Structural Timber Magazine - Spring 2022 (Issue 29) by Radar Communications

SPRING 2022 | £4.95

STRUCTURAL TIMBER The latest in structural timber building design and technologies STRUCTURALTIMBERMAGAZINE.CO.UK

2018

2017

STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS CELEBRATING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

2019

2020

P32

Andrew Donaldson

What does Donaldson’s acquisition of SMTS mean for the future of the business and the timber industry?

2021

2022

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT WINNER OF WINNERS?

P36

Timber Warehouses

Stora Enso on why providing strong and sustainable alternatives for industrial buildings is a reality

P40

Solving the Carbon Puzzle

Reducing embodied carbon, EPDs and assessing the impact and benefits of timber in construction #STAWARDS

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY

SUSTAINABILITY

INTERVIEWS

NEWS

ANALYSIS

CASE STUDIES

WELCOME Welcome to the latest issue of Structural Timber Magazine. The year has started with the pandemic receding and supply chains stabilising to be replaced with (as we went to press) conflict raging in Ukraine, that will inevitably impact timber supplies.

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According to the latest figures from the Timber Trade Federation, Ukraine was responsible for 1,947m³ of imports in 2020, with Russian timber accounting for a considerable amount of UK softwood, hardwood and plywood imports, totalling 456,810m³ in 2021. The disruption and wider knock-on effects on inflation, energy costs and product availability across the UK and EU remains to be seen.

FRONT COVER: Winner of Winners 2017: B & K Structures & Waugh Thistleton Architects, 2018: Arup, L&S Baucon GmbH, Robertson, Wiehag GmbH & Rogers Stirk Harbours + Partners, 2019: Blumer-Lehmann AG, Gilbert Ash & Marks Barfield Architects, 2020: Heatherwick Studio, 2021: Arup PRINTED ON: PEFC 16-33-576 paper stock by Buxton Press

PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources PEFC/16-33-576

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For this issue, a key feature comes from Andrew Donaldson, CEO of the Donaldson Group, that follows its acquisition of Stewart Milne Timber Systems. The deal marked the largest acquisition in its 161-year history and an entry point into the timber frame market.

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MTW Research recently reported that the timber frame housebuilding market is set to rise by £70million in 2022, with ‘sustained optimism’ for timber frame suppliers through to 2026. Based on data from 80% of the timber frame market, the research found that sales are set to rise rapidly in 2022 as the housebuilding market boosts demand for timber frame homes, whilst commercial timber frame activity also exhibiting growth.

DISCLAIMER: The content of Structural Timber Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising, or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication and do not endorse any advertising or products available from external sources. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. All rights reserved.

With this in mind, and while rebranding is still underway, the likelihood is that Donaldson’s Timber Systems will thrive upon the huge success and market expertise that Stewart Milne has built. More emphasis on offsite manufacture, sustainable circular thinking, and low carbon materials is also at the centre of another key feature this issue. Embodied carbon is being scrutinised more than ever. Timber Development UK (still morphing fully from the TTF and TRADA) produced a technical paper last year assessing embodied carbon, how it’s quantified and the carbon impact of timber in construction. As its Sustainability Director Charlie Law outlines, opinions differ on how to achieve this and crucially how to measure it, but they are working hard to supply building designers, clients, and contractors the means to better understand and assess the embodied carbon associated with the built environment. Simply put: ‘if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it’. As ever, many thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters.

Gary Ramsay | Consultant Editor E: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk

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• Members of Structural Timber Association. • Extensive experience of applying STA guidance and research. • Determination of category of frame needed. Protecting people and property since 1982

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CONTENTS

THISISSUE... P6

P32 REFRAMING THE TIMBER HOMES APPROACH

COVER STORY - STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS Since its inaugural event in 2015, the Awards has been featuring shining examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, the Structural Timber Awards has always celebrated the best that timber offers across the built environment – what happened in 2021?

P36 A GENUINE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY The UK is running out of warehouse space, so let’s grow some more, says Sebastián Hernández Maetschl, Head of Building Concepts at Stora Enso.

P40 TOOLS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS

P08

P22

A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: RISCAuthority outline insurance concerns surrounding timber buildings, AIMCH highlight the need for more panelised timber for newbuild homes and James Jones acquires a majority stake in Australian CLT specialists Hyne Timber and XLam.

Sarah Virgo, Campaign Manager at Wood for Good, sees timber going from strength-tostrength post-COP26, and throughout 2022 will be working on creating new, updated versions of some of its most popular and effective assets.

UK INDUSTRY NEWS

PUSHING TIMBER TO THE FRONTLINE

There is widespread agreement that the construction industry needs to reduce embodied carbon emissions. But how do we achieve this? TDUK Sustainability Director, Charlie Law explains more.

P42 A FORCE FOR CHANGE What next for the structural timber sector? Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA, assesses where the timber construction sector currently stands and where it could go next.

P44 LIVING IN A SCULPTURE

P26

VOX POPS

Our regular column collects some views and opinion from a range of industry insiders, covering a few topical issues affecting the timber sector and the wider construction world. We hear from Peter Blunt, Jae Cotterell, Will Daws, Helen Hewitt, Andy Hodge and Suzy Jones.

Automatic crosscut saws

Following the acquisition of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, Andrew Donaldson, CEO of the Donaldson Group discusses their plans and what this acquisition means for the future of the business and the industry.

Inspired by large sculptures in the countryside and the rocky outcrops of the nearby Dartmoor moors, The Hux Shard offers a striking, geometric appearance and gave structural engineers a significant timber challenge.

P50 CARBON QUESTIONS Understanding and measuring the carbon in your products is of huge growing importance. Stuart Devoil, Group Head of Marketing at James Latham, highlights the importance of getting your carbon calculations correct.

production costs reduced by up to

5-15%

less wood used

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50%

COVER STORY STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2022

A CELEBRATION OF

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Winner of Winners - Arup

Featuring shining examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, the Structural Timber Awards has always celebrated the best that timber offers across the built environment – what happened in 2021?

Since the inaugural event in 2015, the Structural Timber Awards has seen some of the finest examples of timber construction in the UK rewarded and championed as inspirational design and sustainable thinking. The number of outstanding projects and the talented teams involved in their creation has seen the event become a central part of not only the timber calendar, but also the wider construction world. The 2021 Awards The 2021 Awards was a celebration of not only outstanding projects but the coming together of an industry after many months in isolation due to the COVD-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of the last two years and the many pressures on global supply chains – that have seen timber in particular under pressure with delays and shortages – innovation and excellence was not sidelined and the array of exceptional projects surpassed all expectations.

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Importantly, construction professionals were once again able to congregate at a prestigious awards ceremony to network in person, away from zoom calls and virtual meetings, and celebrate the many super architectural achievements and engineering ingenuity in timber construction. The awards were hosted once again by Mark Durden-Smith, who ensured that the celebrations were highly entertaining as well as highly efficent. With 16 categories, nearly 250 entrants and over 60 companies shortlisted, the Structural Timber Award judges had an unenviable task. The big winner on the night was Arup for International Quarter, London (IQL) picking up the trophy for Engineer of the Year and the coveted Winner of Winners award. The judge’s decision was unequivocal, and their commendations for the IQL ranged from: “excellent delivery from first principles to supply chain management to the realisation a great

COVER STORY STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2022

2021 STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARD WINNERS Architect of the Year: Mæ for Sands End Arts and Community Centre Client of the Year: University of Warwick for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB) Commercial Project of the Year: Heyne Tillett Steel for 16 Chart Street Custom & Self-Build Project of the Year: Greencore Construction for Springfield Meadows Education Project of the Year: Hewitt Studios for The Brunel Centre Engineer of the Year: Arup for International Quarter London (IQL) Healthcare Project of the Year: Constructional Timber for The Green at St Richard’s Hospice Installer of the Year: Eurban for The New Library at Magdalene College Low Energy Project of the Year: SNUG Homes for Forest Road SNUG Home Pioneer Award: Heyne Tillett Steel & Arup Private Housing Project of the Year: Innovaré Systems for Little Kelham Product Innovation Award: Hewitt Studios for K:Port Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project of the Year: Maccreanor Lavington Architects for The New Refectory, Ibstock Place Retail & Leisure Project of the Year: Ove Arup & Partners for Ebury Edge SIPs Project of the Year: Innovaré Systems for Little Kelham Social Housing Project of the Year: TopHat for White Road Solid Wood Project of the Year: Maccreanor Lavington Architects for The New Refectory, Ibstock Place Timber Frame Project of the Year: Greencore Construction for Springfield Meadows Winner of Winners: Arup for International Quarter London (IQL) design” and “a creative addition to the local community that showcases the potential for wood in novel applications” to plaudits for the Winner of Winners sustainable credentials with comments such as: “the environmental impact is well-documented and very impressive.” The head of the judging panel and Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA), Andrew Carpenter said of the night: “The depth of expertise across all categories was impressive and the exceptional number of entries clearly demonstrates that the industry is thriving despite the current challenges. The Structural Timber Awards have clearly demonstrated yet again that sustainable timber buildings are not only the optimal way of reaching zero carbon targets but are also aesthetically and structurally outstanding.”

There has already been a large amount of attention focused on the 2022 awards. “The event goes from strength to strength every year,” adds Julie Williams, Sales Director of the Structural Timber Awards. “It is always amazing to see the number and quality of the entries growing each year. Some of the winning projects we have seen, such as Dalston Lane, the Macallan Distillery and the Cambridge Mosque, have since gone on to become iconic examples of timber design. Obviously COVID-19 caused complications for everyone, so it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves properly at last year’s event. With 2022 already shaping up to be a bumper night out, I would encourage everyone to save the date of 12 October in their diary.” For the hundreds of construction professionals who have attended the Structural Timber Awards, there is

no need to explain the promotional opportunities that go hand in hand with this event. The awards provide one of the most effective platforms to promote brands or companies alongside the best of the best. The Structural Timber Awards 2022 will take place on 12 October 2022 at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham. For details on sponsorship packages and promotional opportunities and to register interest to either sponsor the 2022 Structural Timber Awards or to enter your project, please contact Amy Pryce amy.pryce@radar-communications.co.uk

The 2022 Entry Platform is now open. Please note that the submission deadline for entries into the 2022 Structural Timber Awards is 10 June 2022. You can find all the entry details at: www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS AIMCH SAYS CUT CARBON WITH PANELISED TIMBER

A new report, ‘Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes’, published by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH), concludes that using sustainably sourced timber panelised MMC methods to build new homes rather than masonry products can reduce the carbon impact of construction. On a whole life carbon basis, the study predicts that up to 5t CO2e per 4 bed dwelling, equivalent to 16,500 road miles, could be saved, when using timber panelised MMC methods. AIMCH is a £6.5million collaborative R&D project which aims to promote and develop industrialised off-site modern construction methods to build homes quickly and viably. Participating partners are Stewart Milne Group, Barratt Developments PLC, L&Q, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and Forster Roofing Services Ltd. Stewart Dalgarno, AIMCH Project Director and Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Stewart Milne Group said, “The comprehensiveness of this report provides valuable insights into where developers, house builders and the supply chain can make a positive contribution to reducing the whole and embodied carbon contributions of new build homes.

“AIMCH commissioned the report to understand the differences in whole life carbon emissions over 60 years, to current building regulation standards, between open and closed panel timber MMC systems and aerated concrete blockwork used in masonry construction. All processes relevant to the construction cycle, in line with the RICS model have been considered — materials, manufacture, transport, usage through to the end-of life and disposal stages. The resulting comprehensive analysis provides invaluable data to inform house builders on the carbon intensity of the two construction methods.” Using the RICS Standard for Whole Life Carbon Assessment, the report represents a rigorous cradle-to-grave assessment of the carbon impact of both types of construction materials and their respective methodologies. 82% of emissions are generated from the homes operational use over 60 years, which is the same for both methods. 14% of emissions are generated from the materials and construction process. A small proportion of emissions are generated at end of life. The study, authored by green energy consultancy Verco, examined four types of home utilising either: masonry – aerated blockwork and offsite manufactured open and closed panel timber MMC, both with brick cladding.

