In a policy memo by the Federation of American Scientists, it is argued that mass timber can help alleviate the housing shortage in the US by enabling faster, cheaper, and more sustainable construction. The memo suggests incentivizing states to adopt the latest International Building Code, which includes provisions for tall timber buildings. Although mass timber has distinct advantages over steel and concrete, such as better fire performance and carbon sequestration, it also presents cost challenges. While mass timber is gaining traction in Canada, where it’s widely used in non-residential projects, its adoption in the US may not drastically increase homebuilding due to inherent cost disadvantages compared to light-framed wood construction.
https://www.construction-physics.com/p/mass-timber-is-great-but-it-will