Structural Timber Magazine - Issue 19 - Winter 2019

Structural Timber Magazine.co.uk

WINTER 2019 | £4.95

STMAG

Design Technology Sustainability Interviews News Analysis Case Studies

The latest in structural timber building design and technologies

B&K STRUCTURES ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS

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Natural Insulation

Stagecraft

Old Vinyl Factory

Woodfibre, material choice, building performance and occupant health

The National Theatre’s ‘Deck’ delivers a new level of stylish timber design

The Boiler House puts a fresh spin on CLT at HMV’s old home

simplifying offsite

Innovaré is Simplifying Offsite Innovaré makes it easy for clients to achieve the performance criteria, tight programme scheduling and cost saving benefits of offsite construction.

Build methods are changing with traditional processes being replaced by offsite construction, for reasons of quality, speed, health & safety and sustainability.

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www.innovaresystems.co.uk EDUCATION

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WELCOME TO Welcome to the first edition of Structural Timber Magazine this year and one that many readers will be picking up for the first time at Futurebuild 2019 – set to be a key event for the timber and offsite sectors.

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The UK has an outstanding history of timber architecture and with the huge growth of engineered timber components, including CLT and glulam, architects and structural engineers have created some of the best looking, sustainable, healthy and technically advanced buildings for generations. You can see many examples amongst the shortlisted projects for the Best Use of Timber Technology at the 2019 Offsite Awards – being held at Futurebuild – that show an immense depth of talent. Sponsored by the Structural Timber Association (STA) – the Best Use of Timber Technology category rewards the outstanding use of timber technology and innovators in the sector.

Now in its fifth year, the Offsite Awards have grown in stature, attracting over 350 delegates and this year the winners will be announced on 5 March during Futurebuild.

The Materials Hub also promises to be unmissable for timber professionals. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the work created as part of the TRADA University Challenge competition and will also host a CPD-accredited seminar programme to provide a wealth of knowledge for visitors. The Natural Building Area will also feature in the Materials Hub, providing free educational information and showcasing

natural materials and businesses that work in the UK natural building industry.

Elsewhere in this issue we hear more about the continuing success of Södra Wood who have developed a solid reputation as a core supplier of timber components to all four corners of the construction sector – potentially this could also soon include CLT. Amongst some exceptional project case studies we offer the Boiler House, Cowan Court and Cranleigh Preparatory School, plus we hear more about why TV’s Grand Designs visited a SIPS factory.

Of course, key to offsite delivery is the use of design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) thinking. Sarah Newine Moore, Project Manager at Eurban, highlights several DfMA talking points with relation to the continuing development of the solid timber industry and how it makes projects more efficient and delivers greater quality and productivity.

Many thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters. See you at Futurebuild…

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

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WINNER

CONTENTS

THIS ISSUE...

P6 | COVER STORY - B&K STRUCTURES B&K Structures has delivered an innovative timber and steel structure for Cambridge Heath Road, a unique and forward-thinking commercial space that combines newbuild and existing elements to extraordinary effect.

P08 | STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO BOOST TIMBER INNOVATION The STA are joining forces with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) to support structural timber businesses across the UK to innovate and grow. Alex Goodfellow, Vice Chair, STA, explains more about this important partnership.

P10 | INDUSTRY NEWS A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including Peel Land and Property (Peel L&P) and Urban Splash team up at Wirral Waters, modified glulam for the Ivy Collection and Carbon Dynamic rescued from administration.

P26 | TIMBER TAKES CENTRE STAGE The buzz around offsite construction is getting bigger and bigger with demand on the increase and innovators rising to the challenge. The shortlisted projects for Best Use of Timber Technology at the 2019 Offsite Awards – being held at Futurebuild – show the depth of talent in the industry.

P28 | PURSUING CLT CONSTRUCTION Recent announcements on legislation regarding banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings has grabbed many headlines. Anthony Thistleton, co-founder of leading architects Waugh Thistleton, outlines why this should not impede the success of structural timber including CLT.

P32 | THE FUTURE IS MADE OF TREES With over 51,000 members, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association with a business built on ‘value-generating’ relationships. There are exciting times ahead with the organisation gearing up to supply new products in 2019 and further expansion into the UK and European markets.

P44 | CREATING NEW TIMBER HISTORY Cowan Court is a three-storey building that takes its cue from traditional English and European timber-framing techniques and has used glulam to give the Grade II-listed Churchill College a new contemporary lease of life.

P48 | AN EMERGING REALITY Mike Chaldecott, CEO of Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland and Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Innovation in Buildings workstream discusses the huge significance of offsite delivery.

P52 | STAGECRAFT – TIMBER AND THEATRE DESIGN Prefabrication offers distinct advantages in construction, but in theatre design, offsite construction can help clients deliver superb structures in less time. Simon Ricketts, architect at Haworth Tompkins explains how they found new ways to make two buildings perform better.

P34 | NATURAL INSULATION: ENHANCING THE HEALTH OF A BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS Alex Campbell, Director at Steico, explores the effects of making better decisions when it comes to choosing materials for your building on a building’s performance and occupant health.

P56 | FUTUREBUILD 2019 Futurebuild will tackle the biggest challenges impacting the construction industry in the UK and provide visitors with unrivalled insight and hands-on experience around the latest timber and offsite technology.

P36 | WOODFIBRE AND CLT Woodfibre insulation specialist, NBT, has provided the company’s Pavatex insulation and airtightness membrane for a groundbreaking Taylor Wimpey residential scheme that is trialling CLT and wider sustainable design methods.

P60 | THE ROLE AND FUTURE OF DFMA IN THE UK Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is critical to the success of offsite technology and a new breed of construction thinking. Sarah Newine Moore, Project Manager at Eurban, illustrates a tale of two design methodologies.

P38 | SMALL AND PERFECTLY FORMED An ambitious project on a tiny plot in East London, showed an innovative approach to tackling London’s housing crisis by maximising a limited urban plot to create a ground-breaking home using SIPS technology.

P64 | TIMBER ON THE RECORD The Boiler House reimagines new styles of living and comprises of 54 balconied, studio, one and two-bedroom flats and is part of the Old Vinyl Factory regeneration site – named after the famous HMV factory that once manufactured vinyl records here.