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Carbon sequestration benefits of timber, in line with RICS protocols, were applied to all methods of construction, for example benefiting masonry homes bult with timber floors and roofs. End of life assumptions used identical 90% recycle/re-use and 10% to landfill ratio across both material types. Cementitious products including roof tiles, concrete blocks, brick cladding, strip foundations and floor slabs, were found generally to have the highest lifecycle embodied emissions. Conversely, timber frame wall elements sent to landfill, were found to produce 0.5 tCO2e emissions at end of life, compared to aerated concrete blocks. Panelised timber MMC construction methods outperformed masonry construction on a whole-life carbon basis, when comparing the direct substitution of various wall elements – external, load bearing and party wall elements. Embodied emissions of these wall elements being as much as 82% less than that of the masonry construction. In addition, timber MMC key properties contributing to reduced emissions. A detailed summary of AIMCH’s report Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes can be viewed at: www.aimch.co.uk

Creativity isn’t just in the mind. It’s in the connections. Innovation is about forming new connections to inspire fresh thinking. So we’re uniting our industry, bringing together experts to share ideas and accelerate change. It’s how we develop cutting-edge products and services, like IRO Timber and CarbonStore. And it’s how we can create future growth that’s both profitable and sustainable. SEE TIMBER IN A NEW LIGHT.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS HYBRID SOLUTIONS CENTRAL TO RISCAUTHORITY REPORT Produced with input from 24 major UK insurers the ‘Insurance challenges of massive timber construction and a possible way forward’ white paper sets out to ‘definitively’ describe the insurance challenges of cross laminated timber (CLT) and other engineered construction products in the face of fire and water. If embraced at the point of design, it is hoped that it will result in buildings that are both sustainable and insurable, satisfying the requirements of all stakeholders. The purpose is to communicate the insurance challenges that are presented by massive timber construction, in particular the ambition to construct large multi-storey commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings out of timber, and to suggest potential solutions where the provision of

SO MODULAR EXPANDS TIMBER TEAM Timber frame construction specialist, SO Modular, has brought in a new Business Development and Marketing professional to join its rapidly growing team and build relationships with key stakeholders and the wider community. Lisa Amphlett has been brought into the new role with the remit of creating, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with SO Modular’s clients and partner organisations. These include housing associations, local authorities, main contractors, sub-contractors, private developers, and national homebuilders. Her role also sees her managing the company’s marketing initiatives, developing project leads, assisting

affordable insurance might be problematic. Amongst many recommendations, the report suggests alternating engineered timber floors in concrete or steel framed buildings to reduces concrete usage, preserves a higher level of (insurance relevant) compartmentation, improves building stability under fire and supports firefighting activities. Dr Jim Glockling, Technical Director of FPA and RISCAuthority said: “Insurance of massive timber buildings is simpler in countries whose Building Regulations, unlike the UK, embrace the benefits of property protection. Government and the design community have substantial roles to play in assisting the move to more sustainable construction methods – insurers alone can only do so much.” The report fails to reflect much of the work that the timber industry has done in recent years to address concerns over fire and water damage, that has allayed many fears of clients and developers unfamiliar with timber construction. It also highlights remaining knowledge gaps that need further analysis and research including

the aging of timber composite materials, reactions to water and fire of timber composite materials and repairability of massive timber systems. For more comment from the STA on this report and the issues it raises see p42. The report is available to download at www.riscauthority.co.uk

with tender submissions, and organising engagement opportunities with the wider community. As part of this wider engagement, Amphlett also takes on the role of tenant liaison officer, based on-site at the County Flats development in Sandfields, Aberavon. Her remit in this role includes maintaining communications and developing relationships with the residents and wider community. Lisa Amphlett, Business Development and Marketing Officer at SO Modular, said: “I am delighted to be working at such an innovative and forward-thinking company as SO Modular, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. I will be based at the County Flats development in Aberavon, and very much look forward to taking on the additional role of tenant liaison officer at the site. My role with SO Modular is varied and my remit wide ranging, and I hope that the skills and experience I bring can benefit the company by increasing awareness throughout the industry and wider community of its innovative and sustainable products and working practices.”

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Charlotte Hale, Operations Director, SO Modular, added: “We are delighted to have Lisa come on board with us, here at SO Modular, as we look to accelerate our production capacity and develop our growing business. Her new role is key to raising awareness of our products and services, and ensuring strong communications and relationships with our clients, partners and the wider community.” www.somodular.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS GREENCORE CONSTRUCTION GAIN HUGE M&G INVESTMENT

M&G plc has acquired a majority stake in sustainable housebuilder Greencore Construction on behalf of policyholders in its £143billion Prudential with Profits Fund. The investment will help Greencore to significantly expand its capacity and increase its impact across the UK. M&G also plans to invest up to half a billion pounds over the next three to five years in sustainable new developments of private and affordable housing, in partnership with Greencore. Greencore has developed an innovative construction method which uses a closed panel timber frame, manufactured offsite and insulated with natural materials such as hemp, lime and wood-fibre. This allows it to build high quality, energy efficient homes which lock up more carbon than is emitted both during construction and over the lifetime of the home. Greencore’s scienceled approach is a unique and disruptive solution within the housebuilding sector, which needs to make major changes to its methods to meet the UK’s net zero targets and help people reduce fuel bills. The equity investment into Greencore has been made by M&G’s Catalyst team, which is investing up to £5billion into innovative

privately-owned businesses working to create a more sustainable world. Catalyst’s flexible and patient capital will allow Greencore to scale its operations nationwide and deliver for their large institutional clients. The co-development with Greencore will be led by M&G’s real estate investment team, on behalf of investors in its residential property and shared ownership strategies. With its increased capacity Greencore will expand its customer base of existing and new institutional clients for new developments. It is about to complete Springfield Meadows, an award-winning sustainable housing development in Oxfordshire, one third of which is available for affordable rent or shared ownership. WSP, one of the UK’s largest engineering professional services consultancies, has conducted independent assessments of the Greencore products, including a whole life carbon emissions assessment on Plot 12 on Springfield Meadows, a typical Greencore house. This evidenced that Greencore is at the forefront of sustainable housing in the UK, with negative whole life carbon emissions (-278 kgCO2e/m2), compared with RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)’s 2030 target of +625 kgCO2e/m2 for domestic housing.

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Ian Pritchett, Managing Director of Greencore Construction, says: “With this investment, Greencore can scale to have a transformational impact on sustainable housebuilding standards in this country. The built environment is one of the biggest emitters of carbon, both in construction and occupation, but we’ve shown it doesn’t have to be this way. Our homes are sustainable to build and sustainable to live in, which is becoming more important than ever as energy prices continue to spiral.” Jack Daniels, Chief Investment Officer, M&G plc, says: “The scale, expertise and flexibility we have across our business means we are uniquely positioned to help Greencore transform UK house building to a more sustainable model. Our investment will enable thousands of people to live in high quality, comfortable and energy efficient homes, while also potentially benefitting millions of our customers and policyholders in our With Profits Fund.” For more details on Springfield Meadows and the Biond system see p46 www.greencoreconstruction.co.uk

UK INDUSTRY NEWS BSW GROUP SEES TIMBER IN NEW LIGHT BSW has unveiled its new brand, with an expanded vision of ‘seeing timber in new light’. This sees the group uniting its capabilities under a new, overarching, BSW Group brand, forging an integrated supply chain to create value and sustain long-term growth. Tony Hackney, CEO, BSW Group, said: “As the sector’s biggest integrated business, we believe we have a responsibility to drive positive change. Our vision is to become the most innovative, technologically advanced and sustainable timber business in the UK. By growing markets, increasing efficiency and resilience, and elevating our craft, we can help secure the future of our industry and our planet. We have a shared will to create value and achieve sustainable growth.”

As part of the launch, BSW Group is committing to ensuring a seamless, circular supply chain, to investing in innovation and education, and to giving people more stability and choice. Maelor Forest Nurseries, Tilhill, Dick Brothers, BSW Timber, BSW Timber Solutions, Bayram Timber and BSW Energy will operate in their own specialist areas under the new

overarching BSW Group brand, with a shared vision to drive positive change across the sector. www.thebswgroup.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS LEEDS GETS TIMBER HOUSING BOOST

WEST FRASER PROMOTE NEW PROJECTS

Work has begun to transform a vacant brownfield site into a landmark, 30 home timber frame housing development — providing much needed affordable properties in Leeds.

around 1500 new, high-quality social housing units over the next five years. Once completed, the new homes will be managed by the council and will become part of its affordable housing stock.

The scheme will deliver a total of 14 onebedroomed apartments, 10 two-bedroomed houses and six three-bedroomed homes — two of which will be located on a satellite site, replacing two old properties that were previously demolished.

Mick Holling, Managing Director with United Living New Homes North, said: “Leeds is a thriving and growing city which needs new, good quality housing to meet demand. We look forward to playing a central role in regenerating this area of Leeds and creating much-needed new homes for local people. The timber frame sector is transforming the way new homes are built. It offers a comprehensive, energy-efficient and low carbon solution for social housing that is high-quality, affordable and easily accessible and adaptable.”

The homes, to be built at Leeds Meynell, in Holbeck, will be 100% affordable and constructed in less than nine months, with the first residents expected to move in by early summer 2022. They will be built using an innovative timber frame construction process, that involves constructing elements of the properties offsite — in a factory-controlled setting — before transporting them to site for assembly. The method uses the same materials, standards and codes as conventionally built homes, but the controlled plant conditions ensure the process is completed more quickly than a traditional build. They will be constructed using a Fabric First approach. This will help to achieve a key objective of the project, which is to ensure energy efficiency, lower fuel bills and tackle the fuel poverty problems that some Leeds City Council tenants face. The eco-friendly scheme will also support the council’s commitment to reduce the city’s direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 and make Leeds a greener, fairer and healthier city. The project is being delivered through Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), which aims to build

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, commented: “One of Leeds’ biggest priorities is to provide enough housing to meet the needs of a growing population. This is why we have developed our programme to build 1,500 new affordable homes over the next five years; all of which need to be high quality and accessible. Not only will this scheme positively contribute towards this ambition, but it will also help us achieve our climate targets by providing people with energy efficient, low carbon homes. I look forward to following the progress of this scheme and welcoming our first residents later this year.” As the principal contractor for the development, United Living will partner with Leeds City Council and William Saunders Architects. www.wm-saunders.co.uk

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The interest from architects in West Fraser products, and the company’s environmental credentials, has led to the development of a specific architect hub. The new page details the competition as well as providing tailored information such as CPDs, downloadable product datasheets and BIM objects. The architect can also order product samples. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of engineered woodbased panel products, West Fraser’s OSB, particleboard and MDF products are used extensively by architects. Crucially, all West Fraser’s engineered wood panels have been certified as being net carbon negative which means that they lock up more carbon in the products than is emitted making them, helping the UK construction sector comply with net zero targets. The company is also committed to sourcing all timber from responsibly managed forests, and the European manufacturing facilities manufacture products that are certified to FSC standards. West Fraser is also pleased to be a partner of Youth Employment UK. Founded in 2012, Youth Employment UK is a not-for-profit social enterprise offering young people skills and career support to equip them for the world of work, as part of the quest to tackle youth unemployment. The organisation strives to present young people between the ages of 14 and 24 with opportunities to explore education and training options and connects them with youth-friendly employers. With a designated West Fraser page on the Youth Employment UK website, young people can read inspiring profiles of current West Fraser graduate trainees and explore real vacancies at West Fraser’s sites in South Molton, Cowie and Inverness. www.uk.westfraser.com www.youthemployment.org.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS CLEVER MOVE FOR SMARTROOF & COMBILIFT

Smartroof is leading the way in developing innovative insulated room in roof panel systems that reduce overall build time, ensure consistent quality as a result of a factory-controlled environment, and improve health and safety during the onsite installation process. In line with the company’s drive for sustainability it has switched from diesel to electric power for its fleet of material handling vehicles. These now include four Combilift multidirectional forklifts that have recently been delivered to the manufacturing facility in Swadlincote, Derbyshire. The company became part of The Keystone Group in 2012 and 2021 was its busiest year to date. Therefore, there was a marked increase in the volume of materials that need to be handled inside and outside the factory. Due to the extreme size and bulk of the products, which can be up to 12m long and weigh 7t, Combilift was chosen as the preferred supplier.

