CivilAxisCivilAxis
☕ Support🌐 Community

CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) - Design Values

CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) is a cross-laminated timber (clt) grade with reference design values to ANSI/APA PRG 320. Its reference bending value Fb is 1,950 psi, compression parallel Fc is 1,800 psi, and modulus of elasticity E is 1,700,000 psi (NDS). Values are shown before adjustment factors; apply the relevant NDS C-factors or EC5 k_mod and γ_M for your load case.

Fb (bending)
1,950 psi
Fc (compression)
1,800 psi
E (modulus)
1.7M psi

Representative values. E1 major-direction laminations are 1950f-1.7E MSR Spruce-Pine-Fir. Panel bending/shear capacity depends on the layup (thickness, layers) - use PRG 320 panel tables or the shear-analogy method for design.

Reference design values (NDS 2018)
FbBending1,950 psi
FtTension parallel1,375 psi
FvShear parallel135 psi
Fc⊥Compression perpendicular425 psi
FcCompression parallel1,800 psi
EModulus of elasticity1,700,000 psi
EminModulus for stability620,000 psi

Source: ANSI/APA PRG 320. Reference values are shown before adjustment factors (NDS C-factors / EC5 k_mod, γ_M) - apply these per your load case in design.

Understanding these values

For a beam in CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320), bending at Fb 1,950 psi normally sets the size, but the check that actually governs depends on the span. Short heavily loaded members are often limited by shear at Fv 135 psi, and bearing at a support is limited by compression perpendicular to grain at Fc perp 425 psi, which is the lowest of the strength values and the one most often overlooked. Used as a post or stud, the governing value is compression parallel at Fc 1,800 psi.

Stiffness for CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) is E 1,700,000 psi, with the reduced modulus Emin 620,000 psi used for stability calculations such as the beam stability factor CL and the column stability factor CP. On typical floor spans, deflection rather than strength decides the section, so compare E before Fb when the member is a joist.

Within the cross-laminated timber (clt) entries in this catalogue, CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) is the strongest in bending at 1,950 psi, against 900 psi for CLT Grade V1 (PRG 320) at the other end of the range.

The closest alternative in the same family is CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320) at 1,650 psi in bending, 18% below this grade. If availability drives the choice rather than capacity, that is the substitution to price first - but re-run the deflection check as well, because stiffness and strength do not always move together.

The CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) figures above are representative of cross-laminated timber rather than of any one manufacturer's product. cross-laminated timber is proprietary: published design values differ between suppliers, and for CLT they also depend on the layup and the panel thickness you actually specify. Use this page for scheme design and take the specific product's evaluation report for the final check.

Common questions

CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) has a reference bending design value Fb of 1,950 psi to ANSI/APA PRG 320. This is the value before adjustment: multiply by the applicable C-factors (load duration CD, wet service CM, size CF, repetitive member Cr and beam stability CL) for your member and its environment.

E is 1,700,000 psi, and the reduced modulus Emin used in stability calculations is 620,000 psi. E is what you use for deflection; Emin feeds the beam stability factor CL and column stability factor CP. On typical floor joists deflection governs, so E is usually the number that decides the section.

Use them for scheme design only. CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) is an engineered product whose design values are set by each manufacturer's own evaluation report and vary between suppliers and layups, so the figures here are representative of the product class rather than of a specific product. Confirm against the supplier's published data before finalising.

Other Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) grades

CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320)CLT Grade V1 (PRG 320)CLT C24 laminations (EN 16351)
Rate this
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion.
Loading…