Rib Panels
Building new visions with Rib Panels
Rib Panels are mass timber products that can be used for long-span floors and roofs where high load-bearing capacity and low self-weight are required. Stora Enso offers two types of Rib Panels: made from CLT combined with GLT (glulam) or from LVL.
Photo: GBL Architectes
What are Rib Panels?
Our ready-to-install Rib Panels consist of flat wood panels bonded together with supporting ribs, using structural adhesives that deliver outstanding strength and performance.
Why Rib Panels by Stora Enso?
Open and flexible floor plans require long-span components to reduce the amount of load-bearing walls and columns. Rib Panels are ideal for spans over 6m, with impressive strength and structural performance.
All Rib Panels by Stora Enso are CE-marked, meaning they meet the European Economic Area's high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Precision cut Rib Panels minimise the need for remedial work for the elements to fit in place, speeding up the building process.
Rib Panels that are customised and delivered just-in-time (JIT) are part of our Sylva™* kit, where they can be used in Sylva Floors and Roofs.
*Sylva™ by Stora Enso is currently only available in Europe and Australia.
Technical product description
CLT Rib Panels by Stora Enso are made by bonding a CLT panel and GLT (glulam) ribs with a high-strength adhesive. For outstanding performance, our CLT Rib Panels are made from strength-graded boards. This means we have pre-sorted the wood based on its strength, stiffness, density, and appearance for optimal use.
Our LVL Rib Panels are made from LVL, combining LVL S, where all the veneers run in the same direction, and LVL X, where veneers are regularly spaced at right angles.
The structural bond between the components in Rib Panels by Stora Enso reduces the supporting structure’s depth and optimises the volume of timber material. This gives Rib Panels an advantage over traditional mechanically fastened Rib Panels where the components are simply screwed together. This makes it possible to:
- achieve longer spans with the same structural depth (the total height required to achieve a certain structural performance), or
- lower structural depth at the same span
As the only manufacturer with both CE-marked CLT- and LVL Rib Panels, Stora Enso holds European Technical Approvals (ETA) confirming that all Rib Panels by Stora Enso meet the required European health, safety, and environmental protection standards.
Image gallery
Key benefits of designing and building with Rib Panels
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Prefabricated and lightweight panels allow for rapid workflow from delivery to assembly
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Rib Panels by Stora Enso use wood in the most efficient way possible—yield more m² with less raw material
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Floors and roofs made from Rib Panels allow for flexible floor plans that can be easily repurposed for changing needs
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Less need for beams and load-bearing walls gives more architectural freedom
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Insulation can be integrated into the structural layer of an LVL Rib Panel
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The space between the ribs of CLT Rib Panels can be used to route services or other installations
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CLT Rib Panels have natural fire-resistant properties and even the structural elements can be left exposed for a beautiful visual surface
Applications
Sylva CLT Rib Floors and Roofs
How Sylva CLT Rib Floors and Roofs are best used in a building
Sylva CLT Rib Floors and Roofs are a great fit when the building project requires:
- Exposed wood in ceilings
- Optimal space utilization with installations such as sprinklers or lighting, acoustic panels and decorative elements
- Medium to long spans
- Fire resistance without the need to add protective cladding
*Sylva™ by Stora Enso is currently only available in Europe and Australia.
Sylva CLT Rib Floors and Roofs are an effective and economical solution for long spans due to their excellent material efficiency. They are available in visual quality, which means it is possible to leave ceilings and soffits exposed. With Sylva CLT Rib Floors and Roofs, it is not necessary to clad the ribs with e.g. gypsum board to meet national fire regulations as the timber structure can remain stable for up to two hours when exposed to a fully developed fire.
Building types
Suitable for residential, office and school buildings with medium to long spans of 6–13m. If longer spans are required, Sylva LVL Rib Floors and Roofs are recommended.
Sylva LVL Rib Floors and Roofs
How Sylva LVL Rib Floors and Roofs are best used in a building
Sylva LVL Rib Floors and Roofs are the ideal choice when the building project requires:
- Optimal material efficiency
- Medium to very long spans
- Lowest possible weight
LVL Rib Floors and Roofs are even more material-efficient than CLT Rib Floors and Roofs because they have the lowest weight yet the highest stiffness, load-bearing capacity, and dimensional stability. Due to their high material efficiency and lightweight nature, LVL Rib Floors and Roofs can also be more economical than CLT Rib Floors and Roofs. They can reach longer spans and are well-suited for roof applications with spans between 6–20 m.
Building types
Optimal for residential, school buildings and industrial buildings. LVL Rib Floors and roofs are recommended for spans of 6–20 m.
