The mass timber industry is experiencing rapid growth, with the number of multifamily, commercial, and institutional projects increasing by more than fivefold over the past seven years, according to WoodWorks. As demand rises, ironworkers believe their skills and experience with structural steel can be successfully applied to mass timber projects.
Ironworkers possess the heavy rigging skill set necessary to assemble complex building frames, making them well-suited for mass timber construction. “We have that heavy rigging skill set to be able to assemble any kind of skeleton framing for a building,” said Eric Dean, general president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
To prepare for the growing demand, ironworkers are gearing up to learn more about using mass timber. Thirty-five Iron Workers locals now train with mockups of mass timber projects, and some chapters share these mockups with other locations. Hybrid crews that blend both ironworkers and carpenters are also seen as key to success, allowing each trade to focus on their respective skill sets.
Image Courtesy: Construction Dive
