Know-how and expertise in exclusive cross-laminated timber products

A highlight of FHS’s cross-laminated timber production are the exclusive visible surfaces made of veneers in various types of wood, such as silver fir, Swiss pine, spruce, larch, oak, ash, American walnut, Canadian maple or old wood. These exclusive visible surfaces are practically crack-free and have a quality similar to that of furniture. Customers can even choose various types of wood for the surface of continuous ceiling elements in different rooms.

This unusually large selection of types of wood and the great technical expertise of FHS’s employees are the result of the company’s many years of specialization in staircase construction. Being an EN 1090-certified company, FHS is also allowed to manufacture and supply load-bearing steel elements. The in-house production of CLT elements – from sawing to joining – also guarantees a high degree of flexibility. FHS also takes over the work planning for customers who do not have their own planning department.

Exclusive visible-quality surface: Cracks are contained

For the high-quality visible surface, a 3-mm-thick layer of non-visible low-grade spruce veneer is applied on the top board layer at a 90° angle to the wood fibers. Then, the 3-mm-thick exclusive top layer is glued onto the first layer of veneer, again at a 90° angle. This way, no cracks form on the exclusive surface, even when the top board layer expands and contracts, and any crack is contained. All veneer layers are glued on the elements’ narrow edges as well. FHS only uses formaldehyde-free PU adhesive. As a result, the VOC emissions of the company’s cross-laminated timber are very similar to those of natural wood.

Integrated heating and cooling

FHS’s exclusive CLT elements are suitable for integrated heating and cooling systems. Since the non-visible layer of low-grade veneer and the exclusive top layer are not load-bearing, it is possible to insert carbon fiber heating mats in between by gluing them to the wood. The mats can be controlled by a thermostat (installed on-site by an electrician). According to the manufacturer, this heating system has an extremely fast response and quickly achieves a warm surface because the mats are covered by only 3 mm of exclusive veneer. 

As for ceiling elements, FHS can also lay pipes for water heating (or cooling) in an additional non-load-bearing layer with a thickness of 20 mm. This layer is then covered by one layer of non-visible, low-grade veneer and the exclusive top layer and basically works like a conventional underfloor heating system.

Preparation for electrics and lighting

Using the same system, cable ducts for electrics can be milled out under the non-visible layer of veneer, and holes for sockets and ceiling spotlights, for example, can be drilled into the exclusive surface.

Prefabricated CLT stairs made of wood instead of concrete

As a combination of cross-laminated timber and stairs, FHS’s completely pre-assembled CLT staircase can be quickly lifted into the building with a crane and also serves as temporary stairs, even over several floors, that can immediately be walked on. The staircase module combines the CLT staircase and the CLT walls for the stairwell and is particularly suitable for renovations of existing buildings. Fire safety and sound insulation requirements can be taken into account depending on the respective building planner’s specifications.

One special advantage is that no additional measurements need to be taken to complete the assembly of the CLT staircase with treads and banisters from FHS, as all CAD files are already available in the factory.