Product range and features
Product types
CLT Rib - type Open
Height: 260 – 640 mm
Width: 2.45 m
| Sylva CLT Rib Floors | ||||||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S | |||||||||||
160 |
200 |
240 | 280 | 320 | 360 | 400 | 440 | 480 | 520 | 560 | ||||
| R30 | 80L3s | 160 |
H280-80L3s | H320-80L3s | H360-80L3s | H400-80L3s | H440-80L3s | H480-80L3s | H520-80L3s | H560-80L3s | H600-80L3s | H640-80L3s | ~800 mm | |
| R60 | 100L3s | 160 |
H260-100L3s | H300-100L3s | H340-100L3s | H380-100L3s | H420-100L3s | H460-100L3s | H500-100L3s | H540-100L3s | H580-100L3s | H620-100L3s | ||
| R90 | 120L3s | 200 |
H400-120L3s | H440-120L3s | H480-120L3s | H520-120L3s | H560-120L3s | |||||||
CLT Rib - type Closed
LVL Rib - type Open
Standard variants
Length: 5.5 – 20 m
Height: 224 – 636 mm
Width: 2.40 m
| Sylva LVL Rib Roofs | |||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B1 [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S |
||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | 200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 600 | |
| R0 | 24 | 51 | H224-X24 | H264-X24 | H324-X24 | H384-X24 | H424-X24 | H474-X24 | H524-X24 | H624-X24 | 600 mm |
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||
| Note - T1 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||
| Sylva LVL Rib Floors | |||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B1 [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S |
||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | 200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 600 | |
| R0 | 36 | 51 | H236-X36 | H276-X36 | H336-X36 | H396-X36 | H436-X36 | H486-X36 | H536-X36 | H636-X36 | 600 mm |
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||
| Note - T1 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||
LVL Rib - type Semi-open
Width: 2.40 m
| Sylva LVL Rib Roofs | |||||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B1 [mm] |
B2 [mm] |
T2 [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S |
||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | S |
200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 600 | ||
| R0 | 24 | 51 | 300 | 48 | H272-X24-S48F | H312-X24-S48F | H372-X24-S48F | H432-X24-S48F | H472-X24-S48F | H522-X24-S48F | H572-X24-S48F | H672-X24-S48F | 600 |
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||||
| Note - T1 and T2 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||||
| Sylva LVL Rib Floors | |||||||||||||
| T1 [mm] | B1 [mm] | B2 [mm] | T2 [mm] | H2 [mm] |
S |
||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | S |
200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 500 | |||
| R0 | 36 | 51 | 300 | 48 | H284-X36-S48F | H324-X36-XS48F | H384-X36-S48F | H444-X36-S48F | H484-X36-S48F | H534-X36-S48F | H584-X36-S48F | 600 | |
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||||
| Note - T1 and T2 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||||
LVL Rib - type Closed
LVL Rib comprising of a top and bottom panel made from LVL X with LVL S ribs structurally bonded in between.
The additional lower LVL X panel further increases the product's fire and structural performance. It also maximizes the possible span and the potential to decrease the structural depth.
Standard variants
Length: 5.5 – 20 m
Height: 272 – 672 mm
Width: 2.40 m
* Please contact your local sales representative if a non-standard variant is needed.
* Structural depth means the total height required to achieve a certain structural performance or how thick the load-bearing part of the floor needs to be.
| Sylva LVL Rib Roofs | |||||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B1 [mm] |
T2 [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S |
|||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | X | 200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 600 | ||
| R0 | 24 | 51 | 48 | H272-X24-X48 | H312-X24-X48 | H372-X24-X48 | H432-X24-X48 | H472-X24-X48 | H522-X24-X48 | H572-X24-X48 | H672-X24-X48 | 600 | |
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||||
| Note - T1 and T2 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||||
| Sylva LVL Rib Floors | |||||||||||||
T1 [mm] |
B1 [mm] |
T2 [mm] |
H2 [mm] |
S |
|||||||||
| LVL Grade | X | S | X |
200 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 400 | 450 | ||||
| R0 | 36 | 51 | 48 | H284-X36-X48 | H324-X36-X48 | H384-X36-X48 | H444-X36-X48 | H484-X36-X48 | H534-X36-X48 | 600 | |||
| >R0 | Handle with gypsum boards (see ETA) | ||||||||||||
| Note - T1 and T2 thickness is after calibration sanding which removes 3mm of material. | |||||||||||||
Surface qualities
CLT Rib Panels
- CLT panel - Visual quality
- GLT rib - Visual quality
- CLT panel - Industrial visual quality
- GLT rib - Visual quality
- CLT panel—Non-visual quality
- GLT rib—Industrial quality
LVL Rib Panels
Reference projects
Browse over 500 wooden buildings and get inspired
Technical product data
Key data
CLT Rib Panels |
|
| Service class | Service class 1 and 2 to according to EN 1995–1–1 |
| Product certification | CE marked with ETA-20/0893 |
| Strength class | According to ETA-20/0893: CLT panel according to ETA: C24 GLT ribs: GL 20h – GL 32h and GL 20c – GL 32c |
| Moisture content | 11 % ± 3 % |
| Wood species | Spruce (pine or fir also possible) |
| Typical density | ~490 kg/m³. Please note a different density may be declared depending on the need (structural design, transportation, erection etc.) |
| Reaction to fire class | Euroclass D–s2, d0 |
| Resistance to fire, charring rate | According to ETA–20/0893 Annex 4, Fire performance classified according to EN 13501–2 1. Open CLT rib, REI 90 2. Open CLT rib with gypsum board ceiling structure, REI 90 3. Closed CLT rib, REI 90 4. Closed CLT rib with gypsum board ceiling structure, REI 120 |
| Airtightness | CLT is airtight according to EN 12 114 |
| Thermal conductivity of CLT panel | 0.12 W/(mK) according to ETA–20/0893 |
| Water vapour resistance | 50 (dry) to 20 (wet) according to EN ISO 10456 |
LVL Rib Panels |
|
| Service class | Service class 1 and 2 to according to EN 1995–1–1 |
| Product certification | CE marked with ETA 18/1132 |
| Moisture content | 10% +/- 2% when leaving mill |
| Wood species | Spruce |
| Mean density | 510 kg/m³ (LVL S and X) |
| Reaction to fire class | Euroclass D–s1, d0 |
| Resistance to fire, charring rate | According to ETA 18/1132– Annex 2, Fire performance is classified according to EN 13501–2 1. Open LVL rib single fire board ceiling structure, up to REI 30 |
| Airtightness | LVL has adequate airtightness according to ETA 18/1132 |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.13W(mK) according to ETA 18/1132 |
| Water vapour resistance | Wet cup 70 μ Dry cup 200 μ |
Looking for advanced content on structural engineering, fire safety, acoustics and moisture behaviour?