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COVER STORY – B&K STRUCTURES

Ethical and Sustainable Structural Solutions B&K Structures has delivered an innovative timber and steel structure for Cambridge Heath Road, a unique and forward-thinking commercial space that combines newbuild and existing elements to extraordinary effect. long-term collaborator Waugh Thistleton, main contractor ARJ Construction, and structural engineers Ramboll, with Veretec as the executive architects. This was a uniquely complex project, requiring the blending of the original concrete block with newbuild and extension elements, all of which relied on B&K Structures’ use of offsite technology to succeed.

The company designed, supplied and installed a hybrid structure which blended structural steel, glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) to extend the full floorplate of the building to 50,000sq ft. Central to the design is a beautiful CLT-framed atrium which encourages co-working and a sense of community between the charities housed in the space.

B&K Structures

01 A scheme described by architect Waugh Thistleton as ‘environmentally exemplary’, the Cambridge Heath Road scheme used pioneering construction methods to replace a derelict 1962 office block, with a modern workplace that will provide a flexible space to accommodate The Ethical Property Company’s 25 charity clients.

Environmental concerns – in particular reducing the building’s carbon footprint – were central to The Ethical Property

Company’s brief. The remit also called for open communal spaces that would encourage the building’s eventual tenants to network and collaborate, and there was a strong emphasis on maximising the available space within the finished building.

B&K Structures’ reputation for delivering innovative structural solutions, which put sustainability at the heart of the methodology, made the company the ideal choice to deliver this scheme in partnership with

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B&K Structures is the leading sustainable and hybrid structural frame specialist in the UK, reating ground-breaking multi-award winning structures with outstanding green credentials for some of the UK’s largest construction companies. Working across some of the UK’s most forward-thinking construction projects, including residential developments, commercial buildings, and the public sector, B&K Structures improves build quality and building health as well as increasing the speed of construction and reducing environmental impact.

COVER STORY – B&K STRUCTURES

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B&K Structures was able to deliver and install the steel, CLT and glulam elements within a two-phase programme of just 44 weeks and if supplied in one single phase, the project delivery would have been a lot shorter. Offsite construction methods helped to speed up the build process significantly when compared with a traditional construction programme for a project this size.

Ethical Property Company, says: “Ethical Property has had a great experience working with B&K Structures, Waugh Thistleton and ARJ Construction. The end result is a stunning building and a great place for our tenants to carry out their work to achieve social change.”

The B&K Structures’ approach delivers many benefits. The use of sustainably sourced timber and offsite manufacturing methods reduces the weight of superstructures, aids foundation designs, limits the number of people required for on-site operations and minimises the number of deliveries to site. And the use of CLT as a sustainable alternative to concrete drastically lowers the project’s carbon footprint. For any commercial project, cost, sustainability and return on investment are high on the agenda: that’s what makes a hybrid structure such an appealing solution for projects like Cambridge Heath Road.

What’s more, the use of lightweight steel in the structure allowed for open floor spaces, and large unsupported spans. This worked well as part of a hybrid solution, with steel and timber complementing each other to create a sustainable and economical alternative to 100% steel. In the case of Cambridge Heath Road, steel was blended with high-quality CLT panels and glulam to create expansive communal areas such as the central atrium.

According to Waugh Thistleton, as well as providing a new dynamic frontage onto Cambridge Heath Road, the extension to the front of the building will facilitate the passive regulation of noise, heating, sunlight and ventilation. This in turn helps reduce the running costs for the building by decreasing the use of artificial light and heating. The impressive building is now fully operational and The Ethical Property Company’s clients have already taken up their space within the building.

Commenting on the finished project, Nick Forster, Director of Special Projects at The

B&K Structures’ Head of Marketing, Wayne Yeomans, added: “Cambridge Heath Road encapsulates the benefits that a hybrid steel and timber structure, and offsite construction methods, can bring to commercial projects. We were able to create space, minimise the project’s carbon footprint, and deliver the finished structure within a tight time-frame to ensure that the building achieved everything the Ethical Property Company called for in the original brief. This is a truly impressive commercial building and is the perfect showcase for what can be achieved when sustainable construction is put at the top of the agenda.”

For more information visit: www.bkstructures.co.uk or follow B&K Structures on Twitter: @BKStructures; on LinkedIn: B&K Structures; and on Instragram: bkstructures IMAGES: 01-04. The use of sustainably sourced timber and offsite manufacturing methods has created a superb sustainable and natural space

The Ethical Property Company The Ethical Property Company is one of the UK’s largest social businesses, which owns and/or manages 23 centres across the country, providing office, meeting, event and retail space to over 1,000 organisations. In the past 20 years, investment from shareholders has allowed the company to create a property portfolio worth over £22 million. The company attracts tenants who are looking to work alongside like-minded companies with similar backgrounds, and who can benefit from the support and partnership opportunities this approach provides. Each of the Ethical Property Company’s centres are designed and managed with the environment in mind, and the company’s financial, environmental and social performance is externally audited every year.

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 7

STA COLUMN

Strategic Alliance to Boost Timber Innovation The Structural Timber Association (STA) are joining forces with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) to support structural timber businesses across the UK to innovate and grow. Alex Goodfellow, Vice Chair at the STA explains more about this important partnership.

This formal partnership will create a strategic relationship between CSIC and the STA which will deliver a supporting programme of activities and provide numerous benefits for STA members, including:

The partnership will build on the existing relationship between our two organisations, formed through several key collaborative projects that CSIC has already supported, with both the STA and our member company’s CCG, Stewart Milne Group and Scotframe.

CSIC is an industry-led, demand-driven Innovation Centre linking businesses, universities and the public sector in collaboration to support increased innovation and productivity. Innovation has always been at the heart of the structural timber sector and our alliance with CSIC is testament to the very progressive and forward-thinking approach of our industry.

Along with championing and supporting innovation, our partnership will also ensure that products, practices and new buildings are robustly tested, and performance is well understood and evidenced to maximise the benefits of technically advanced timber systems and offer assurances to clients and end-users.

