[CCMC 14476-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated product, when used as structural composite lumber (SCL) in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, complies with the following code:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

Ontario Building Code

Ruling No. 23-03-374 (14476-R) authorizing the use of this product in Ontario, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Ruling, was made by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on 2023-06-20 pursuant to s.29 of the Building Code Act, 1992 (see Ruling for terms and conditions). This Ruling is subject to periodic revisions and updates.

The above opinion(s) is/are based on the evaluation by the CCMC of technical evidence provided by the evaluation holder, and is bound by the stated conditions and limitations. For the benefit of the user, a summary of the technical information that forms the basis of this evaluation has been included.

Product name

Tolko T-TEC LSL

Product description

The product is a laminated strand lumber (LSL), which is a structural composite lumber (SCL). It is manufactured from strands of aspen and black poplar blended with Lupranate^® M20FB, a polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (polymeric MDI) binder (see CCMC 13421-R), oriented in a parallel direction, formed into mats, and pressed to the required thickness. The wood species, adhesive, manufacturing parameters, and finished product thickness, width, and length are as specified in the quality control manual that contains the manufacturing standard. See Figure 1 for strand orientation and details.

The product is available in thicknesses up to 133 mm, depths up to 610 mm, and lengths up to 10.8 m.

The manufacturing quality assurance program and records are verified by APA – The Engineered Wood Association (APA EWS) as part of the product certification.

In addition, when the product is treated with Borogard^® ZB (zinc borate) powder, it goes by the name of Tolko LSL with ZB. It may be used within the building envelope (i.e., protected assemblies) as sill plates over masonry or concrete foundations, footings, or slabs for decay resistance. It is intended for Use Category 2 (UC2) only, in accordance with the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), when interior construction is not in contact with the ground but may be subjected to dampness.

The permitted design values are outlined in Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3.

Applicability of this evaluation

Manufacturing plant

This evaluation is valid only for products produced at the following plant:

Product evaluated by the CCMC Indicates that the product from this manufacturing facility has been evaluated by the CCMC

The CCMC’s compliance opinion is bound by this product being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

• The product, as with all SCL, is intended for dry service applications only.⁽¹⁾
• The zinc-borate–treated product, Tolko LSL with ZB, follows Use Category 2 (UC2) in accordance with AWPA standards, when interior construction is not in contact with the ground but may be subjected to dampness. Unless noted within this evaluation, all design provisions for the product apply to Tolko LSL with ZB as well.
• The product is intended for use in construction as an alternative material to lumber. Proprietary design values presented for the product are to be used by professional engineers for design in accordance with CSA O86-14, "Engineering Design in Wood," for structural applications such as beams, headers, joists, rafters, and columns, as intended by the product manufacturer. The specific application must be qualified through testing and validated by the manufacturer. Applications such as I-joist flanges, metal-plated truss chords, wall studs, and rim boards are beyond the scope of this evaluation.
• Damaged or defective products must not be used unless repaired in accordance with written instructions from the manufacturer.
• This product must be identified with the phrase "CCMC 14476-R" along the side or top of the SCL member. This CCMC number is only valid when it appears in conjunction with the APA EWS certification mark. In addition, the zinc borate–treated product must be further identified with the designations "Tolko LSL with ZB" and "AWPA UC2."

 i. Tolko's pre-engineered tables

The pre-engineered tables in the literature outlined below have been provided to the CCMC by the manufacturer to demonstrate compliance with Part 9, Housing and Small Buildings, of the NBC 2015 for acceptance by the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

When the product is used to support uniform loads only, the installation must be in accordance with the tables and installation details in the following technical guides published by Tolko:

1. "T-TEC 1.35E LSL Floor Joists and Roof Framing Technical Guide (LSD-Canada)," dated August 23, 2019;
2. "T-TEC 1.35E LSL (1-1/2" & 1-3/4") and 1.55E LSL (1-1/8") Headers, Beams and Columns Technical Guide (LSD-Canada)," dated January 10, 2020; and
3. "T-TEC LSL Stair Stringer 1-1/4" 1.35E Technical Guide (LSD-Canada)," dated August 23, 2019.