Adhesives and emissions
CLT Rib Panels
LVL Rib Panels
Looking for advanced content on structural engineering, fire safety, acoustics and moisture behaviour?
Fire performance
CLT Rib Panels
LVL Rib Panels
Closed LVL Rib Panels can possess inherent fire resistance using the lower LVL X panel as a protective, non-load bearing layer for the remaining LVL Rib Panel. For more information on inherent fire resistance see section above on CLT rib fire performance.
Looking for advanced content on structural engineering, fire safety, acoustics and moisture behaviour?
Tolerances
CLT Rib Panels
| Depth |
Rib height ≤ 400 mm | -2 / +4 mm |
| Rib height > 400 mm | -0.5% x [height] / +1% x [height] | |
| Width | +/- 2.0 mm | |
| Length | +/- 5.0 mm | |
LVL Rib Panels
| Depth | Rib height ≤ 300 mm | ± 2 mm |
| Rib height > 300mm, ≤ 600 mm | ± 3 mm | |
| Rib height > 600 mm | -0.5 %x[height] / +1 %x[height] | |
| Width | ± 2 mm or ± 0.5 % | |
| Height | ± 5 mm | |
Looking for advanced content on structural engineering, fire safety, acoustics and moisture behaviour?
Dimensional stability
CLT Rib Panels
| Direction/Component | % of shrinkage or swelling per % moisture change | |
| In plane direction / CLT Panel | +/- 0.02-0.04 | |
| In thickness direction / CLT Panel-GLT ribs | +/- 0.24 | |
LVL Rib Panels
Changes are not anticipated in normal conditions for LVL Rib Panels. When necessary, the dimensional change of the product due to the change of moisture content can be calculated as follows:
| Direction | Direction % of shrinkage or swelling per % moisture change | |
| LVL-S | LVL-X | |
| In plane direction | +/- 0.30 | +/- 0.44 |
| In thickness direction | +/- 0.31 | +/- 0.33 |
Looking for advanced content on structural engineering, fire safety, acoustics and moisture behaviour?
Find more technical content in our Knowledge Hub
Calculatis: a state-of-the-art timber design tool
Sustainability
Emission comparison between a Sylva Rib Floor and Concrete
Compared to manufacturing a concrete floor, a Sylva Rib Floor has a significantly smaller carbon footprint CO2 equivalent (eq.). * In addition, the rib floor acts as carbon storage. While the floor locks in the CO2 eq., new CO2 is absorbed by replanted trees.
The compared wall structures are as follows:
Hollow-core concrete floor
-Screed 20 mm
-Glass wool insulation 25 mm
-Concrete 50 mm
-Reinforced steel
-Hollow core concrete slab 265 mm
Sylva Rib Floor (CLT /LVL)
-Screed 50 mm
-Rock wool insulation 50 mm
- CLT/LVL rib panel 360 mm
-Gypsum 12.5 mm
Assumed building:
- European office/residential building, 10,000 m²
The dataset used for this comparison:
- Build-ups - typical European, equivalent build-ups from One Click LCA®—automated life cycle assessment software.
- Sylva CLT rib panel - Stora Enso data from the international EPD® system.
- Sylva LVL rib panel - Stora Enso data from the international EPD® system.
- Other materials—generic data from One Click LCA.
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* Product stage CO2 eq. emissions per m²—the greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes up to practical completion modules A1-A3. Excludes the CO2 sequestered in the installed products at practical completion.
An efficient way to use wood for floors and roofs
The amount of wood used per m² can be reduced by up to 40% by using a CLT rib floor and up to 70% by using an LVL rib floor instead of a massive CLT floor.
The example below shows a massive CLT floor and an equivalent Sylva CLT rib floor spanning 8 m in a residential building.
Massive CLT panel
0.26 m³ of wood per m² floor
Sylva CLT Rib Floor
0.16 m³ of wood per m² floor
Sylva LVL Rib Floor
0.07 m³ of wood per m² floor
Decarbonising the built environment