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A series of innovation events for the timber sector, hosted at CSIC’s Innovation Factory A discount on use of CSIC’s Innovation Factory, which provides access to state of-the-art equipment including an offsite cell and CLT/glulam vacuum press, as well as training and seminar spaces for up to 120 people Support for STA members to understand the benefits of working with Building Information Management (BIM) and how to adopt BIM working Events and communications support.

By exploiting progressive offsite manufacturing methods and digital technology to advance design and increase productivity – the structural timber sector has the capacity to deliver timber systems in greater volume than any other offsite technology solution. Factory-produced to exacting standards for efficient onsite installation, structural timber systems improve resource efficiency and mitigate skills shortages – delivering exceptional quality and minimal defects.

Offsite technology is hailed as the solution to resolving some of the most challenging problems facing the construction industry, most notably the shortfall in UK housing supply. The offsite manufacturing sector, especially structural timber technology, is

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witnessing unprecedented demand and it is therefore crucially important to be able to provide tangible evidence of quality and safety standards, together with robust processes and procedures. Our STA Assure Membership and Quality Standards Scheme will support this objective.

The STA has reached a formal agreement with the NHBC and from January 2019 the NHBC will accept STA Assure Gold members as compliant with Chapter 6.2 of NHBC’s assessment processes for timber structures without the need for further review or completing a HB2445 form. STA Assure has also received formal recognition from six other industry leading structural warranty and building control bodies including: LABC Warranty, Premier Guarantee, Protek Warranty, Build-Zone Warranty, Self-Build Zone Warranty and ABC+ Warranty for STA Assure Gold and Silver members.

Forming this partnership with CSIC was one of my final objectives as my role of STA Chair came to an end. Mark Stevenson, Managing Director for Kingspan Century, will now take up the position of STA Chair and one of his key objectives will be evidencing excellent and supporting innovation in the sector. I will still play a very active part in the Association and will be supporting Mark, taking up the post of Vice Chair.

Alex Goodfellow Vice Chair, Structural Timber Association E: agoodfellow@stewartmilne.com

www.structuraltimber.co.uk

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

®

UK INDUSTRY NEWS ICONIC NEW LOOK FOR CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND

WORTHY WINNERS AT BWF AWARDS The winners of the prestigious British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2018 were revealed last November at a glittering awards evening held at Stationer’s Hall in central London. Now in their tenth year, the BWF Awards celebrate the best in UK woodworking, recognising technical innovation, design, process efficiencies, health and safety and the rising stars of the industry.

Ireland’s most iconic new building, the Central Bank of Ireland is Ireland’s first ever BREEAM “Outstanding” rated building, setting an example of progressive construction that thinks about the future.

Architects Henry J Lyons achieved this by designing the large sweeping interiors to be as user friendly as possible for the Bank’s staff, by specifying acoustic wood panels from Woodfit Acoustics, made from MEDITE PREMIER FR. This MDF panel from MEDITE SMARTPLY is flame retardant for safe use in public buildings and is produced using FSC-certified timber.

The modern interior is conducive to teamwork and collaboration through use of natural light, safe, natural materials and acoustic performance. “The human experience was considered first and foremost in this project,” says Fergal Costello, Marketing Manager at Woodfit Acoustics. “Acoustics are extremely important in a big open building such as this one, to reduce reverberation while not restricting air circulation. It’s important to us and our clients that we are always environmentally responsible. We feel a strong responsibility to be able to meet

the need for acoustic panels made from sustainably produced materials. Working with MDF in particular, as it’s made from timber thinnings, ensures there is less timber wastage, and allows us in the timber industry to be a lot more efficient and environmentally friendly at the same time.”

Colin Wheatley, Product Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY explained: “With responsible management, timber is a 100% renewable natural resource. BREEAM encourages us to use timber responsibly, and to create environments that are safe and healthy for occupants, in a way that will contribute to the maintenance of the natural world.

The Central Bank of Ireland building’s renovation is a stunning example of this, in its safety-conscious application of FR that happens to also be extremely beautiful.We have been a long-time customer of MEDITE SMARTPLY for the reason that their products are trustworthy and high quality. As MEDITE PREMIER FR was developed specifically for use in fire rated applications, it was a must for an extremely high specification project such as this one.”

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2SkDKVs

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The five categories and winners were: Woodworking Project of the Year – won

by TMJ Interiors for their work creating a timber lobby ‘vortex’ for Bloomberg’s HQ in London. Product Design in Wood – won

by Arden Windows that manufactured a window design for a 71-bed Extra Care home in Doncaster that meets the conservation and heritage aesthetics of a sliding sash window but also is simple to use for elderly and disabled users.

Process Efficiency – won by Morland for their Forever Firecheck™ intumescent strip solution for fire doors which is fitted by using wrap technology. The Health & Safety Hero – won by Tavener Joinery for their design and installation of a high velocity vacuum system which utilises their existing traditional LEV extraction system.

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – won by Henry Acres from JT Ward. This award celebrates apprentices or those who have entered the industry through alternative routes, including graduates, A-Level students and in-house trainees.

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF said: “My warm congratulations to our winners, all of whom have excelled in their work. This year’s awards were a great success once again and underline the huge contribution the woodworking and joinery sector makes to UK industry and manufacturing.”

SOURCE: www.bwf.org.uk

HUNDEGGER ROBOT-Drive

NO DEAL BREXIT ADVICE FOR TIMBER DEALERS

MULTIFACETED FLEXIBILITY FOR ALL TIMBER CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

Timber importers and exporters are being asked to consider requirements for their businesses in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has offered advice on preparing for checks on timber as part of contingency planning.

Me and my Hundegger!

Never change a winning team!

In a no deal scenario, businesses importing timber and timber products from the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) and placing it on the UK market will have to carry out checks (known as ‘due diligence’) from day one of EU Exit. These checks demonstrate they are importing legally harvested timber, helping to protect against illegal deforestation. Due diligence checks would involve: •

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Gathering information on the timber, including its species, quantity, supplier, country of harvest and compliance with applicable legislation Assessing the risk of timber being illegal, applying set criteria in the regulations Obtaining additional information or taking further steps to verify legality (for example testing or assessment of the supply chain)

hundegger.com

JOINERY MACHINE HUNDEGGER ROBOT-Drive

Businesses can either develop their own systems for these checks or use one provided by an approved monitoring organisation. This is what businesses currently have to do when they import timber from the rest of the world. There will be no changes to the current process for businesses importing from outside the EU, UK producers first placing on the market, and internal UK trade. As before, they will need to conduct checks to confirm their timber is legally harvested.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) – the body responsible for enforcement – has been working with companies involved in the timber trade to keep them informed about what they will need to do in a no deal scenario and how to minimise impacts to their business.