“We were aware of Combilift’s products, their capabilities and reliability,” said Production Director Lukasz Semen. As we are extending our production facility and yard, which will triple the size of our current footprint, we need to make sure we can handle our loads with utmost efficiency and safety.” Together with Glen May from materials handling consultants Forkway, specifications and attachments were drawn up for the two C8000E and the two CBE3000 models, which were supplied in Smartroof’s corporate livery. The C8000Es are the largest electric models that Forkway has supplied to date and are used for handling Smartroof’s most challenging loads of 10 to 12m long x 2.7m deep bundles of roof panels. With a 5.5m mast, 6m wide hydraulic spreader beam with 2.5m long forks, they can reach across the truck bed to lift a complete load in one single procedure. With the previous forklifts this necessitated multiple lifts, and what used to take 40 minutes is now complete in 10 minutes.

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The 3t counterbalance design CBEs offload lighter products and components and transport materials to the assembly lines. Thanks to their compact size and manoeuvrability they can move between machinery without hampering production. There are five cameras on each model, magnetically mounted so that they can easily be repositioned. Blue safety lights for each direction of travel, red zone pedestrian proximity warning lights and work lights for nightshift operation were also installed. A further safety feature is Forkway’s own SpeedZone system which reduces the trucks’ speed from 5km/h down to 3km/h when they transition from outdoor to indoor operation. www.combilift.com www.smartroof.co.uk

UK INDUSTRY NEWS SIP BUILD UK RESTRUCTURES A West Yorkshire SIP and timber frame manufacturer has seen the founders regain control in a deal which sees a long-term director leave in a move that is set to propel the business forward. SIP Build UK and Frame Build UK are now back in total control of Chris and Julie Duckworth, the deal that has seen the other shareholders and directors leave the business and has come at a key time for them. Having invested hundreds of thousands over the last few years SIP and Frame Build UK are particularly well placed to service the ever-increasing offsite manufacturing market. Driven by quality and process the business has huge ambitions to make the most of the opportunity provided.

A restructure within the business will see a new management structure and product offerings which has created an unprecedented excitement within the business, further announcements are expected shortly once the ink has dried on the deal. Managing Director Chris Duckworth, says that the change in direction and personal has come at a time when the whole construction industry is being driven by quality, process, material shortages and lack of labour: “The future direction and control of the business allows us to make

the most of being a market leader with Nationwide Coverage, SIPs are regularly featured on Grand Designs and other property programmes, we have seen demand soar in this marketplace. “Energy efficiency is harder to achieve using traditional methods and the short supply of brick layers is moving many developers and builders towards offsite manufacture. We are brilliantly placed to offer advice service and quality through our dedicated staff and systems.” www.sipbuilduk.co.uk

Z HOUSE USES REFLECTIVE MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER ENERGY EFFICIENCY A concept house for sustainable living developed by one of the UK’s major housebuilders has been installed with reflective, insulating wall membranes from Glidevale Protect to deliver an airtight and energy efficient building envelope. Z House, built by Barratt Developments PLC, is a unique zero carbon home built on The University of Salford’s main campus. Glidevale Protect supplied its reflective wall membranes Protect TF200 Thermo and Protect VC Foil Ultra as part of the build to deliver a low emissivity solution using still airspaces, with the products providing strong aged thermal resistance to reduce energy consumption and heat loss, thereby helping to achieve a low overall U-value. The membranes were installed offsite to timber frame closed panels by specialist manufacturers and designers Oregon Timber Frame Ltd before being delivered and constructed on-site. Z House is constructed using offsite construction methods to reduce build time

by half and is packed with cutting edge technology to reduce carbon emissions and substantially surpass the Future Homes Standard. Glidevale Protect is one of over 40 organisations involved in the project from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors. “We’re delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project which goes beyond current regulations to deliver a future proofed design with carbon reduction at its heart,” explained John Mellor, Glidevale Protect’s Senior Product Manager. “With energy efficiency and net zero carbon high on the agenda, we’re proud that our thermally efficient construction membranes have played their part in this build.” Continually monitored for energy performance, the Z House will be lived in by University of Salford academics to better understand the customer experience of zero carbon living.

For more information visit: www.glidevaleprotect.com, email: info@glidevaleprotect.com or call +44 (0)161 905 5700, quoting ‘Z House.’

“The Z House takes a Fabric First approach, supported by a range of smart and renewable technologies, to ensure high standards of energy efficiency in this zero

IMAGE: Glidevale Protect’s wall membranes were installed offsite to timber frame closed panels before being delivered and constructed on site. Courtesy Matthew Nichol Photography

carbon home,” added Oliver Novakovic, Group Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Developments PLC. “Glidevale Protect is an important partner on this project, who has provided high quality reflective membranes to enhance the wall’s thermal performance, helping to reflect radiant heat and prevent energy loss from the timber frame home.”

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS COUNTRYSIDE LOOK COUNTRYWIDE WITH TIMBER HOMES

Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed tenure developer, will continue to use its offsite methods to deliver 1,918 homes across Yorkshire, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire during 2022. Each open panel timber frame house emits 14,460 kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house. Using this sustainable approach rather than traditional methods will, therefore, mean over 27,000 less tonnes of greenhouse gasses will be

NEW OSB/3 PANEL FROM MEDITE SMARTPLY

MEDITE SMARTPLY has launched SMARTPLY SURE STEP – the brand new tongue and groove, structural OSB/3 panel with improved slip resistance and durability – providing a safer working surface for those on construction sites.

emitted into the atmosphere as part of Countryside Partnerships North’s 2022 development programme. The division is building on a very successful 2021, which saw them deliver 1,570 homes. Working with a range of partners to fulfil its commitment to a mixed tenure approach, the northern part of the business plans to deliver 665 affordable homes, 685 houses for sale and 668 houses for rent over the course of 2022. The majority share of the homes set to be delivered in 2022 will be in the northwest. Countryside’s Manchester and Cheshire East and Merseyside and Cheshire West regions are set to build 1,285 homes, 466 of which will be much-needed affordable housing, 357 will be made available for rent, whilst the remaining 462 will be privately sold. The 1,285 homes set to be delivered this year is an increase from the 1,121 homes delivered in the northwest during 2021, as the mixed tenure developer looks to continue to grow its presence in the region.

This innovative, lightweight panel for flooring and roof decking, boasts improved performance during the construction phase of projects. Its unique, UV cured specialist coating, which is manufactured in-house at SMARTPLY, is designed to sustain the effects of the weather and construction foot traffic while reducing the slip risk even in wet conditions – this brings improved durability and slip resistance to the panel in all site conditions. “We are delighted to introduce SMARTPLY SURE STEP to the marketplace as part of our specialist SMARTPLY range,” comments Rebecca Goldsmith, Product Marketing Executive. “We are constantly thinking of new ways our products can benefit the construction industry and our customers. One of the things our customers and end users have shown great interest in is a protected OSB panel that would provide some weather resistance. SMARTPLY SURE STEP is an innovative, high-performance panel that provides improved durability and has a low slip risk, which supports a safer future for timber buildings.”

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Jo Jamieson, Chief Executive, Partnerships North, Countryside, commented: “Countryside continues to lead the way in offsite construction. In 2021 Countryside Partnerships North delivered over 1,500 open panel timber frame homes, despite the construction sector being hamstrung by workforce, supply chain and pandemic related challenges. “This year we will continue to adopt our innovative and sustainable offsite method of construction to deliver even more homes, as we fast become one of the most influential mixed tenure developers in the north. Our commitment to building lasting relationships with local partners also means that, as well as being sustainable, our developments are multifaceted and cater for everyone’s needs. The North will, in 2022, go even further to create thriving communities where people love to live.” www.countrysidepartnerships.com

SMARTPLY SURE STEP is manufactured in accordance with EN 300 and is a load bearing panel for use in humid conditions. It can withstand exposure to the weather for up to 42 days without degradation. It is ideal for applications such as flooring or roof decking, or where improved durability, temporary protection, reduced edge swelling and surface degradation is required on projects. This ground-breaking panel is available in large sizes and its distinctive tongue and groove edges allow the panels to easily slide into place. In addition, SMARTPLY SURE STEP can be used in numerous sectors such as modular, steel frame and timber construction, offsite manufacturing and temporary decking – making it the ideal panel for use in all construction projects. The panel has been tested by third party accredited labs where the panels achieved low slip potential in dry and wet conditions. www.mdfosb.com/products/smartply-sure-step

UK INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY PLAUDITS FOR LATHAMS FINISH LINE CLADDING

The Finish Line Collection, an exclusive cladding range launched by James Latham in 2020, has been recognised in two prominent industry awards for its development, design and performance. Judges of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2021 gave it the top spot in both the Process Efficiency category and Product Design in Wood category.

The former recognised the timber and materials supplier for “innovative and collaborative product development” with the Lathams team bringing Accoya Timber, timber engineering company Dresser Mouldings and Canadian coating specialist Sansin together to develop the range. The design category “recognises excellence in technical innovation, design and application in joinery product manufacture.” Judges said that they selected Finish Line thanks to its performance, quality factory finish and range of options available. Richard Mosson, Group Cladding Technical Sales Manager at Lathams, said: “Our ambition was to bring together the best of modified wood, timber engineering and surface protection to create a best-in-class cladding product that would be long-lasting, easy to install and available in a range of contemporary options. To be recognised by our peers for our efforts is highly rewarding. It has also been fantastic to see the ways in which our customers have used it over the last twelve months. It is heavily resistant to peeling, fading and cracking, which reduces the need for maintenance and makes it appropriate for a broad range of climates

and locations; we’ve seen some amazing projects throughout the UK and Europe showing it off to the best of its ability.” The Accoya provides a strong foundation for the Finish Line Collection. With a warranty of up to 50 years when used above the ground, it is a natural fit for cladding. It is well known for its durability due to the natural modification process (acetylation) and its performance rivals hardwoods. The manufacturing process sees the Accoya wood profiled, surface finished (either wire brushed or sanded, dependent upon specification) and coated by the team at Dresser Mouldings. This creates a key on the timber’s face, with tiny variations in texture allowing Sansin’s ultra-low VOC coating to penetrate beneath the surface of the timber. The advantage is that this helps to bind it to the cells and prevents peeling and cracking. The cladding arrives on-site factory finished, front, back and ends, in a selection of 12 unique colours, effectively encapsulating the timber in a breathable envelope. www.lathamtimber.co.uk

ACM have been manufacturing bandsaws in Novellara Italy since 1979 and this expertise has been put into the 9 ranges of bandsaw on offer. Unlike many big names all ACM products are manufactured in Italy, they are not a Chinese product branded with a famous name, it is Italian manufacture and european build quality.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS JAMES JONES ACQUIRES KEY AUSTRALIAN CLT FIRM

James Jones & Sons Ltd has announced that it has acquired just under 60% of the shares in Mayflower Enterprises Pty Ltd in Australia, the holding company of Hyne Timber and XLam. The transaction was approved by the Mayflower Enterprises shareholders and by the Australian Treasury’s Foreign Investment Review Board. Mayflower Enterprises Pty Ltd is a sixth generation, family-owned company with an annual turnover of AUD$380M in the year ending 30 June 2021. Hyne Timber, dating back to 1882, operates two modern sawmills (Tuan Queensland pictured above - and Tumbarumba, NSW) producing circa 800,000m3 of sawn timber, employing 750 staff and enjoying a 21% market share in Australia. The mills source approximately 1.6 million tonnes of pine logs from plantations strategically located in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Hyne Timber also operates a new glulam factory in Queensland, commissioned in 2020.