Except where a floor is required to support a concentrated load or a specified unfactored live load in excess of 1.9 kN/m², and in lieu of engineering design, the spans for the product, when used as floor joists, rafters, and beams, may conform to the spans for Select Structural Grade for the Douglas Fir-Larch group in Tables 9.23.4.2.-A to 9.23.4.2.-I of the NBC 2015. Maximum deflections must conform to Subsection 9.4.3., Deflections, of Division B of the NBC 2015. Floor joists must be designed to meet the deflection and vibration criteria set out in the NBC 2015 for lumber.

The product must be installed in accordance with the above-mentioned installation guidelines from the manufacturer for those applications falling within the scope of the documents. Applications outside the scope of these installation guidelines require engineering on a case-by-case basis.

 ii. Tolko's installation details

The manufacturer's pre-engineered details in the documents outlined in Section i. above are limited in scope to building designs where the anticipated loads on the following structural details are not exceeded:

• floor joist framing details (pages 2–5 of 1.);
• floor joist span and load charts (pages 6–11 of 1.);
• cantilevered floor joists (pages 11–13 of 1.);
• holes in floor joists (pages 13–15 of 1.);
• floor joist hanger details (pages 15–17 of 1.);
• roof framing details (pages 19–23 of 1.);
• roof hanger, span and load tables (pages 24–32 of 1.);
• beam span and load tables (pages 5–16 of 2.);
• beam and header details (pages 17–19 of 2.);
• holes in beams and headers (page 20 of 2.);
• multiple member connections (pages 25–30 of 2.);
• column design and details (pages 31–33 of 2.);
• stair stringer details (pages 1–2 of 3.); and
• stringer maximum runs (page 3 of 3.).

iii. Engineering required

For applications beyond the scope/limitations of the above-referenced Tolko publications, or when required by the AHJ, the drawings or related documents must bear the seal of a professional engineer.

Installations beyond the scope/limitations of Section i. and Section ii. above include but are not limited to the following:

• higher loads/longer spans than the manufacturer's pre-engineered details;
• concentrated loads;
• areas of high wind or high seismicity;
• design of supporting members/columns when the total beam/header load exceeds the NBC 2015 pre-engineered beam/lintel tables; and
• design of supporting foundation footings when the total load exceeds the NBC 2015 pre-engineered floor/roof joist tables.

The specified strengths for the product must not exceed the values set forth in Table 1. See Figure 2 for details about strand orientation.

The ends of all beams must be restrained to prevent rollover. This is normally achieved by attaching a diaphragm sheathing to the top or to the compression edge, and to an end wall or shear transfer panel capable of transferring a minimum unfactored uniform load of 730 N/m or the required shear forces due to wind or seismic conditions. Blocking or crossbracing with equivalent strength may be used. For beams with a maximum depth-to-width ratio of no more than 6.5:1, the compression edges of the beams must be laterally supported at least every 610 mm; when the depth-to-width ratio exceeds 6.5:1, the compression edges of the beams must be continuously laterally supported throughout its length, except where design is done in accordance with CSA O86.

Nailing of the product perpendicular to glue lines must conform to Table 9.23.3.4., Nailing for Framing, of Division B of the NBC 2015. Nails must be installed parallel to the glue lines on the narrow face (edge) of the product that is at least 19 mm thick × 89 mm wide. The nails must be spaced at a minimum of 100 mm o.c. for 63.5 mm common nails and 125 mm o.c. for 76 mm and 83 mm common nails and 14 gauge staples. 89 mm common nails installed parallel to the glue lines on the narrow face (edge) of product that is at least 38 mm thick × 89 mm wide must be spaced a minimum of 200 mm o.c.

iv. Engineering support provided by the manufacturer

Tolko Industries Ltd. will coordinate engineering support and may be contacted by telephone or fax:

Tel.: 250-545-4411
Fax: 250-550-255

This evaluation is based on demonstrated conformance with the following criteria:

The evaluation holder has submitted technical documentation for the CCMC evaluation. Testing was conducted at laboratories recognized by the CCMC. The corresponding technical evidence for this product is summarized below.