Guidance for timber traders on issues surrounding the EU exit is available at: https://bit.ly/2DLiteY

Compact dimensions and modular design – the ROBOT-Drive offers maximum flexibility and almost unlimited processing possibilities for bars and panels.

With the ROBOT-Drive, a 6-axis unit performs all the necessary work steps on the part – and in a single run. The solution for all requirements including timber glue construction from 20 x 60 mm to 300 x 1300 mm.

The ROBOT-Drive is the most recent addition to the range of Hundegger joinery machines.

Hundegger UK Ltd. Daniel Blades Snetterton Park, Harling Road Snetterton, Norfolk NR16 2JU Office: +44 (0)1953 660 331 Mobile: +44 (0)7940 714 599 d.blades@hundegger.com

Innovation in timber engineering

RD_4c_93x267+3_GB_Daniel Blades.indd 1

21.01.2019 13:23:53

UK INDUSTRY NEWS LIGNIA SIGNS NEW DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

LIGNIA® Wood Company, the modified timber manufacturer, has signed a distribution agreement with one of the UK’s leading timber distributors – Timber Connection. The exclusive five-year agreement will see Timber Connection distributing LIGNIA’s products across the UK and the Republic of Ireland from its 150,000ft² base in Kirkby, near Liverpool.

LIGNIA is a natural, modified timber which matches, and in some cases exceeds hardwoods such as European oak and Ipe in performance. The company’s manufacturing process involves taking sustainably-sourced, FSC-certified softwood and modifying it into high performance timber. It is also enhanced to include greater durability, with a 50-year warranty against rot and decay in above-ground applications, plus improved performance for shrinkage and swelling.

LIGNIA is ‘wood made for life’. A small movement wood, it can be used both

indoors and outdoors for a wide range of applications, including general joinery such as cladding, flooring and decking. It is also suitable for use in windows and doors.

LIGNIA is manufactured from FSC-certified softwood, modified to provide a timber with excellent durability, stability and physical properties, making it suitable for replacement of tropical hardwoods, helping to reduce deforestation and is well-placed to offer the construction and joinery sectors a proven ecologically-viable alternative to the use of hardwoods, thus helping to reduce deforestation in tropical rainforests.

LIGNIA's Commercial Director Steve Rogers said: “We’re delighted to be working with Timber Connection in the UK and the Republic of Ireland for our LIGNIA products.

They have both an excellent reputation and the ability to develop full national coverage into our chosen market sectors, so we’re now looking to leverage the competitive advantage they bring to ensure LIGNIA becomes the product of choice in these markets.”

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Timber Connection’s Managing Director Danny Catherall added: “Timber Connection is really looking forward to this exciting opportunity and believe we are the ideal partner to establish the LIGNIA brand in the UK and Ireland. Having had the chance to follow developments over the last 12 months from their company’s inspiring base in Barry we are hugely impressed and look forward to working with the LIGNIA team to ensure success for both of our businesses going forward”.

Pictured: Standing, left to right, Steve Rogers of LIGNIA, Keeley Baker and David Green of Timber Connection.

Seated, left to right, Hans Ng of LIGNIA and Danny Catherall of Timber Connection.

SOURCE: www.lignia.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL ORDERS ZEDPODS

Projections for Bristol’s population show an increase of 103,100 people over the next 21 years – a much higher increase than in other English cities. Consequently, Bristol is aiming to be at the forefront of developing the template to solve the UK housing crisis. During its first Housing Festival in late 2018, the city was looking for quality innovative solutions “to test and deliver innovative and affordable housing solutions over the next five years.”

Councillor Paul Smith, Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing committed the council to investing in six rapid-build,

timber modular homes from Zed Pods to be put up on a site that would normally be seen as undeliverable in terms of conventional development and offered to people in housing crisis within six months, subject to planning.

ZEDPods was chosen as a partner for this trial due to their desire to address key worker and affordable housing issues as well as the company’s focus on zero carbon, sustainability and belief in quality homes for all.

ZEDPod starter homes offer a high-quality housing solution that can be erected within days and generate more energy than they use. Designed by RIBA award winning architect Bill Dunster, the zero-carbon ZEDPod is a prefabricated home with a difference, offering almost instant housing solutions without the land and site issues associated with conventional new build.

Dr Rehan Khodabuccus, Operations Director of ZED Pods said: “We relish the opportunity to showcase the benefits of ZEDPod living to councillors, Mayors, housing associations and the pubic at the Bristol Housing Festival.

It’s great that we’re further engaged with Bristol City Council to deliver six ZEDPods to stop key workers, young people and the vulnerable from being excluded from the housing market. We’re delighted that Bristol is at the forefront of delivering innovative and affordable solutions over the next five years.”

It is the first solution to specifically address the lack of city centre building spaces with a design that takes advantage of existing hard standings. The six units will be assembled simply sitting on the ground or on raised steel decks.

SOURCE: www.zedpods.com

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS MAKE A FABRIC FIRST DATE

A series of nationwide forums designed to help housing and construction professionals improve home energy efficiency across the UK has secured support from regional low carbon champions. Dorset County Council’s Low Carbon Dorset initiative hosts the first Low Carbon Homes event in March 2019, followed by University of Brighton’s Clean Growth UK in April and Manchester City Council in November – each having their own low carbon agenda.

Low Carbon Homes is a UK-wide initiative which brings together leading experts to share best practice and pioneering methodologies to help clarify the route towards a low carbon future.

LCH Forums are free-to-attend events open to everyone across the industry, including engineers, local authorities and housing professionals as well as landlords, developers and contractors. Delegates will have a choice of workshops which will include case studies and success stories as part of a tailored programme created with the guidance of host organisations to meet regional needs.

The 2019 event programmes will each be produced with support from The Green Register, with emphasis on the proven Fabric First approach. Lucy Pedler and Dan Weisselberg will chair proceedings, foster discussion and host a workshop, whilst being the “critical friend” throughout the programme development process for each Forum.