XLam (New Zealand) was the only CLT manufacturer in the southern hemisphere and was acquired in 2015. The company has since relocated to Wodonga, Victoria where Australia’s first ever CLT manufacturing plant was commissioned in 2018. Tom Bruce-Jones, Chairman of James Jones & Sons, commented: “We first commenced discussions with the Hyne family members in late 2020, and it quickly became apparent that the two companies were very similar culturally and shared complementary values regarding service and quality and looking after their employees. The executive management team is very experienced, has been involved in the negotiations and is fully aligned with the new ownership strategy. We believe that this transaction will be an excellent addition to the James Jones & Sons Group and will provide a strong platform for further consolidation and growth in Australia and New Zealand.”

Jon Kleinschmidt, CEO of the Hyne Group, added: “This is an exciting day for Hyne Group with the partnership of two likeminded, multi-generational familyowned timber companies opening up significant growth opportunities that will deliver benefits to our customers, suppliers, our people and the communities in which we operate. Importantly, there is no overlap in the operations of the two companies because of our locations, with the Hyne Group focused on Australasia and JJSL on Europe. We can now concentrate on identifying and developing growth opportunities in our region and beyond, through organic growth and acquisition, and through a cross fertilisation of ideas.” The partnership between the Hyne Group and James Jones & Sons Ltd brings together 320 years of sawmilling heritage and represents a positive next chapter for the respective family businesses, and pools a knowledge base encompassing forestry, sawmilling, I-Joists, glulam, CLT and renewable energy. www.jamesjones.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS STORA ENSO INVESTS IN AUTOMATED CLT COATING LINE Stora Enso has invested €9million in an automated cross laminated timber (CLT) coating line at the Ybbs sawmill in Austria. The investment will further strengthen Stora Enso’s position as a leading global provider of engineered wood products for low carbon, sustainable buildings. The investment enables industrially preapplied CLT coatings on the CLT walls and floors produced at Stora Enso’s Ybbs site. The automated coating solution results in shorter construction times and higher wood protection. “With this new automation line, we can apply high-quality water-based coating to approximately 500,000sq m of CLT walls and floors per year – making us the world leader in this segment. Our customers will benefit from improved protection of CLT

against moisture, sunlight, insects and fire, as well as nicely coloured visual surfaces,” says Lars Völkel, EVP wood products division. The automated CLT coating line will be built at the Ybbs sawmill and is expected to be finalised in the third quarter of 2023. The Ybbs sawmill is well located to serve all markets in Central Europe. As a sustainably sourced and produced wooden material, Stora Enso’s CLT can help meet carbon offset requirements and lower the

environmental footprint of construction as well as the building’s entire lifecycle. Stora Enso aims to lead the development of the growing mass timber construction market. The company has a strong position in traditional wood products and develops growth through increased capacity, new building concepts, digital services, and value-added features like coatings. www.storaenso.com/en

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PROMOTING TIMBER

PUSHING TIMBER TO THE FRONTLINE

in one of the fringe event areas – the Sustainable Landing Hub – was the COP26 House. This house, designed by Roderick James Architects comes from the Beyond Zero Homes team – a consortium of over 20 different organisations. The house was made entirely from Scottish grown timber, and on practical completion accounted for around 24,000 kg of embodied carbon, while storing more than double that at around 53,000 kg of biogenic carbon.

01 Sarah Virgo, Campaign Manager at Wood for Good, sees timber going from strength-tostrength post-COP26 and throughout 2022. 2021 felt like a page-turning moment for the timber industry, as forestry and timber finally began to receive recognition for their role in helping decarbonise the built environment and move us towards net zero. From cross-sector campaigns calling for stronger action on reducing embodied carbon emissions, to specific recommendations that encouraged greater use of timber from the Climate Change Committee, timber is now being acknowledged as a low-carbon material.

02 In case you missed it, during the two weeks of COP26 in Glasgow, Wood for Good sponsored an action-packed day conference at the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) in South Lanarkshire. It was the perfect way to kick off COP26 and featured a range of engaging speakers on forestry and timber construction. It was important to us that the link between the built environment and forestry was made clear. In the setting of the CSIC, alongside a number of impressive timber building demonstrators, it felt fitting to hear from Scott Francisco of Cities4Forests together with Confor’s Deputy CEO and Wood for Good Board member, Andy Leitch, about how we can and should bring forestry into our discussions about using more timber as a material. In addition to hosting several wonderful events, the CSIC itself was a brilliant and thought-provoking space – if you ever have the chance to visit it in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, grasp that opportunity with both hands! Situated

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In 2022, Wood for Good is continuing to build on the momentum and positive energy that we witnessed in 2021, particularly at COP26. As the UK timber industry’s leading carbon messaging campaign, our aim is to keep people talking about timber as the solution to reducing embodied carbon emissions. Thanks to the success of the Wood CO2ts less and Time for Timber campaigns, many are already talking about the role timber can play in reducing our embodied carbon emissions. This is now trickling into UK policy decisions: in January this year, the APPG for the Timber Industries Chair, David Warburton MP called for greater use of timber for tackling embodied carbon in the built environment. What can you expect from Wood for Good in 2022? We’ve been working on creating new, updated versions of some of our most popular and effective assets to keep them current and engaging for our audiences. We’ll be rolling these out throughout the year, giving our supporters access to download and use them in their own promotional work. Including animated videos and new infographics, the aim of them is to continue spreading the message of Wood CO2ts less, while emphasising the relationship between sustainable forestry and timber in construction.

PROMOTING TIMBER TIMBER HOLDS THE KEY TO TAKE ON EMBODIED CARBON IN 2022 Embodied carbon emissions from the built environment must be tackled now if we are to meet our climate change ambitions, says David Warburton, MP for Somerton and Frome, and chair of the APPG for the Timber Industries.

“With the COP26 summit, the Net-Zero Strategy and England Trees Action Plan all coming together, 2021 must be seized upon as a pivotal year in our mission to decarbonise the UK in the context of a commitment to slash emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

“Over the past three decades our carbon emissions have nearly halved. This reduction has come from change in just three areas: (1) a switch away from coal (2) cleaner industry shifting away from carbon-intensive manufacturing and (3) a smaller and cleaner fossil fuel supply industry. “While operational carbon has been regulated with increasing strength, including the incoming Future Homes Standard, embodied carbon emissions have escaped the attention of regulators. Embodied carbon emissions can account for up to 75% of a building’s lifetime greenhouse gas emissions and are responsible for over 10% of our national emissions. Addressing these emissions is essential if we are to build back greener and achieve net-zero by 2050.” (A ten-minute rule motion on the regulation of embodied carbon emissions in the UK was put forward by Duncan Baker MP on 2 February 2022.) “This motion aims to ensure that whole-life carbon emissions are reported upon construction and that legal limits are in place to ensure embodied emissions are reduced, following on from a campaign by the construction industry for the inclusion of a ‘Part Z’ in building regulations. “It is why I will be watching with close interest the conclusions of the Environmental Audit Committee as they investigate the sustainability of the built environment, with this cross-party inquiry pivotal in scrutinising and shaping government policy on built environment emissions. It is why I will be calling for greater action on increasing the use of wood in construction in the UK. Today, we have an existing technology to help reduce our carbon emissions right now, particularly in our newbuild housing with the greater use of timber frame. Using more timber in construction is essential if we are to reduce embodied emissions as it displaces carbon-intensive materials, and acts as a form of carbon capture and storage, with nearly a tonne of CO2 sequestered for every cubic metre of timber used. “The role of timber has been recognised repeatedly by the Climate Change Committee, and now by the Government within the Net Zero Strategy and England Trees Action Plan. This promises to be an exciting year for creating a more sustainable, safer, and healthier built environment.” www.cti-timber.org/appg-for-the-timber-industries

In the architecture and construction worlds, conversation is moving on from discussions about embodied carbon in buildings to circularity. To ensure that we are keeping wood at the forefront of conversations, going forward, we will be promoting timber’s inherent circular properties even more. In collaboration with others, work is underway to review the currency of the Wood for Good Lifecycle Database and

identify if, and where, improvements can be made to improve its usability and applicability. We expect to finish this in the first half of 2022. The updated environmental product declarations (EPDs) can be used by specifiers and designers to create lifecycle analyses of their projects and demonstrate the embodied carbon benefits of using timber.

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www.woodforgood.com

IMAGES: 01-02. Built by Beyond Zero Homes, the COP26 House showcased what is achievable with today’s materials and technologies to deliver a zero carbon, timber frame building 03. David Warburton, MP for Somerton and Frome, and Chair of the APPG for the Timber Industries

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VOX POPS Our regular column explores some views and opinion from industry insiders, covering a few topical issues affecting the timber sector in a challenging business and construction environment.

Peter Blunt

Jae Cotterell

Managing Director, Innovaré Systems

Director, Passivhaus Homes and PH15 System

www.innovaresystems.co.uk www.phhomes.co.uk

Q: As we enter 2022, in what ways has the timber sector changed over the last couple of years post-Brexit and (hopefully) post-pandemic. What can we expect to see developing in the next two years?

PB: Carbon is no longer a ‘long-term’ risk, its real now. The supply and inflationary pressures brought about by Brexit and COVID-19, combined with the adjustments required by the Building Safety Bill, has put the whole construction industry under pressure – but the timber sector has a responsibility to meet these challenges so that it can effectively support the decarbonisation of the built environment. I expect to see an increased focus on quality and the use of offsite manufactured systems to meet the as-built performance gap, the use of more hybrid options and more testing to prove/disprove some of the industry norms that people have tried to rely on over the years.

JC: The timber industry has been significantly impacted by supply constraints and logistics pressures. This has been particularly bad during 2021 and we are still being notified of price rises. However, the delivery of timber from Europe post-Brexit continues to add complexity to our processes. Going forward we remain hopeful for increasing use of timber in housebuilding, especially as we move towards 2025 and 2030 and the growing pressure to reduce our carbon impacts. Timber is low in embodied carbon, but it is also ideal for energy efficient construction details such as thermal continuity and airtightness.

Q: What can be done to encourage more clients and developers to adopt increased amounts of timber from a design and engineering perspective? PB: Increased awareness of timber’s versatility, structural capacity and low carbon footprint help to compel clients from an architectural and engineering perspective. Whether a glulam beam or within in an Innovaré iFAST panel, timber can respond to diverse architectural forms whilst delivering a high performing and thermally efficient building. Better education of clients and developers that choosing timber means their building becomes part of a low carbon material lifecycle – storing carbon over the building life and emitting significantly less carbon than other materials during construction. Understanding these benefits would compel more clients to choose timber for their projects. Q: Decarbonisation of the built environment and creating a more integrated circular economy is vital – how well do you feel that the timber industry is making this happen? PB: Timber is the most natural and sustainable of all mainstream construction materials and should be synonymous with the construction industry’s answer to deliver net zero carbon targets. The industry needs to provide more data so that timber is proven as the low carbon material of choice. Designers and engineers need quantitative information to evidence how timber will decarbonise their client’s buildings in both operation and whole life. To support a more integrated circular economy, the industry needs to articulate the sustainable timber lifecycle better and the many opportunities to recycle and re-purpose timber.

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Q: What can be done to encourage more clients and developers to adopt increased amounts of timber from a design and engineering perspective? JC: More education on the variety of ways that timber can be used to client groups and contractors, especially those used to masonry construction methods. This is best linked to hard data to illustrate the effectiveness of timber buildings to radically reduce carbon emissions. There are too many generalisations and unsubstantiated claims around net zero. The housebuilding industry needs encouragement to explore more engineered and offsite timber solutions away from the typical solid section 140mm stud walls coupled with non-vapour permeable and oil-based insulations. Engineered timber products and timberbased insulations are increasingly available and open a world of precision building and offsite technology. Q: Decarbonisation of the built environment and creating a more integrated circular economy is vital – how well do you feel that the timber industry is making this happen? JC: The need to decarbonise is undisputed and the timber industry needs to deliver here. There are many interesting things going on – our own system is a direct response to use of timber for radical carbon reduction. We can all get stuck in ‘business-as-usual mindsets’ and it’s not often easy to find the energy to change our usual practices. It requires time for learning, time for careful consideration, careful implementation and a willingness to embrace some risk. The worst we can do is doggedly argue against change and allow a general UK masonry mindset or misplaced fears around fire risk, to hold up an important revolution in timber use.

