Method for monitoring the moisture response of a Cross Laminated Timber(CLT) panel buildings

The mass adoption of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panel buildings in the UK by private developers, Local Authorities and the Government has been stymied by concerns of susceptibility to moisture damage and uncertainty over building performance. To dispel these barriers, more real-time data from operational buildings is required. This paper presents a methodology for acquiring a performance dataset using wireless moisture sensors connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) and acoustic monitoring techniques for a new Glued Laminated Timber (GLT)/CLT building completed in August 2022 within the UK. Sensor specification, position and reporting regimes are defined, and initial moisture results are interpreted. These initial results will inform on the status of the building and goodness of design choices, and will provide proof of concept that sensor deployment in timber buildings can provide valuable viable data for performance.