“Low Carbon Homes is an important initiative which we’re delighted to be part of, as a collaborative approach is vital to drive towards low carbon living. The unique platform provided by Low Carbon Homes can facilitate meaningful and practical understanding between those directly involved in many areas of the housing sector”, says Lucy Pedler, The Green Register’s founder.

Graham Lock, founder of Low Carbon Homes says “As reiterated during the recent Green GB Week, if the UK is to achieve its global obligations, there must be a rapid take-up in domestic energy efficiency – especially in the 80% of existing housing stock which is poor performing. For those working within the housing industry, the subject of energy efficiency has never been so important and we must all play a role in driving forward change.”

Looking forward to the Manchester event in November 2019 Jon Sawyer, Director of Housing and Residential Growth, Manchester City Council, said: We're delighted to be able to host Low Carbon Homes in Manchester as we recognise the challenge of updating our existing housing stock to meet our Low Carbon targets and reduce fuel poverty. It's an important initiative of which we are proud to support.”

The events are free to attend and more information can be found at: www.lowcarbonhomes.uk

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GOVERNMENT PLEDGES TO PRIORITISE TIMBER INDUSTRY POST-BREXIT After a Westminster Hall debate on Leaving the EU, Environment Minister David Rutley MP committed to ‘strengthening the timber trade’ during a parliamentary debate on the implications of Brexit on the timber industry.

Describing the industry as a ‘real priority’ for Government, the Minister also pledged to make sure that timber importers face as ‘few additional costs as possible’ after Brexit.

The comments came after Martin Whitfield MP, the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, urged the Government to ensure that after we leave the EU, timber imports can continue clear customs the same way they do now.

Martin Whitfield MP said: “Without frictionless trade, I believe we face a clear challenge to build the number of homes the Prime Minister has committed to providing over this parliament. This challenge exists because the supply of timber is essential to meeting housing demands. This sector, which contributes £10 billion to the UK economy each year is still hugely reliant on trade with EU countries. Incredibly, 90% of the timber used to build homes in the UK is imported from across Europe.”

David Hopkins, Director of the Confederation of the Timber Industries (CTI) and Managing Director of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) added: “We welcome the Minister’s commitment to minimise the additional costs of Brexit on the import and export of timber. I am glad that the Government understands the indispensable role our industry plays in the UK construction sector and the wider economy.”

SOURCE: www.cti-timber.org

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR CCG housing and the Scottish Government’s commitment to the delivery of 50,000 new homes by 2021 has allowed us to strengthen our position through the investments we’ve made in this sector.

Approximately 85% of our house building projects are done in partnership with local authorities and housing associations – a figure that has grown from 60 per cent over the past three years.”

CCG – the Cambuslang-based firm which specialise in creating sustainable residential and commercial properties using offsite methods – has announced David Wylie as the new Managing Director in charge of the company’s busy construction division, CCG (Scotland) Ltd. David who has been with CCG for almost 20 years said: “From my initial position as a trainee quantity surveyor, I’ve seen the construction industry go through a lot of changes over the past 20 years and it is really positive to see it in a period of buoyancy. Our bread and butter is social

Earlier this year the CCG group reported its strongest financial year to date with a turnover exceeding £144 million – up 6% on 2017’s figures. Profit before taxation also significantly increased on the previous year to over £9.1 million. The growing business is currently live on 1,500 homes across Scotland with a strong public sector pipeline secured until 2021.

Wylie’s responsibilities include day-to-day project management of large scale social housing projects, as well as ensuring CCG’s construction division is working effectively with the group’s other divisions including

CCG OSM, the off-site manufacturing arm of the business, and CCG Homes, the newly re-launched private housing brand.

Over the past year, CCG has cemented a number of strategic partnerships to deliver housing programmes including with the City of Edinburgh Council and local authorities in West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross, amongst others.

Wylie added: “The Scottish Government commitment to 50,000 new homes by 2021 has had a major impact in the industry and we are now keen to start planning and preparing for the next social housing investment programme. New innovations in house building are happening all the time and we are working closely with Scottish local authorities to develop and pilot homes that are more energy efficient and have a significantly lower carbon footprint.”

SOURCE: www.c-c-g.co.uk

CARBON DYNAMIC RESCUED 6 December 2018 as Joint Administrators of CLDB Limited, trading as Carbon Dynamic.

KPMG has announced the sale of the business and assets to Carbon Dynamic (Scotland) Limited, a new company set up

by Pat Munro (Alness) Limited to facilitate the purchase of timber modular home company Carbon Dynamic. Blair Nimmo and Geoff Jacobs of KPMG, were appointed on

Blair Nimmo, Joint Administrator and Head of Restructuring at KPMG in Scotland, said: “It is extremely pleasing to secure the sale of Carbon Dynamic in such a short timeframe, and to buyers who can see the potential in the business and its skilled workforce. The sale has achieved a good outcome for many stakeholders and we hope it will benefit the local area. We would like to thank the retained employees, customers, and all parties with an interest in Carbon Dynamic, including various government agencies, for their patience and support during this period.

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“We would also like to wish Pat Munro and Carbon Dynamic (Scotland) Limited every success for the future. As new owners they have an ambitious vision to build on Carbon Dynamic’s reputation for cutting edge design and manufacture of eco-friendly modular buildings, re-employing a number of Carbon Dynamic’s former staff and contributing to the diversity of the economy in the Scottish Highlands.”

Brian Munro, Managing Director of Pat Munro, said: "We are delighted to add Carbon Dynamic (Scotland) Ltd to the Pat Munro Group and we are committed to continuing, and enhancing, their superb progress to date.”

SOURCE: www.carbondynamic.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS WIRRAL WATERS MOVES AHEAD

Two of the North West’s biggest and most innovative developers, Peel Land and Property (Peel L&P) and Urban Splash, have agreed a joint venture to bring modular urban living to Wirral Waters, the UK’s largest regeneration project by consented floorspace. Contracts have now been exchanged on the £55 million development, which will be the first ever collaboration between Peel L&P and Urban Splash.

The waterside residential quarter at Wirral Waters will incorporate 347 modular homes.