VOX POPS

Will Daws

Helen Hewitt

Project Manager, Constructional Timber

Chief Executive, British Woodworking Federation

www.constructionaltimber.com

www.bwf.org.uk

Q: As we enter 2022, in what ways has the timber sector changed over the last couple of years post-Brexit and (hopefully) post-pandemic. What can we expect to see developing in the next two years?

WD: As an importer of timber, we were concerned that Brexit would result in red tape, increased costs and shipments held up in the ports. This would have resulted in projects being delayed or over budget. Thankfully Brexit hasn’t impacted the day-today running of our business as much as we feared. However, we have seen a big shift in the way we operate over the past two years as we learn to live with COVID-19. Highly volatile prices for materials have put a strain on our supply chain as we struggle to secure material at the right price. We are hoping the next two years are more stable with an emphasis on sustainable growth for the industry.

HH: As the UK looks set to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, skills and training provision must become our sector’s most urgent priority. The latest TTF data has highlighted that supply chain challenges are stabilising. However, rising energy prices and their impact on the sales and costs of some products for our members, and the sector more broadly, may be the next big challenge our sector has to overcome. Regulatory changes, such as the Building Safety Bill, will bring widespread change throughout the construction industry and particularly for our members that manufacture fire doors.

Q: What can be done to encourage more clients and developers to adopt increased amounts of timber from a design and engineering perspective? WD: From our perspective we are keen to engage with clients, developers and their designers at an early stage to discuss the feasibility of timber for their projects. This early engagement is key in developing designs in a manner that promotes sustainability but also buildability and value for money. We speak to many clients that are keen to use timber but are approaching the project with misconceptions that inevitably result in the project going down more traditional routes. By passing on our expertise right from the outset we can guide clients down a route which promotes timber in a sensible way. Q: Decarbonisation of the built environment and creating a more integrated circular economy is vital – how well do you feel that the timber industry is making this happen? WD: The timber industry is a ready-made solution to the huge carbon emitter that is UK manufacturing and construction. There are plenty of scalable businesses ready to increase their workload as the demand for sustainable construction methods is adopted by clients and developers. At Constructional Timber we commit to only supplying PEFC/FSC timber, so our clients have a full chain of custody giving them peace of mind that their project is ticking the box regarding sustainability. We also carry out all the manufacturing and fabrication for our projects in the UK to ensure we minimise the number of lorries travelling from Europe.

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Q: What can be done to encourage more clients and developers to adopt increased amounts of timber from a design and engineering perspective? HH: The BWF is continuing to champion wood as a sustainable construction material and how it can help the UK become a built environment global leader. We will be highlighting our Six-Point Blueprint for Wood throughout the coming 12 months to a range of stakeholders to ensure wood is the sustainable product of choice in the construction industry. Through our ongoing lobbying programme and liaison with parliamentarians, we will ensure that the voice and views of the woodworking and joinery sector are heard by the Government, and that as a sector we are able to help the Government meet its net zero by 2050 target. Q: Decarbonisation of the built environment and creating a more integrated circular economy is vital – how well do you feel that the timber industry is making this happen? HH: As an industry, we’re taking positive steps to highlight how wood is an inherently renewable material that can be used in place of those with a higher carbon footprint. The BWF is focused on helping consumers and the construction supply chain select more timber products in place of aluminium or PVCu alternatives for building products such as windows. Education is a key part of this, as it’s important for specifiers to understand that compared to other construction materials like concrete or steel, timber can be reused, repurposed or recycled far more easily. Post-pandemic, there is a real opportunity for the timber industry to come together to position timber as a truly sustainable construction material.

VOX POPS

Andy Hodge

Suzy Jones

Marketing Director (Wood Protection, EIMEA), Arxada

Director of Future Lab, Urban Splash www.urbansplash.co.uk

www.arxada.com

Q: As we enter 2022, in what ways has the timber sector changed over the last couple of years post-Brexit and (hopefully) post-pandemic. What can we expect to see developing in the next two years?

AH: Juggling supply with record levels of demand whilst responding to escalating costs, certainly has made everyone look at processes and become leaner and more agile in approach. Whilst these past two years have been tough, I am excited to see the use of timber in construction being pushed to the top of the sustainability agenda. I see the continued education on the benefits of specifying correctly treated timber being key over the next two years. To really tell the story of why treated wood, we need to evidence this, and I expect to see a growing demand for EPDs and LCAs across the UK and Europe over the next two years.

SJ: I’m encouraged by the move to offsite construction in recent years, with more housebuilders changing their approach and increasingly using different construction methods, and different materials. The ‘Offsite Construction Market Report – UK 2021-2025’ recorded an increase in demand, and there has been more interest from central government. I hope that this positive trajectory continues. I also think it will be supplemented by an increasing investment in nurturing talent and upskilling existing contractors. It’s not feasible to just transfer traditional construction skills across. It’s the right time for businesses to invest in apprentices to embark on careers in offsite methods – we are doing this by appointing new apprentices in our factory – each of whom will be solely working with timber.

Q: What can be done to encourage more clients and developers to adopt increased amounts of timber from a design and engineering perspective?

AH: Education is key to driving the use of timber in construction projects. I think collectively the industry’s trade associations are working hard to educate specifiers and key government bodies on the benefits of using wood in construction. For future growth, ramping up this education will be crucial, as will the provision of hands-on practical training to ensure treated timber is not only specified correctly, but installed and maintained appropriately too. Plus, we need to continue work with the specification market to continue to develop wood protection technologies and timber products that help to further reduce the overall carbon footprint of projects.

SJ: More research and development are imperative, especially as we aim to use timber at scale in the UK. But we need more data and a better understanding of the material in practice. Our newly established ‘Future Lab’ R&D facility will allow us to continue to evolve our homes and continue to use timber in a sustainable way. We want to share data coming out of Future Lab, collaborating with the industry and government in the hope that it grows confidence among our peers. We also need to see investment in de-risking innovation through R&D grants and other financial products which support new ways of working and knowledge transfer.

Q: Decarbonisation of the built environment and creating a more integrated circular economy is vital – how well do you feel that the timber industry is making this happen?

AH: Collectively, timber trade associations are working hard on educating specifiers on how building with wood contributes to reducing carbon emissions. Sourcing timber from local forests is also gathering pace. From a treated timber perspective, our focus is to enhance the natural durability and longevity of timber to ensure that it stores carbon for longer and outperforms other construction materials when cradle to grave embodied carbon impact and lifetime costs are analysed. We are continually looking at ways to enhance the environmental profile of our products, with the latest development being the launch of a metal-free Tanalith™ later in the year.

SJ: Producing our homes will always create carbon emissions but it is our aim to decarbonise the process, source sustainable products, minimise emissions and plant trees to remove the equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere. Our portfolio of homes is created using timber and Future Lab’s continued analysis of the process is helping us decarbonise our operations. Our first R&D report this month was testament to our efforts and our study found that Town House homes are 50% more energy efficient than the average newbuild home and are very close to being zero carbon ready – by that we mean ready for decarbonisation of the grid.

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ENTRY DEADLINE 10.06.2022 SOCIAL HOUSING PROJECT OF THE YEAR

PRIVATE HOUSING PROJECT OF THE YEAR

EDUCATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR

HEALTHCARE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

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CUSTOM & SELF BUILD PROJECT OF THE YEAR

PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD

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PIONEER OF THE YEAR

12.10.2022

National Conference Centre, Birmingham For more information, visit:

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PROJECT OF THE YEAR

ANDREW DONALDSON

REFRAMING THE

TIMBER HOMES APPROACH The move has prompted us to expedite the plans we were working on regarding structure and synergies within the Group. Work is still underway on this, but there will be much more of a concerted focus on offsite construction as a business, and the individual parts of the Group will be working together to promote modern methods of construction (MMC). To reflect the company joining a new family, the legal name of the business has been changed from Stewart Milne Timber Systems to Donaldson Timber Systems, with a full rebrand to follow in the coming weeks.

01 Following the acquisition of Stewart Milne Timber Systems (SMTS), Andrew Donaldson, CEO of the Donaldson Group discusses their plans and what this acquisition means for the future of the business and the industry. 2021 was undoubtedly a transformational year for the Donaldson Group. The deal with SMTS marked the largest acquisition in our 161-year history, as well as our entry into the timber frame market. As timber experts with an historic commitment to the timber market, we have long-considered venturing into timber frame but the timing was never quite right. Last summer, when

we developed and completed our five-year strategic plan for the Group, we outlined our ambition to grow the business through an organic and acquisitive growth strategy, with timber frame being a strategic opportunity to explore. This was not only the natural progression for our business, but more importantly, we also recognise the importance of timber frame in meeting the sustainable housing agenda. This is an area we feel particularly passionate about, and we’re keen to support increasing the amount of timber in homes to play our part in achieving net zero. While our plan was clear, we didn’t expect that within six months we would become the largest timber frame manufacturer in the UK. Around the time we were making the first steps forward, the opportunity with SMTS arose and it was a perfect fit for both the Donaldson Group and for SMTS. Fast forward a few months and the deal was made.

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As a Group, we’ll be looking into the opportunities that MMC can provide the industry as a whole. Our Group businesses now have a significant capacity to offer the market, whether that it is in timber frame systems, door sets and stair manufacture or floors and roofs from our timber-engineering business. The Donaldson Group can help to support the development of MMC across the housebuilding market in the UK. It’s an exciting move to venture into the timber frame market at a time when interest in the material has never been higher. As the only renewable building material, there has never been a more crucial time to utilise timber in construction and to deliver more innovative build systems through offsite manufacture. Rising construction costs, increasing housing demand and the significant skills shortage provide a catalyst for new and more innovative building solutions. Timber within an offsite building system provides that solution and is a material that is recognised and valued by both housebuilders and consumers.

ANDREW DONALDSON

02 Our opportunity here is to promote the inherent values of offsite timber frame to both new and existing clients. Working in partnership with our clients, we can successfully help them convert their traditional masonry approach to a cost effective and sustainable method of home building. We are in the process of developing an offsite manufacturing division within the Donaldson Group that will utilise the years of expertise in our people and leverage our business experience and contacts, while offering an unparalleled breadth of products and services. The three businesses that form this division will continue to operate individually with their own leadership teams and a focus on their own clients. However, we will bring together the combined strengths of our management teams to support the overall growth plans for the entire UK structural timber industry. As a business, we are confident of the continued growth in the use of timber within construction – particularly in the housebuilding sector. To ensure we play our part in providing the capacity that the market will need in the future, we’ll be making investments in product development and innovation, as well as considering new manufacturing locations across the UK. We have exciting plans for the future and hope to push the boundaries of the offsite

03 timber frame industry, while supporting the drive to use more MMC throughout the UK, which will be of benefit to the industry as a whole. SMTS has always been a leading innovator and advocate for the timber sector. We will be continuing their work with industry partners such as Innovate UK, NHBC and Homes England to provide help developing guidance, standards, training and operating methods that give the market confidence to specify offsite systems in structural timber. This approach is consistent with the ethos of the wider Donaldson Group. We therefore expect the integration of SMTS into the business will enable us to contribute significantly to the future growth of the whole sector and the greater use of structural timber in construction.

