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CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320) - Design Values

CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320) is a cross-laminated timber (clt) grade with reference design values to ANSI/APA PRG 320. Its reference bending value Fb is 1,650 psi, compression parallel Fc is 1,700 psi, and modulus of elasticity E is 1,500,000 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)
1,650 psi
Fc (compression)
1,700 psi
E (modulus)
1.5M psi

Representative values. E2 major-direction laminations are 1650f-1.5E MSR Douglas Fir-Larch. Panel capacity depends on the layup - use PRG 320 panel tables for design.

Reference design values (NDS 2018)
FbBending1,650 psi
FtTension parallel1,020 psi
FvShear parallel180 psi
Fc⊥Compression perpendicular625 psi
FcCompression parallel1,700 psi
EModulus of elasticity1,500,000 psi
EminModulus for stability550,000 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 E2 (PRG 320), bending at Fb 1,650 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 180 psi, and bearing at a support is limited by compression perpendicular to grain at Fc perp 625 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 1,700 psi.

Stiffness for CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320) is E 1,500,000 psi, with the reduced modulus Emin 550,000 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 E2 (PRG 320) ranks 2 of 3 on bending at 1,650 psi; the strongest listed is CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) at 1,950 psi. Grade choice is usually a trade of cost against section depth, so it is worth checking whether a lower grade in a deeper section is cheaper than a higher grade at the depth you started with.

The closest alternative in the same family is CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) at 1,950 psi in bending, 15% above 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 E2 (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 E2 (PRG 320) has a reference bending design value Fb of 1,650 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 1,500,000 psi, and the reduced modulus Emin used in stability calculations is 550,000 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.

CLT Grade E2 (PRG 320) sits at 1,650 psi in bending, ranking 2 of 3 among the cross-laminated timber (clt) grades listed here; the strongest is CLT Grade E1 (PRG 320) at 1,950 psi. Whether it is sufficient depends on your span and load, not on the grade alone - and because deflection often governs, a higher grade does not always give a smaller section. Check the deflection limit first, then bending.

Use them for scheme design only. CLT Grade E2 (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 E1 (PRG 320)CLT Grade V1 (PRG 320)CLT C24 laminations (EN 16351)
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