The quarter will introduce four new and exciting housing products to the Wirral including – House, Mansion House, Villa and Fab House – with each property customised by purchasers before being created offsite in the Urban Splash modular factory and then delivered to site.

Richard Mawdsley, Director of Development at Peel L&P, said: “Our new joint venture with Urban Splash is fantastic news for our

local community bringing the very latest in housing design and innovation to the site.

This development, which follows hot on the heels of our announcement last month about a £90 million residential scheme comprising of 500 high-quality homes along Northbank, will transform the site into an internationally recognised destination with a residential quarter that will take the pressure off local greenbelts and help to tackle the current UK housing crisis. We’re now just waiting on the final piece of the jigsaw, securing a Housing Infrastructure Fund grant from Homes England. Only then can we finally get the first wave of housing underway at Wirral Waters.”

The development will bring Urban Splash’s modular concept of factory-built homes to Merseyside for the first time. The company has other sites in Birmingham – where homes are currently on sale – Manchester, Salford and North Shields - where 10 of the homes have been designed by TV architect George Clarke. A fifth site is planned at New

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Islington in Manchester for 2019 with future sites also in the pipeline in Milton Keynes and Walsall.

Jonathan Falkingham MBE, Founder and Creative Director at Urban Splash added: “This is another part of our ambitious plan to expand our modular housing business and follows our acquisition of the House factory earlier this year. We are keen to create welldesigned, urban family homes in more cities across the country. Merseyside, which was the birthplace of Urban Splash 25 years ago, seems the perfect place to move forward.

We are delighted to be working with Peel L&P and to be involved in the creation of yet another significant, large-scale community and to continue developing and investing in Merseyside.”

SOURCE: www.urbansplash.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS SAINT-GOBAIN ACQUIRES SIG ROOFSPACE SOLUTIONS

TRADA LAUNCH NEW TIMBER DESIGN PUBLICATION AT FUTUREBUILD A new publication focusing on collaboration in the design of innovative timber buildings is to be launched at Futurebuild. ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ is published by TRADA and supported by Wood for Good. The launch will take place on Wood for Good’s stand at G50 on 6 March at 4.15pm and is a one-off opportunity to get a copy of the publication in print, while stocks last.

Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland completed the acquisition of SIG Roofspace Solutions on the 14th December 2018 and are set to deliver more offsite manufactured solutions for housebuilders. The business, set-up in 2008 provides a turn-key panelised roofing and room-in-roof solution to house builders.

Mike Chaldecott, Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland CEO said: “We’re delighted to welcome Roofspace to Saint-Gobain. They are a great business that provides solutions to customers that saves them time and streamlines the construction process. We know that the construction industry has to be more efficient, more productive, more innovative and embrace offsite manufacturing. Roofspace are already offering customers these benefits and have delivered roofs for over 2,500 new build homes in the last year.

“Roofspace manufacture their offsite solutions within factory conditions before delivering to their customer’s site. This service means that Roofspace can install multiple roof packages a day rather than one roof taking 10-12 weeks. This type of construction, manufactured offsite, ensures greater control and accuracy of the finished

roof solution and ultimately enhances the performance and comfort of the home for the home owner.

“Roofspace further accelerates our capability to serve the rapidly expanding offsite manufacturing sector adding to our expertise which already includes our Pasquill business, and their timber rooftrusses, Scotframe’s timber-frame houses and Saint-Gobain steel-frame systems. I look forward to working with Roofspace to develop their business and services over the years ahead”.

Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland includes some of the best-known and respected companies in the construction sector including: British Gypsum, Jewson, Graham, Weber, Isover, Glassolutions, Saint-Gobain PAM and Ecophon. Together they offer a range of high performance energy-saving products and solutions to help create great living places and improve daily life. SIG Roofspace Solutions will now be known simply as Roofspace.

Pulling together the most successful partnerships in timber design, the publication shares the lessons learned and obstacles overcome by multidisciplinary teams which produced buildings including the award-winning Cowan Court by 6a Architects, the BREEAM excellent-rated Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care and the award-winning Vortex at Bloomberg’s new headquarters.

Each case study explores different approaches to problem-solving and how effective collaboration led to innovative designs for timber buildings. ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ covers key themes such as wellbeing, sustainability, interiors, process, and complex briefs. TRADA’s Membership and Marketing Manager, Rupert Scott, says: “TRADA is honoured to collaborate with Wood for Good in producing such an indispensable publication. We hope it inspires others to work together in partnership across disciplines, so that as an industry we can continue improving the quality of our timber buildings.”

On the TRADA stand you will also be able to find out more on the winners of the TRADA University Challenge 2019 in which students were challenged to design student accommodation predominantly from timber.

SOURCE: www.saint-gobain.co.uk

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SOURCE: www.trada.co.uk

UK INDUSTRY NEWS ACCOYA ® GLULAM FOR IVY COLLECTION RESTAURANT

The Ivy Collection, a select group of upmarket restaurants, brasseries and cafes, has recently opened its latest restaurant – The Ivy in the Park, in Canada Square Park, London. The creative design was able to successfully combine quality with sustainability with the specification of world-leading, high-performance sustainable wood, Accoya® throughout the striking newbuild.

The new brasserie, opened to the public in October 2018, was designed by William Matthews Associates and, following a rigorous bid process, lead construction firm Wiehag were selected to build the latest eatery in the Ivy Collections’ portfolio.

The new restaurant, with a two-level bar, restaurant and external dining area, is positioned within one of Canary Wharf’s most sustainable areas, overlooking a vibrant green space for events.

The Ivy in the Park is constructed from glulam and CLT with internal members made from spruce, whilst external beams and columns are glulam Accoya®. The specification of Accoya® wood further extended to the rainscreen trellis which covers the external walls. For the Accoya®

wood elements of the project, a total of 47 glulam beams, 42 glulam columns and 740m² of rainscreen trellis were required.

Wiehag machined it into the glulam beams and columns – alongside the trellis – and finished in the factory with a Remmers Aqua HSL 35 Grey Stain prior to installing onsite.

Canary Wharf Group, who has overseen the largest urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe, wanted timber to be used for the external façade of this project, however they needed a low maintenance solution. Naturally, Accoya® wood was the ideal choice. The result is a building that juxtaposes itself from the cold metal and glass of Canary Wharf and offers a warm, wooden home to one of the most respected restaurant institutions in London.