As we move forward, we are committed to playing a positive role in the complementary trade associations within our industry. We are fully aware of the work they do to ensure the timber industry is understood and appreciated by the full range of policy makers, industry influencers and specifiers of timber. This has been a superb move for our group, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing how our industry progresses over the next few years, as timber comes into its own. www.jamesdonaldsongroup.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. Andrew Donaldson, CEO, Donaldson Group 02-03. Developing a timber offsite manufacturing division within the Donaldson Group will utilise years of expertise and business experience

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TIMBER DEVELOPMENT UK

FACE 2022 WITH A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

01 David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK (TDUK), reflects on a challenging 2021 and looks at the opportunities that lie ahead for timber over the next 12 months. After two years where we, as an industry, have had to battle challenges from every direction, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all hoping for a slightly calmer, less stressful period ahead. Early indications are that things do seem to be settling down. Import levels have fallen back from the recordbreaking heights of 2021, when imports exceeded 3 million m3 for Q3, and were more than 10% higher than the last time imports for that quarter exceeded 3 million m3 – back in 2007. Things were certainly difficult for a while as merchants scrambled to source enough product to keep up with demand, but despite all the upheaval the supply chain proved just how resilient it is, and we rode out the storm. More recently we’ve seen stocks return to merchant yards across the country, and we expect demand to return to more typical levels for the remainder of 2022. Even though demand this

year may be less than we saw in 2021, there are still plenty of opportunities for businesses throughout the timber supply chain. The Construction Products Association’s (CPA) latest quarterly forecast suggests that output across the entire construction industry will grow by a healthy 4.3% this year, demonstrating once again the impressive resilience that the industry has shown throughout the last few years. Housebuilding is expected to remain buoyant, as is private housing, while the infrastructure sector is predicted to be the major driver for growth – all good signs for timber businesses throughout the UK. With Building Regulations changes coming into force later this year, and even tighter energy efficiency requirements expected to be introduced over the coming decade, it’s inevitable that architects, engineers and developers will be searching for more efficient, sustainable materials when specifying products for their projects. As a low-carbon, low-energy construction material, we firmly believe that timber has the potential to become the material of choice in the creation of a more sustainable, circular economy, and at TDUK we will continue to promote the use of timber and its

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efficiency benefits to all our members, as well as through initiatives such as our University Design Challenge, which seek to educate tomorrow’s architects and designers on new ways of thinking. This is all good news, but it doesn’t mean everything will be plain sailing for this year, as challenges do remain. Global and UK/European Union Customs Regulations changed in January 2022, with new documentation requirements in place for companies who wish to import or export products. Companies must ensure that goods have the necessary ‘proof of origin’ when trading with the EU, or risk costly delays during customs checks. Changes have also been made to the customs codes for wood products, and companies would be wise to make sure they are fully up to speed with the changes to prevent any avoidable problems. Despite the unprecedented two years we’ve just experienced, the timber supply chain is an inherently stable market, maintained by merchants holding good stock levels on the ground and being ready to supply timber to builders and developers as they kickstart their sites in 2022. 2022 is looking to be a particularly busy year as we continue to unite the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA under the banner of our new organisation. Bringing both entities together will help us to continue our mission to grow the use of wood as a UK construction material, strengthening our voice and encouraging greater dialogue and interaction throughout the entire supply chain. Over the coming months you’ll hear even more from us as we work to create a single, central resource hub for the everyone who works with timber, from sawmill to specifier. We want to be the first port of call for any business seeking information, market statistics or guidance, while we actively represent the best interests of timber to government and other industry bodies on your behalf. www.ttf.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. Timber stocks are returning to pre-pandemic normality

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INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

A GENUINE

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

01 The UK is running out of warehouse space, so let’s grow some more, says Sebastián Hernández Maetschl, Head of Building Concepts at Stora Enso. At the end of 2021, available UK warehouse space fell below 50m ft2 for the first time since at least 2009. If that sounds like plenty to spare, it isn’t – UK businesses took up roughly that amount from just January to September the same year. The fact is that the pandemic accelerated an already rampant (and probably irreversible) trend: the shift to ecommerce and consequent need for warehousing and distribution space. And of course – as it is 2022 – it is important that these are built in as green a manner as possible. What to

do? New warehouses don’t grow on trees, after all, but the idea isn’t as far from the truth as it might sound. A new generation of industrial buildings are emerging that are built using engineered timber. As an approach, massive wood construction offers the possibility of low carbon, faster, more efficient construction to help meet the UK’s voracious demand, as well as a host of other valuable benefits that align with the country’s strategic priorities. Low-carbon, high performance Of course, the UK warehousing and logistics sector doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists against a backdrop where the government is pushing a l ow-carbon industrial strategy, and where ESG pressures (with an emphasis on the ‘E’) are factoring into investor and boardroom agendas more than ever before – and neither warehouse tenants nor commercial real estate developers are an exception.

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In this regard, timber industrial buildings are a long-awaited alternative for a corner of the construction sector that has historically had no option but to rely on carbon-intensive concrete and steel. Timber industrial buildings can cut embodied carbon emissions by up to 30% versus comparable structures made with traditional materials. Too often, the carbon conversation focuses narrowly on operational emissions when it comes to buildings – those created through use of the building throughout its lifecycle. Those are important, but we shouldn’t lose sight of embodied emissions, which are those inherent in the fabric and materials of the building itself. That would be like focusing exclusively on fuel use for your car while waving away the emissions involved in extracting, refining and assembling 1.5 tonnes of metals and plastics into a vehicle.

INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS When sustainable forestry practices are followed, wood is a completely renewable and carbon negative material. In the cultivated forests of Northern Europe, trees are planted at a faster rate than they are harvested, and those trees remove and trap carbon dioxide from the air as they grow. That carbon stays locked away when the tree is harvested and the wood turned into engineered timber components, meaning that for the lifecycle of a wooden industrial building, it is keeping that carbon from adding to the atmosphere. Of course, there are other emissions involved in processing and transport, but this means that engineered timber’s overall embodied carbon emissions are radically reduced versus materials such as steel and concrete which create vast quantities of carbon emissions during its production.

Timber industrial buildings are a way for developers and warehouse tenants to improve environmental performance, both as a goal and as a way to improve standing with shareholders, consumers and other stakeholders. Fast growth warehouses In the context of warehouse space shortage, a major attraction of timber industrial buildings is that they can be erected fast. Engineered timber elements naturally lend themselves to prefabrication and modular construction methods, allowing for components to largely be built offsite. Then, once they are delivered, it is a relatively simple matter of fitting the pieces together, which can be completed by a small, skilled team in a short matter of weeks. Not only is the total build time accelerated, but there is less time with active work onsite and fewer deliveries, reducing contracting costs and disruption to the local area. This is especially important when there are concerns about impact on nearby residents, or if the build has to be integrated into a broader set of local works and developments. The design stage also factors heavily into the total speed of the project. Not only does a modular approach lend flexibility that allows smart developers to accommodate external factors like adjacent developments etc, but the speed of the design itself is important. Pre-optimised base designs allow architects to select an appropriate specification from eight different spans

03 and customise for their needs. These range from 12 to 36m spans, from small workshops to large retail sheds and warehouses, and include fully interactive 3D models and technical specifications. Pre-optimised design plus prefabricated components make for a nigh unbeatably rapid total project lifecycle – a handy option for developers racing to meet runaway demand.

Studies have also shown that timber buildings can be better for occupants’ health and productivity. Productivity rates go up by 8% according to one study, while general wellbeing improves 13%. These benefits are already recognised and valued for educational and office environments, but workers in the warehousing and logistics sector are surely no less deserving or needful.

Bonus benefits Though they may not be central to the final investment decision to press ahead with a timber industrial building design, there are several supplementary benefits that are nonetheless worth consideration. For example, taste is subjective, but timber buildings can be strikingly attractive compared to corrugated metal sheds. This ‘soft’ factor may feature in hard business decisions if it helps secure planning permissions and local support where space is at a premium and industrial land abuts residential.

So, no – warehouse space doesn’t grow on trees. But you can turn the trees themselves into warehouse space and there is a wealth of benefits to doing so, from speed to sustainability to aesthetics and wellbeing. If the UK really is running out of warehouse space, then the solution is simple: let’s grow some more.

www.storaenso.com/en

IMAGES: 01-03. Timber industrial buildings are an alternative to a sector that has relied on carbon-intensive concrete and steel

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FLOORING fire retardant treated joists our T&G boards can provide a two-point floor assembly to assist achieve a simple Category C solution as per Structural Timber Association (STA) Product Paper 4 of the ‘Design guide to separating distances during construction’.

TONGUE & GROOVY

NON-COMBUSTIBLE

STRUCTURAL FLOORING

01 manufacturer and fitter are provided with extensive information on why, where and how our flooring boards should be used to help comply with the buildings regulations, deliver the expected results and leave our customers feeling groovy.

02 Surely, we mean ‘groove’ right? Wrong, we at Resistant firmly believe our new flooring design and fitting guidance brochure is totally groovy. Leo Bagnall, Managing Director, Resistant Building Products Ltd, explains more. We never contemplate launching a new building material product accompanied with vague guidance on how it might feature on a construction project. Our foremost aim is always to ensure that everyone from designer to

Resistant 20-20 Fibre Cement Board (FCB) T&G flooring has been developed to design in greater fire protection, shorten build time and improve the overall quality of build. As the UK and Ireland construction sector moves forward it is generally accepted that more buildings will be built from timber and lightweight modern methods of construction. This expected increase in offsite manufactured buildings comes at a time when the fire performance of all buildings and construction projects is under more scrutiny than ever before. A1 non-combustible drylining and sheathing boards are commonly used to improve the fire performance of walls and ceilings both during construction and in-service, but there are very few fast-fit, non-combustible T&G materials that can be used to form a load bearing deck. Without the additional need for

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Equally suitable for offsite and on-site installation, our new T&G flooring board can be exposed to weather during the construction phase without fear of degrade or distortion. As a structural floor ready to receive any further decorative surface layer it eliminates the need for timely and costly over boarding and provides a suitable base for underfloor heating systems. Screw-fixed without the requirement to pre-drill, underfoot it feels great and provides a luxurious impression that developers and homeowners love. In the design section of our new brochure, we provide clear examples incorporating the application of recommended modification factors to calculate the design point load resistance of a floor deck in both domestic housing and office applications as well as showing how the board is equally suitable for use higher up the building on roof deck applications. Supplied in 2400 x 600mm size in 19 and 22mm thickness the new 20-20 FCB T&G flooring board from Resistant is a great addition to our existing range of specialist sheathing boards and is expected, along with other new products on the horizon, to make a significant contribution towards our ambitious growth projection. We are very grateful to STA Technical Consultants, Milner Associates who were contracted to assist oversee BS EN 1195:1998-point load capacity stiffness testing at Lucideon and further worked with us to develop the very informative design section of our groovy new brochure. For more information email: info@resistant.co.uk www.resistant.co.uk IMAGES: 01. Point Load Testing at Lucideon 02. Pallet of 19mm FCB T&G flooring being loaded to leave Resistant’s Belfast depot

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CENTRAL UK LOCATION TELFORD

WHEN ?

WEDNESDAY 25th MAY 2022 WHERE ?

An unmissable one-day event for the whole industry The Exhibition Centre at Telford will play host to a new-look Torque-Expo UK, offering a B2B exhibition, a substantial conference programme, an innovation zone showcasing new and unusual products and a networking awards evening.

