In many timber construction projects, hardware is treated as a minor procurement item. Yet connectors and fasteners are what transfer loads between structural elements, and they deserve the same planning attention as the panels themselves. A typical CLT building may require tens of thousands of structural screws and hundreds of steel connectors, so getting the hardware plan right early matters.
The cost of leaving it late
When hardware planning is delayed, contractors often face avoidable problems on site:
- Missing fasteners during installation
- Incorrect screw types arriving on site
- Installation delays while the right components are sourced
Each of these stalls the programme at exactly the point where mass timber should be delivering speed, undoing one of its biggest advantages.
Early hardware planning
A structured hardware plan should cover connection types, fastener specifications, and installation sequences. For example, a CLT wall-to-floor connection may require inclined structural screws, steel brackets, and hold-down connectors, with each connection following the design rules set out in Eurocode 5 (BS EN 1995).
Plan from the drawings: the structural model already defines every load path. Translating that into a quantified, scheduled hardware list early means the right fixings are on site in the right sequence, not ordered in a rush mid-build.
Hardware as part of the structural system
Hardware is not simply an accessory to timber elements; it is a fundamental part of the structural system. Structural screws transfer shear and tension forces, while brackets and connectors transfer loads between panels and beams. Selecting the correct hardware improves installation speed, structural reliability, and long-term performance. You can see the main connection ranges in our structural timber screws, plates and angle brackets, and post bases collections.
The TimbA Systems approach
TimbA Systems works with contractors to estimate hardware requirements directly from the structural drawings. Typical support includes estimating screw quantities, defining connector types, and scheduling hardware deliveries to suit the build sequence. Working with a dedicated hardware partner lets contractors focus on installation rather than procurement logistics, and because we are both a Rothoblaas distributor and a structural engineering consultancy, the quantities and specifications are grounded in how the connections actually perform.
Get the hardware plan right early
On your next CLT or glulam project, treat hardware as part of the structural design rather than a last-minute order. Share your drawings with TimbA Systems and we will help you quantify, specify, and schedule the connectors and fixings your build needs, so installation runs to programme.