Accoya® wood is produced using Accsys’ proprietary acetylation process, which chemically alters the cell structure of the wood to resist distortion. Certified Cradle to Cradle™ (C2C) Gold in recognition of its sustainability credentials, Accoya® wood has the added benefit of offering peace of mind for the environmentally conscious.

SOURCE: www.cs-ic.org

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HARDWOOD TIMBER HEADING UPWARDS

Grown in Britain has updated its price/size curve data for several different hardwood tree species commonly grown and sold in the UK. Grown in Britain encourages woodland owners to look closely at their woods and see what might be ready to thin or fell and take advantage of the growing demand for homegrown timber and boost the health of the woodland at the same time. This information has been updated to account for increases in value across the board in 2018. Overall markets have picked up this year – some markedly, others more modestly. Oak is in strong demand due to several reasons including the weak pound weaker import availability and China buying up French oak.

Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Sir Harry Studholme said: “The rising prices of hardwood timber are fantastic news for woodland owners. Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management supports future production of this beautiful raw material. More than this, well-managed woodlands help plants and wildlife to flourish and store carbon to help tackle climate change. Grown in Britain are doing an exceptional job to develop the market for hardwood timber and realise these benefits.”

Demand all around is on the rise with the supply of British timber increasing. By continuing to encourage woodland owners to relook at their woodlands and forests to see the value of the timber they are growing, this will continue to drive up the supply and demand for British hardwood timber.

SOURCE: www.growninbritain.org

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS STEWART MILNE AND BARRATT CONTINUE OFFSITE DRIVE

WINTER 2018 TIMBER PRICES STABILISING Property Consultants Bidwells have released their Winter 2018 Timber Price Database which looks at the standing conifer timber prices achieved six months to December 2018, indicating prices in the timber market has stabilised following major increases over the previous half year. Returns from the sale of 776,970 cubic metres of private sector coniferous timber grown in Scotland, Northern England and a small amount in Wales with a total standing value to the grower of £29.8 million suggest that the meteoric rise in timber prices experienced in the half year between October 2017 and March 2018 has levelled off.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems (SMTS) is continuing to share specialist knowledge and industry expertise through a strategic and collaborative partnership with housebuilder Barratt Developments. The two companies have partnered to help address the UK housing crisis by adopting offsite manufacturing methods to build a sustainable marketplace.

A shortage of supply to meet increased demand for housing has meant that the average UK home is now eight times higher than the average salary. Combating the rising problem, and to government meet targets to provide high quality homes at speed and pace, solutions such as offsite timber frame construction are increasingly being adopted by housebuilders.

With Barratt partnering with SMTS for its timber frames, both are committed to developing offsite construction projects as part of their housing portfolio. Steered by a goal to achieve 20% of its total build per annum as offsite construction by 2020, Barratt has built nearly 3,000 timber frame homes over the last two years.

Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Developments, said: “We recognise that the supply chain holds an immense amount of knowledge about their

processes, materials and technologies and the key for us is to tap into that knowledge.

We know housebuilding and understand the demands of our customer base and what they like. We also intimately understand the performance specifications that are required from new technologies.

“SMTS has been a key partner of Barratt Developments over the last four years. This partnership has facilitated a significant increase in the group’s output of timber frame construction and engagement at all levels, from group directors to site teams, which has helped improve our understanding of timber frames.”

John Smith, Head of Product and Innovation at SMTS added: “With heightened interest in offsite technology across the UK and beyond, this is a hugely exciting time for the housing industry. We are proud of every single project that we deliver alongside Barratt, producing exceptional results, using timber frames. Having established a collaborative and open relationship with Barratt, both adding a great deal of expertise and knowledge, this prestigious award cements the fantastic work we are collectively delivering as part of our shared framework.”

Continued weakness of sterling remains a major factor in UK grown timber prices, but high global demand and tightness of supply suggests no reason why the big picture will change in the foreseeable future.

Raymond Henderson, Forestry Partner at Bidwells commented: “It is always difficult to predict the future, given the influence which global demand and exchange rates have on domestic timber values, but the overall macro-economic situation of increasing demand and tightening supplies suggests no reason to suspect a weakening of prices over the short term. We do of course live in strange times where informed projections are apt to be overtaken by events and the ongoing uncertainties created by the unfolding drama of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU – or possibly not as the case may be – make crystal ball gazing murkier and less certain than ever.

That said, the fundamentals of timber sales should not alter too drastically regardless of our membership of the European club.”

Reports are produced on a sixth monthly basis and new contributors are welcome.

All information is treated in the strictest confidence.

SOURCE: www.stewartmilnetimbersystems.com SOURCE: www.bidwells.co.uk

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Certified weatherproof for 60 days, it’s engineered to perform.

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OFFSITE AWARDS

Timber Takes Centre Stage The buzz around offsite construction is getting bigger and bigger with demand on the increase and innovators rising to the challenge. The shortlisted projects for Best Use of Timber Technology at the 2019 Offsite Awards – being held at Futurebuild – show the depth of talent.

Now in its fifth year, the Offsite Awards have grown in stature, attracting over 350 delegates and this year the winners will be announced on 5 March at the ExCeL in London. The finalists represent those who are at the forefront of the offsite construction sector, developing ground-breaking factory-based methods, new material technology and prefabrication techniques. Across the 22 categories, the

shortlisted entrants have been chosen for their outstanding contributions to the sector.

outstanding use of timber technology and innovators in the sector.

The UK has an outstanding history of timber architecture and now we are truly realising the full capabilities of this strong, sustainable and technically advanced offsite manufactured structural solution. Sponsored by the Structural Timber Association (STA) - the Best Use of Timber Technology category rewards the

As building offsite solutions in timber are gaining traction, the STA's mission is to drive product innovation through technical guidance and research together with evidencing excellence, underpinned by an independently audited members' quality standard assessment - STA Assure.

Finalists 01

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01 Blue Forest (UK): The Fish Hotel Tree House Accommodation The Fish is an award-winning hotel and adventure hideout on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate. As part of the hotel’s extensive renovation project, Blue Forest have designed and built three quirky and luxurious timber frame treehouses. The offsite manufactured timber frame units were installed in under 20 days and the internal fit out, decks and bridges were completed over the following 14 weeks.