EXHIBITORS ARE LEADING MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALERS OF FASTENERS, FIXINGS AND TOOLS

EXHIBITION • NETWORKING • SEMINARS • AWARDS

EMBODIED CARBON

TOOLS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS

01 There is widespread agreement that we need to reduce carbon emissions. Where there tends to be disagreement, is how construction needs to change to achieve this. Progress requires new tools and a shared language, says Timber Development UK Sustainability Director Charlie Law. The construction and built environment sector are responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, of which a significant percentage comes from the extraction, processing and energy

intensive manufacturing of building products – known as embodied carbon. After many years of efforts across the industry, embodied carbon as an issue is finally emerging into the mainstream. We see this in the debate of how we should handle our existing buildings, with the carbon cost of the proposed demolition of M&S on London’s Oxford Street grabbing national headlines, in local planning policy, with the London Plan including a requirement for wholelife carbon assessments, and in the Houses of Parliament where the ‘Part Z’ for embodied carbon recently came forward. While excellent progress is being made, there remain outstanding challenges. For the timber industry this is seen in the debate on how to measure the impact of carbon sequestered by wood products. With the many differing

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opinions, it has sometimes been difficult to fully communicate the benefits which timber and timber building systems bring to reducing embodied carbon. Measuring the benefits of timber and carbon In our new technical paper ‘Assessing the carbon-related impacts and benefits of timber in construction products and buildings’ we set out to solve this problem by communicating a clear process for accounting for carbon in timber buildings and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in accordance with the latest European Standards (EN 15978 and EN 15804+A2) and RICS Professional Statement on Whole Life Carbon Assessment in the built environment. This is important. As with any other core part of a business, from finance

EMBODIED CARBON to operations, ‘if you can’t measure, it you can’t improve it’. By setting out a clear process for counting carbon within wood products, using the latest industry standards, we are helping ensure that: • Building designers, clients, and contractors can better understand and assess the embodied carbon associated with buildings and other structures • Product manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate the carbon impact of their wood products. To ensure the rigorous application of these standards to an industry leading level we worked with an independent party, Jane Anderson of ConstructionLCA, a world-renowned expert on embodied carbon, lifecycle assessments and EPDs for many different materials within the construction sector, to develop this technical paper. Solving the biogenic sequestered carbon puzzle To fully understand the carbon impact of construction requires a whole life carbon assessment. Within this assessment it has not always been simple to quantify what the impact of the biogenic carbon, which is sequestered by timber, is on the overall carbon footprint of a construction project. Biogenic carbon is shown within the whole life carbon model only as it enters the system, when the timber is harvested within Module A1 (extraction), and when it exits the system (through transfer to another product or emission to atmosphere) within Module C3 or C4. This means there needs to be a clear understanding of the construction product all the way from the forest – where our paper starts by looking at the forest ecosystem as a carbon sink – through to its end of life when it might be recycled into another product, converted into bioenergy, or otherwise released into the atmosphere, as well as all points in between. Where timber is sourced from a sustainably managed forest then the sequestered biogenic carbon stored within the product can be considered as part of an assessment. On average, a balance of 568 million tonnes of CO2 has been added to the forestry carbon

sink in Europe annually over the last ten years. The amount of carbon stored in harvested wood products, including timber used for building, is estimated to increase by 40 million tonnes of CO2 each year.

Creating a net zero future for the timber industry One of the key reasons this technical paper has become possible is from the creation of Timber Development UK, formed from the merger between two of the largest and longest established organisations in the supply chain, the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA).

The carbon sequestered from the products biogenic origin then should be listed within the EPD of a product and inform the whole life carbon assessment of a building. Where only an upfront carbon assessment is carried out (Modules A1-A5 only) then the sequestered carbon cannot be included in the calculation but can be stated as a separate ‘stored carbon’ figure. Another key area where this paper provided a much-needed update is on the end-of-life (EoL) scenarios for timber products . Previously the RICS Professional Statement provided an EoL scenario for all timber whereby 75% was directed to energy recovery and a quarter to landfill. This was incorrect. By taking Defra estimates of the amount of timber waste production, and Environment Agency landfill data, it was calculated that less than 1% of waste timber is ending up in landfill. Based on this data, and data from the Wood Recyclers Association on the EoL routes for timber, this paper sets forth more likely EoL scenarios for solid hardwood and softwoods, engineered timbers, wood panel products, and preservative treated and coated timber, with information on the potential for reuse in their original form, and percentages for recycling and energy recovery.

By bringing these two associations together as one we are creating the largest, most comprehensive supply chain body in the UK, spanning from sawmill to specifier and all points in between. We want to use this new organisation to capitalise on the growing interest in designing with timber and to act as an agent of change towards more sustainable, low carbon forms of construction. This paper will be the first of many as we set out to use our central position in the timber industry to build a roadmap, along with the tools, training, guidance, and auditing to support the sustainable timber supply chain to become a net zero carbon industry. You can download ‘Assessing the carbon-related impacts and benefits of timber in construction products and buildings’ for free at: www.ttf.co.uk/download/tduktechnical-paper IMAGES: 01. Lifecycle assessment graphic explaining the areas of embodied carbon 02. The technical paper is a result of the merger between the TTF and TRADA and will be the first in many key industry publications 03. The use of more timber is central to securing a low carbon built environment. Courtesy Stora Enso/ Maccreanor Lavington

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STRUCTURAL TIMBER ASSOCIATION the use of structural timber is vital in the quest to meet construction’s net zero obligations, but the industry should adopt a pragmatic approach towards hybrid construction to overcome insurance hurdles.

A FORCE FOR CHANGE

This is broadly the line taken by the recent RISCAuthority report entitled Insurance Challenges of Mass Timber Construction and a Possible Way Forward. Investigating the risk of mass timber structures on behalf of 24 insurers, including Axa, Aviva and Zurich, the report concludes that adopting a hybrid approach is the best solution if we are to allay insurers’ concerns around fire and water damage.

01 What next for the structural timber sector? Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA), assesses where the timber construction sector currently stands and where it could go next. The use of timber in construction has received increased attention in recent months and years. As the issue of sustainability has become more acute, we are seeing many architects, contractors, housebuilders and clients looking at how the use of low carbon materials can be expanded. Versatile and with a long history of use in construction, timber is at the forefront. With a growing demand to deliver more affordable and social homes in the UK, Homes England has conducted research into modern methods of construction (MMC), finding that when compared to traditional methods, MMC was able to deliver homes faster. In addition to the developments in the housing sector, engineered timber solutions such as cross laminated timber (CLT). In 2019, the Government announced the Health Infrastructure Plan, which includes a commitment to building 40 new hospitals by 2030 and

a focus on net zero, digitalisation and MMC. Under the plan, schemes must include 70% offsite construction, which leans heavily towards timber as the primary building material, in order to secure funding. Whilst these developments are exciting, we believe that to see a more widespread adoption of timber in 2022, raising awareness about the benefits of timber, particularly its ability to contribute to net zero carbon, will be crucial. While traditional building methods are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050, timber offers the opportunity to achieve net zero now. What’s more, with the use of timber now enshrined in the Government’s Build Back Greener strategy, more widespread adoption of structural timber seems inevitable. With so much potential and a wide range of opportunities to expand the use of timber, the coming years will be an exciting time in the sector. At the STA we are actively working to promote the benefits of timber to the wider industry, overcome the barriers to its widespread adoption and are committed to helping our members take advantage of the push for low carbon construction. RISCAuthority Response The construction and insurance industries must work together if we are to increase the use of structural timber that is safe and cost effective. Increasing

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Recommending that multi-storey mass timber buildings are constructed using a concrete core and lower levels, the report argues that this would make it much easier for insurers to offer their backing. At the STA, we have always advocated using the right product for the right application and so we welcome this sensible approach, which could prove an easy route to increasing the overall volume of timber used in construction – thus delivering lower levels of embodied carbon. Not surprisingly, the STA believes that timber is an excellent building material when used in an appropriate context and our objective is to champion its many benefits. However, we firmly believe that this should be achieved by providing fact-based, unbiased information that facilitates informed specification choices. Education is key and we are actively engaging with the insurance industry via the Time for Timber campaign to communicate the wealth of testing evidence available and help them to understand the use of timber from a risk management perspective. To that end, we have produced a series of guides and a white paper, the Insurance Industry Guide to Mass Timber in the UK. Moving forwards, we would welcome further collaboration with stakeholders in these industries to achieve the overall goal of safely delivering lower carbon buildings. www.structuraltimber.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. Timber is central to the UK’s zero carbon future

PRODUCT INNOVATION THE POWER OF FASTENING BeA Fastening Systems Ltd is part of the successful global group BeA GmBH and have been in the UK fastening industry for 50 years this year. BeA manufacture fixings and fastening for construction and industrial sectors across the world. In recent years in the UK, BeA has seen increasing demand from many offsite and structural timber manufacturers, with a focus on housebuilding. The offsite industry has some unique and specific construction challenges; the type and quality standards of fixings are very often bespoke to this sector. By working closely with some of the major manufacturers, BeA has actively developed specific fixings, fasteners, tools and manufacturing automation to satisfy this fast-growing sector.

Staplers and nailers remain the core products from BeA, more recently our range of automatic solutions for larger scale manufacturing have seen increasing demand from offsite and timber manufacturing. BeA have semi-automatic and fully automated fastening solutions capable of reducing costs and further improving production efficiencies. Autotec is BeA’s fully automatic system with a full range of framing nail guns, coil nail guns and staplers. BeA are recognised for high

levels of customer service. This includes professional advice from our experts and field sales advisors, fast and on time delivery and both internal and mobile technical support tailored to our customers needs when it comes to maintenance and repair. sales@uk.bea-group.com

IMAGES: 01. BeA Autotec stapler 02. BeA Autotec 288

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THE POWER OF FASTENING

BIM & TIMBER

LIVING IN A SCULPTURE

01 Inspired by large sculptures in the countryside and the rocky outcrops of the nearby Dartmoor moors, The Hux Shard – as seen on Channel 4’s Grand Designs – offers a striking, geometric appearance and gave structural engineers a significant timber challenge. With the building’s geometric architecture inspired by Dartmoor’s wild granite tors, The Hux Shard’s exterior walls are formed of 34 shard-shaped sculptural panels, set in a jagged 70m line following the contours of the hill on which the property stands. It is the combination of these immense-sized shards and the exposed rural landscape

that was perhaps one of the key challenges behind the project, with TWP Consulting Engineers appointed as the structural engineers on the project. It provided structural engineers, TWP Consulting Engineers, with a significant challenge. Speaking about the project, Nick Drew, Director at TWP said: “The Hux Shard was certainly a fascinating and an ambitious project, with a significant reliance on the engineering principle to create and bring the vision to life.” The building design required a series of large concrete pad foundations and steel short columns, which in turn supported the gigantic timber frame’s floor structure and roof. The primary building frame consisted of 282 glulam timbers, which were bolted together with steel brackets to form a wooden skeleton reaching over seven metres into the air. The property’s exterior walls

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were then formed from 34 insulated timber shards, each around 600mm thick and clad in zinc, and interspersed with 46 equally complex glazed panels. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, the whole structure was also partially suspended, raised between 0.5 and 1.5 metres off the ground. Nick explained: “Perhaps the main challenge on this project was the shardshaped panels that formed the building exterior, and which served to create the dramatic geometric impact of the overall building. Due to the intended architectural aesthetic, there was no uniformity to the panels, no parallel elements and no true-90 degrees. Each of the shards was wholly individual and unique, all at different angles to one another, and the whole property was also slightly curved on plan. “As if those design complexities weren’t challenging enough, the shards were also incredibly large – some as tall as a

BIM & TIMBER two-storey house. Given the exposed and elevated hill-top location, the concern was that the shards would effectively act as wind sails, capturing a lot of wind and putting more stress into the primary structure itself. As engineers, we had to ensure that this wind loading was accounted for in the engineered design and that the shards wouldn’t place unnecessary strain and deflection on the primary structure and glazing. Having been a Tekla user for many years, TWP turned to its trusted Tekla Structural Designer software for help in bringing the client and architect’s dramatic vision to life. “Fortunately for us, Tekla Structural Designer has an automated wind loading feature, meaning that we were able to quickly and automatically model and calculate full building wind loads. In turn, this gave us a far better economy for an optimised design - rather than the alternative of manually considering the loads, which is often based off the worst-case scenarios and doesn’t necessarily provide the whole picture.” Given that every timber shard was unique, with different heights, raking lengths and angles, each panel had to be modelled and constructed individually within the Tekla modelling environment. “This, combined with the jagged layout of the shards and the uneven ground level, provided us with another challenge – mainly how to create clear layers in the software,” says Nick. “It was imperative that we were able to create clear layers and gridlines, as well as ensuring that the gridlines were named correctly, as this information then referenced back to the gridline’s respective shard. Without the ability to clearly and concisely complete and model this in the software, it would have presented some serious difficulties and confusion that would have affected the whole project delivery.” In addition to the timber panels, there was also 46 equally large glass panels interspersed throughout the building’s exterior walls and roof, designed to help draw natural light into the property. Nick adds: “A priority for us as engineers was of course stability, ensuring that the overall building was stiff enough. Given the combination of glass and timber, it was vital that there

