Handbook for CLT Details and Mass Timber Design: 30 Reference Details for Scaling Up Timber Construction

Handboek Houtbouw in Detail is a comprehensive technical handbook that brings together real‑world construction assemblies from more than 20 Dutch timber and hybrid building projects. Developed by Urban Climate Architects and MAATworks for Built by Nature, this handbook delivers the practical detail comparisons, case studies and LoD500 reference details needed to scale safe, predictable and climate‑positive timber construction.

Why this matters

Mass‑timber construction is gaining momentum as the Netherlands seeks faster, cleaner and more circular housing. However, progress is held back by fragmented knowledge and regulations still geared toward concrete buildings. Practitioners often lack clear, proven solutions for fire safety, acoustics, moisture management and installation routing in solid‑timber systems. Handboek Houtbouw in Detail addresses these issues by providing proven construction assemblies, case studies and expert‑validated LoD500 reference details based on more than 20 recently completed multi‑storey timber projects. It offers the clarity, standardisation and performance assurance needed to move mass‑timber from pioneering projects to a mainstream low‑carbon solution for residential construction.

What’s Inside This Guide

Project-based assemblies: Detailed build-ups from more than 20 Dutch timber projects, covering floors, walls, roofs, balconies and façades.
Assembly types: Includes CLT, glulam, HSB, hybrid timber–concrete systems and biobased insulation.
Performance data: Thermal resistance (Rc), fire resistance (minutes and classes), acoustic ratings, densities and moisture-control strategies.
Junction details: Solutions for ground-floor transitions, façade-to-floor junctions, balcony interfaces and roof connections, with focus on moisture, thermal bridging and acoustics.
Comparative insights: Enables benchmarking across projects and systems to support informed material and design choices.
Technical concepts: Definitions of MC, EMC, RH, FSP, LCA and EPDs for improved technical understanding.

For a deeper dive, download the report on this page.

This resource is currently available in Dutch. An English version will be shared soon.