Design requirements

Table 1.  Specified strengths (MPa) of the product^{Table footnote footnote (1)Table footnote footnote (2)Table footnote footnote (3)Table footnote footnote (4)Table footnote footnote (5)}

Grade	Modulus of elasticity,Table footnote footnote (6) E	Beam orientation (L-Y plane)			Plank orientation (L-X plane)			Axial
		Bending,Table footnote footnote (7) Fb	Shear, Fv	Compression perpendicular to the grain, Fcperp	Bending, Fb	Shear, Fv	Compression perpendicular to the grain,Table footnote footnote (8) Fcperp	Tension,Table footnote footnote (9) Ft	Compression parallel to the grain, Fcpar
Unit	MPa (× 106 psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)	MPa (psi)
1.35E	9 308 (1.35)	23.6 (3 420)	4.0 (580)	9.4 (1 370)	26.3 (3 810)	1.4 (205)	8.6 (1 250)	14.7 (2 130)	18.2 (2 630)
1.55E	10 690 (1.55)	30.1 (4 360)	5.8 (845)	11.3 (1 640)	33.4 (4 840)	1.8 (260)	9.7 (1 405)	18.7 (2 705)	21.5 (3 110)

 

Table 2.  Equivalent specific gravity for fastener design of the product^{Table footnote footnote (1)Table footnote footnote (2)Table footnote footnote (3)}

Grade	Equivalent specific gravity
	Nails		Nails and wood screws		Bolts and lag screws installed in faceTable footnote footnote (4)
	Withdrawal load		Lateral load		Lateral load
	Installed in edge	Installed in face	Installed in edge	Installed in face	Load applied parallel to grain	Load applied perpendicular to grain
1.35E and 1.55E	0.42	0.44	0.47	0.50	0.50	0.50

 

Table 3.  Nail spacing of the product^{Table footnote footnote (1)}

Nail orientationTable footnote footnote (2)	Thickness, mm (in.)	FastenerTable footnote footnote (3)Table footnote footnote (4)	Minimum end distance, mm (in.)Table footnote footnote (5)	Closest o.c. nail spacing – single row, mm (in.)Table footnote footnote (6)	Closest o.c. nail spacing – multiple rows, mm (in.)Table footnote footnote (6)Table footnote footnote (7)Table footnote footnote (8)
Edge	29 (1⅛)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	51 (2)	102 (4)	Not permitted
Edge	29 (1⅛)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	64 (2½)	127 (5)	Not permitted
Edge	29 (1⅛)	89 mm (16d)	76 (3)	152 (6)	Not permitted
Edge	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	51 (2)	102 (4)	Not permitted
Edge	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	51 (2)	102 (4)	Not permitted
Edge	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	89 mm (16d)	64 (2½)	127 (5)	Not permitted
Edge	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3 ½)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	25 (1)	51 (2)	76 (3)Table footnote footnote (9)
Edge	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3 ½)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	51 (2)	76 (3)	102 (4)Table footnote footnote (9)
Edge	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3½)	89 mm (16d)	64  (2½)	76 (3)	152 (6)Table footnote footnote (9)
Edge	29 (1⅛)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	22 (⅞)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Edge	29 (1⅛)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	22 (⅞)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Face	29 (1⅛)	89 mm (16d)	22 (⅞)	38 (1½)	38 (1½)
Face	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	22 (⅞)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Face	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	22 (⅞)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Face	32 ≤ t < 38 (1¼ ≤ t < 1½)	89 mm (16d)	22 (⅞)	38 (1½)	38 (1½)
Face	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3½)	64 mm and smaller (8d and smaller)	13 (½)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Face	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3½)	76 mm and 83 mm (10d and 12d)	13 (½)	25 (1)	25 (1)
Face	38 ≤ t ≤ 89 (1½ ≤ t ≤ 3½)	89 mm (16d)	22 (⅞)	38 (1½)	38 (1½)

 

 

 

The manufacturing quality assurance program has been updated to include requirements specified in ASTM D5456-14b and has been verified by independent, third-party monitoring and inspection conducted by APA EWS as part of the product certification.