“As part of early discussions with the Local Authority regarding the planning application, under the then paragraph 55 piece of planning legislation, a reduction in embodied carbon and greener energy production were key to the long term aims of the project enhancing design in rural areas,” said Alex O’Connor from Architects Squirrel Design.

were no differential differences between the frames, as this then ran the risk of the glass shards cracking or shattering. Again, we were able to efficiently model and analyse all of this in Tekla Structural Designer, viewing all of the loads, deflections and stresses present in the building design.” While Tekla Structural Designer is perhaps predominantly renowned for its use with concrete and steel design, the software is also continuing to expand its capabilities for timber design. Indeed, as the emphasis on sustainability and a building’s embodied carbon value continues, timber will inevitably become a more popular building material amongst clients, engineers and contractors. Nick explained: “For us, we are seeing more and more timber being used on construction projects, such as this, as people become more focused on the importance of sustainability. With Tekla’s portfolio of software, we are able to analyse the timber building design in Tekla Structural Designer and

understand all forces and potential stresses. Then, as a result of the software’s emphasis on integration and interoperability, we are then able to export the data and timber beams directly into Tekla Tedds, saving us considerable time. “When you’re working on a project of this complexity, the ability to spin the 3D model around and interact with it, really understanding how it all relates, fits and connects together, is invaluable. Thanks to the software and the 3D environment that it provides, we were able to finish our engineering work within a threemonth period – without Tekla Structural Designer, I can only imagine how long it would have taken.” www.tekla.com/uk www.squirrel-design.co.uk IMAGES: 01. The shard of timber and zinc deliver a sustainable and sculptural impact 02-03. The primary building frame consisted of 282 glulam timber beams 04. Tekla software was integral to perfecting the design

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TIMBER FRAME

BIO-BUILDING THE FUTURE

01 Springfield Meadows is a project of 25 zero-carbon timber frame homes located in Southmoor, Oxfordshire and are all built to exacting Passivhaus standards. With housing responsible for approx. 20% of carbon emissions, and the construction of an average house responsible for embodied carbon of 50-60T from its manufacture, transport and construction, energy performance must improve both outside and inside the UK’s homes. Greencore construction have used the economies of scale from its largest current project at Springfield Meadows

to develop its building system from zero carbon, to ‘Climate Positive’. Climate Positive means locking up more carbon than the houses emit at the construction stage by using bio-based materials, the houses generating more energy than they use each year, the project increasing the biodiversity of the land and using local natural/bio-based products where possible, to create sustainable communities. Springfield Meadows is a project of 25 zero-carbon homes and benefits from diverse shared outdoor spaces and private gardens, it consists of nice affordable houses and 16 private units, 12 of which are custom-build. These, high-performance homes, provide comfortable, low-carbon living, thanks to the Biond Building System. Biond is an offsite manufactured, closed panel timber frame, insulated with lime-hemp and natural fibre insulation.

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The external wall panels lock up 32kg of CO2e/m2 of wall, with cross laminated timber (CLT) used for the upper floors (and any flat roofs). These lock up 125kg of CO2e/m2 of floor and roof and all 25 homes are built using the same Passivhaus principles with minimal thermal bridges, triple glazed timber windows, high levels of airtightness and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system. Additional PV panels can generate more electricity than is likely to be used, over the course of a full year. Homeowners can customise their houses in different ways so even when the same base design has been used, the finished result is unique. Springfield Meadows has been awarded One Planet Living Global Leader status by the leading environmental charity Bioregional. Bioregional’s One Planet Living framework has been integrated

TIMBER FRAME BUILD WITH BIOND Biond is a 21st century hemp-lime construction system that delivers a high performance, comfortable living environment with a ‘social conscience’. The Biond project is aimed at expanding the market of lowcarbon construction by the development of a construction system that can be franchised by builders and developers across the EU and further afield. Biond had already established a preferred methodology for building with closed panel tim¬ber frames constructed within a factory and with hemp and lime insulation and had overcome the challenges of drying the hemp and lime material within commercially acceptable timescales. People who live in hemp-lime houses report higher comfort levels than people who live in conventional houses. This is in part due to the ability of hemp-lime to ‘buffer’ changes in humidity and temperature. Key benefits include: • Walls are insulated in the factory with hemp and lime, and with woodfibre, to deliver U values of 0.15W/m2.K • Floor cassettes can also be manufactured in the factory to speed up the construction process and ensure high quality standards • Roof cassettes can also be manufactured in the factory, with insulation and roof lights fitted, also to speed up the construction process and ensure high quality standards. www.biond.co.uk

02 from an early stage to ensure that the development covers all aspects of sustainability. Including an electric car club, links to local bus routes, use of local labour and creation of community features such as a community orchard and wildlife pond. www.greencoreconstruction.co.uk www.ssassyproperty.com IMAGES: 01-02. The homes are high specification and are hugely energy efficient being built to Passivhaus standards

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MAXIMISING TIMBER USAGE IN ROOF AND TRUSS DESIGNS Timber optimiser helps prefabricators and housebuilders meet their sustainability targets by minimising timber wastage and making more efficient use of materials within their supply chain. This feature not only supports with sustainable building methods and puts prefabricators in a better position within this climate, but it also helps save on costs. Analyse trends and save on materials Now that we’ve spoken about how the timber optimiser works within Gang-Nail Matrix software and how it can help with sustainability targets, let’s talk about how you can analyse trends using this feature.

01 With timber shortages due to supply chain issues and with the costs of it increasing, it is now more important than ever to maximise the use of timber. So how can we best help prefabricators and housebuilders do just that? Implementing and using the right software It is very important to implement and have the right software in place that will help you get the most out of your timber, especially during this difficult time within our industry. ITW Construction Products Offsite’s Gang-Nail Matrix software helps prefabricators and housebuilders optimise the use of timber.

With the timber optimiser feature, prefabricators can now calculate how to best utilise the timber within their stock for roof and truss designs at the click of a button. This feature within the Gang-Nail Matrix software analyses your timber stock and calculates how to best utilise it for roof and truss design jobs. Once you’ve run the calculations, the software will produce a document that encompasses a pick list of what length of timber to use for the required job. Minimise wastage While we’re experiencing timber shortages within the industry, there is also a big focus on sustainability and greener building methods for both prefabricators and housebuilders. Using software that can help you build in a more sustainable way will in turn also help you to get the most out of your timber stock.

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For your roof and truss design jobs, the timber optimiser calculates what length of timber within your stock is needed for the required design jobs. With this feature, prefabricators can analyse trends and identify what lengths of timber is most needed and used within their stock. This can help businesses distinguish what length of timber they should and should not invest in, which helps with material savings. To find out more on what the Gang-Nail Matrix software can do for your business, please contact Rebecca Bowen, Business Development Manager for Gang-Nail, email: rbowen@itwcp.com www.itwcp-offsite.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. With the timber optimiser feature, prefabricators can now calculate how to best utilise the timber within their stock for roof and truss designs at the click of a button.

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LAST WORD

CARBON R QUESTIONS

To address these questions, we wanted to take the initiative. A long-standing business, with a history of innovation and partnering with our suppliers, we felt that Lathams would be one of the best placed businesses to meet this challenge. It is why we developed our own carbon project, working closely with academics, our supply chain and innovative, exemplar companies in the built environment. By developing our own insight into the issue, upskilling our teams and helping our customers, we can play our part in driving improvement and lasting change.

01 Understanding and measuring the carbon in your products is of huge significance. Stuart Devoil, Group Head of Marketing at James Latham, highlights the importance of getting your carbon calculations correct. Reducing the environmental impact of what we do is the crucial issue of our time. And, thanks to high profile events like COP26, we are seeing more companies touting their green credentials and launching new initiatives. However, while the focus has been there recently, it does raise questions. How much of this is greenwashing? How much true understanding is there within the construction industry? What is the level of knowledge and awareness at customer level?

On the academic front, we partnered with the BioComposites Centre at the University of Bangor to carry out detailed research into the embodied and biogenic carbon impacts of the products that we supply. What this means is reviewing our products in two ways – the carbon impacts of the extraction, manufacturing transport and storage of the materials, and the ‘locked in’ carbon, also known as sequestered carbon. It is the first phase of this project and we decided to focus on our timber range, which represents just over 70% of our total product lines and would give us a significant understanding of a large proportion of our stock. Of course, timber has the added benefit of being highly efficient for carbon capture and storage. We felt that it wasn’t enough to update our technical information and product guides – we needed a way to make the information more visible and relatable to our customers. Our first step was the creation of our easy-to-understand carbon calculator. It calculates environmental impact by looking at the full carbon footprint of products as described above – the locked in carbon and the carbon emissions created at every stage from production to delivery to our depots. In addition to the carbon data itself, every product that we’ve measured is awarded a rating from one to four (one being the highest, four being the lowest). This is based on the confidence we have in the data used for the calculations.

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The higher the score, the higher the quality of the data points that have been reviewed, for example an audited and published Environmental Performance Declaration (EPD). This makes it very easy to look at a product and understand where it ranks in terms of sustainability and what kind of performance can be expected from it. We have created our own labelling system which has been added to quotations, delivery notes and other key documentation to make it easier to track the environmental rating of the products that are being specified and used. We know that others offer similar carbon data but feel that the addition of a confidence rating makes this more unique. Our customers know that we’ve carried out the due diligence to make sure that these products are manufactured and perform in the way that should be expected. As well as the environmental side, we also check our products against a range of other measures, such as ensuring that they are ethically sourced. Our project doesn’t stop here. In phase two, we’re taking a good look at our composite products and will work towards the same goal of creating easy to understand ratings for those too. We’re also continuing to work with the industry and will be sharing some of the insights from our research. This includes the creation of a ‘Think You Know Carbon? guide that we’ll be making available for download and launch with a series of learning and networking events, as well as a significant presence at Futurebuild, from 1-3 March. The guide will have everything that architects and specifiers need to know when it comes to selecting products with sustainability in mind, as well as some highlights of top performing products. We hope that others in the industry follow our lead and improve the transparency around these products. It is essential that we work together and reduce construction’s impact on the environment. www.lathamtimber.co.uk/ carbon-calculatorIMAGES: 01. Stuart Devoil, Group Head of Marketing, James Latham

Getting to Zero:

The Construction Industry’s Response to Saving the Planet 05.07.2022 Manchester CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION STRUCTURAL TIMBER MAGAZINE 10% SUBSCRIBER DISCOUNT Use promo code STMAG10 when booking online

According to the European Energy Centre, existing buildings use around 40% of global energy, whilst they produce approximately 33% of carbon emissions. As much as 40% of landfill waste comes from unused building materials – so we are at a tipping point – unprecedented action is needed now if the construction industry is to have a sustainable future. The ecological clock is ticking, and urgent action is needed to mitigate the impact of global warming. Climate change is now considered a worldwide crisis and the construction industry has a major role to play in supporting the UK to reach challenging carbon emission targets. So, the scene is set, and the challenge is clear – the UK needs to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of construction throughout the build process and beyond. The Climate Emergency Conference introduces critical approaches that will enable the industry to meet new construction standards.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: David Pinder - Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Carla Denyer - Green Party of England and Wales Yetunde Abdul - UKGBC Chloe Donovan - Material Research David Leversha - WSP Kate Dougherty - WSP Marta Galinanes-Garcia - AKTII Rodrigo Fernandes - Bentley Systems Clare Wildfire - Mott MacDonald David McCulloch - CarbonStore Oliver Novakovic - Barratt Homes Clare Miller - Clarion Housing Group Mark Henderson - Home Group

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Structural Timber Magazine - Spring 2022 (Issue 29)

Articles inside

A FORCE FOR CHANGE

TOOLS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS

LIVING IN A SCULPTURE

REFRAMING THE TIMBER HOMES APPROACH