hannes Blaas, CEO, Rothoblaas USA Inc., New York City, United States
• Benton Johnson, Director of Structural Engineering, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago, United States
• Ethan Martin, Associate, DCI Engineers, Portland, United States
• Ricky McLain, Senior Technical Director - Tall Wood, WoodWorks / Wood Products Council, Washington D.C., United States
• Will Miranda, Research Coordinator, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Chicago, United States
• Jeff Morrow, President, J Morrow Solutions, Nashville, United States
• Lisa Podesto, Senior Business Development Manager, Lendlease, Santa Cruz, United States
• Chris Sitzenstock, Director, Fabrication, Sidewalk Labs, Seattle, United States
• Jeff Spiritos, Chair, Future Timber City Steering Committee; Manager, Spiritos Properties LLC, New York City, United States
• Antony Wood, CEO, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Chicago, United States
• Kai Yang, Mass Timber Project Manager, CadMakers, Vancouver, Canada