Mass Plywood - Plywood Paneling | Freres Engineered Wood

What Are Mass Ply Products?

Mass Ply products are patented, veneer-based, engineered wood products that provide superior performance characteristics over mass timber products such as CLT, Glulam beams, and solid sawn lumber. The building block of each Mass Ply Product is Freres Structural Composite Lumber (SCL), which consists of multiple layers of density-graded Douglas Fir veneers. These veneers are glued and pressed in a variety of combinations and orientations, and finally joined together to create 1” layers (called lamellas).

Mass Ply products are forging new ground in mid-to-high rise construction, replacing steel and concrete in buildings up to 18 stories tall.

Meyer-Beams And Panels — Mass Ply panels, beams, and columns

Mass ply Applications

The versatility and consistency of our SCL lamellas provide the ability to create engineered mass timber products in a wide array of applications such as wide-format panels, beam and column applications, and just about any industrial application utilizing heavy timbers. Each of these product lines – Mass Ply Panels, Mass Ply Lams, and Mass Ply Industrial are certified by the APA – The Engineered Wood Association.

Mass Ply Building Components

Overview

Mass Ply is a strong and versatile building material. While we are continuing to develop new applications, these are the ones most commonly used today. They are performance-proven and offer a list of job efficiency and environmental benefits.

Beams and Columns

Mass Ply’s load-bearing capabilities are well represented in beams and columns. Mass Ply Lams (MPL) are ANSI/APA PRG 320 certified products that can replace lumber-based glulam products or heavy timbers traditionally used in these applications.

Beams

Mass Ply Lams are available in traditional glulam widths in our 3, 5, 7 and 12-ply construction for on-edge orientation for beams. MPL may also be utilized in plank orientation, allowing for a wide variety of widths with depths up to 24 inches. Please contact our sales specialist for beams over 24″.

Columns

Columns are available in the grades and dimensions described above.

Beams and Columns

Mass Ply’s load-bearing capabilities are well represented in beams and columns. Mass Ply Lams (MPL) are ANSI/APA PRG 320 certified products that can replace lumber-based glulam products or heavy timbers traditionally used in these applications.

Beams

Mass Ply Lams are available in traditional glulam widths in our 3, 5, 7 and 12-ply construction for on-edge orientation for beams. MPL may also be utilized in plank orientation, allowing for a wide variety of widths with depths up to 24 inches. Please contact our sales specialist for beams over 24″.

Columns

Columns are available in the grades and dimensions described above.

Floors

Mass Ply Panels are particularly well suited for floor applications. By utilizing the inherent strength of the panel, joists and other structural supports can be vastly simplified. An enormous amount of surface area can be installed quickly and easily, and connections, penetrations, and other features can be pre-manufactured into the panel prior to delivery at the job site.

Floor Span Tables

Refer to the Floor Span tables for your particular design application.

Walls

Mass Ply Panels can be used to build walls that are structurally sound and efficient to construct. Though alternate finishes are typically added, they come with an industrial surface that gives buildings a modern and organic look.

Be aware, wall applications are significantly more complicated than other uses of our product due to shear and major/minor force design concerns. Please contact our Sales Specialist with inquiries related to walls. Refer to the Wall Loading tables for your particular application.

Stairs

Mass Ply can be used to efficiently create stringers, or solid stairs. Combined with our CNC capabilities, many unique designs are possible. Mass Ply components are made to spec, and ready to assemble on the jobsite—saving you time and potentially, shipping costs.

Elevators

Mass Ply Panel’s structural integrity and convenient fastening options make elevator shafts an ideal application. Combined with Mass Ply Panel walls, they can complement a wood-based design aesthetic, while providing all of the characteristics you need for large or small elevators. A great option for parking complexes or other multi-story commercial structures.

Building the Future with Wood

The construction of multi-story, mass timber buildings is rapidly increasing for a variety of reasons.

Wood is renewable and sustainable.
Engineered wood products are stronger per pound than concrete and steel.
Manufacturing wood products requires much less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than concrete and steel.
Building with wood sequesters carbon for the life of the product, and new trees are planted to continue the carbon-sequestration process.
Mass timber has greater thermal performance.
Mass timber products perform predictably in fires and under seismic conditions.

Why Mass Ply Products?

We love wood, and building with wood has significant benefits over concrete and steel. Our Mass ply products have raised the bar for mass timber construction and can out-perform lumber-based mass timber in many ways.

Slower char rate and more consistent fire performance
Superior performance over Cross Laminated Timber
Better dimensional stability with lower moisture content
Reduces volume and cost with our flexibility in panel dimensions and thickness
All structural elements of a building can be produced from Mass Ply, providing consistency for your project and a single-supplier solution.