02 Blumer-Lehmann AG: Cambridge Mosque The Cambridge Mosque’s main structure consists of 30 free-form timber columns combined with CLT which has been used to create the external walls, part of the roof and ceilings.

The 2,000m2 timber roof is of ribbed construction and three of the huge staircases are constructed entirely from wood.

03 Cowley Timber and Partners: The Orchard Penthouses, London A stunning newbuild of three luxury single storey loft penthouses, assembled on the rooftop of an existing six-storey apartment block providing unrivalled views of London. The lightweight, offsite prefabricated and energy efficient timber solution, provides over 3,000ft2 of living space and was built to weathertight in just 12 weeks, without compromising quality or performance. The rapid build time offered an early return on investment for the client with the quick sale of the penthouses.

04 Eckersley O’Callaghan: Swimming Pool & Teaching Area at Freemen’s School The glulam and CLT structure for the new £8 million building, houses a 25m long six lane swimming pool and teaching area for the Freemen's School in Ashtead. The structure was engineered by Eckersley O’Callaghan in collaboration with architects Hawkins Brown, with Wiehag GmbH undertaking the final construction design and production detailing of the CLT and glulam.

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OFFSITE AWARDS 05

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05 Ruth Butler Architects: Hampshire Passivhaus Hampshire Passivhaus is an L-shaped dwelling built on a tight urban brownfield site. The project is the result of collaboration between its architect and engineer owners, who wanted to build their own sustainable family home on the south coast of England, where they could indulge their love of sailing. The dwelling superstructure is entirely made from structural timber with CLT walls, floors and roofs.

06 Scotframe: Raining’s Stairs The Raining’s Stairs development provides high-quality social housing which has helped transform a long-vacant site in Inverness. It’s a project which could only be made viable by using offsite timber technology due to the steep and difficult site. It comprises of five one-bedroom and eleven two-bedroom flats, a 70m2 commercial unit, together with cycle and refuse storage. Six flats are for affordable rent from The Highland Council and ten flats are at a mid-market rent from the Highland Housing Alliance.

07 Stride Treglown Architects & Whitby Wood: The Boiler House Comprising of 54 balconied, brightly daylit studios, one and two-bed flats, the building fosters community and wellbeing with rooftop gardens and an on-site bike store. The CLT frame was erected in just seven weeks, overtaking other nearby housing projects. The fully BIM-enabled design work paid off with over 80% of the units being sold off-plan, with the remaining flats selling quickly.

08 Studio Bark: U-Build U-Build is a modular timber construction system developed by Studio Bark to be easy to build, enjoyable to inhabit and simple to deconstruct at the end of its useful life. U-Build is prefabricated from sheet timber using CNC machining to create a kit of parts. These parts can be assembled using simple tools to create build modules which are then bolted together to create an open-panel timber frame structure.

09 Studio Partington: Nottingham City Homes 2050 Pilot Studio Partington’s Nottingham City Homes 2050 Pilot project has transformed ten hardto-heat, socially rented houses in Nottingham into desirable, warm and affordable homes, tackling both fuel poverty and climate change. Commissioned by Nottingham City Homes, this pioneering net zero energy project which is the first of its kind in the UK, adopts the Energiesprong approach, and was delivered using LoCal Homes’ timber framed closed panel system.

10 Wiehag: The Ivy in the Park Restaurant, London Canary Wharf Group tasked renowned architect William Matthews and leading engineers ARUP to create a new restaurant in their iconic Canada Square Park. The team created this modern, all timber two-storey building which perfectly contrasts against the surrounding tower blocks of steel, glass and concrete, and adds the warmth of real timber to a structure that’s built to a human scale and is ideal for its use as a prestigious restaurant.

Book Your Place Today Co-located with Futurebuild 2019 and hosted by Mark Durden-Smith on 5 March 2019. There will be a networking reception serving a selection of drinks and canapés before the awards ceremony.

Tickets are available at £75 +VAT per person. To book your place at the Offsite Awards visit: www.offsiteawards.co.uk/attend or contact Event Manager, Grace Baker on: 01743 290 047 or email grace.baker@radar-communications.co.uk

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SOLID TIMBER

Pursuing CLT Construction Recent announcements on legislation regarding banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings has grabbed many headlines. Anthony Thistleton, co-founder of leading architects Waugh Thistleton, outlines why this should not impede the success of structural timber including CLT.

01 A quiet revolution has been going on in building in the UK over the last few years that has the capacity to transform the delivery of new housing, offering high quality, healthy homes delivered rapidly and without costing the earth. The use of cross laminated timber (CLT) typically shaves around a third off the time to construct a housing development, working with wood is safer and quieter with less dust and other pollutants. It also needs far fewer deliveries – around 15% of those required for a concrete frame.

For the end user, the accuracy of a CLT frame results in airtight homes with the

timber walls adding to the insulation, leading to warm and comfortable homes. In fact, many CLT homes are performing at close to Passivhaus standards requiring minimal additional heating in even the coldest months. The UK has lead the world in the adoption of this technology, especially for mid-rise housing.

At the end of last year, however, the government introduced legislation in response to the Grenfell Tower fire which could have unforeseen consequences on the growth of CLT in the UK and our global leadership in innovation. The legislation prevents the use of any combustible

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material within the entire external wall of any residential building above 18 metres in height. The result of this is that CLT can no longer be used in external walls of these buildings. While the inclusion of CLT in the ban is not merited, it is not a ban on CLT itself and we are working hard with the industry to ensure that this message is understood.

The impact of the legislation can be overstated – in most CLT apartment blocks the majority of the heavy lifting is carried out in the core, internal walls and the floor slabs. Constructing these elements from CLT is complaint, as well as safe. The external

SOLID TIMBER All building materials have vulnerability to fire – even concrete – and it is incumbent on professionals to understand these and design their buildings to protect the occupants and ensure their safety. We are confident in the fire safety of CLT construction, however the industry needs to support more research and testing to demonstrate this unequivocally.

walls can be built from non-combustible materials, such as a metal framed system.

The challenge for the industry therefore is to develop prefabricated wall panels that can be delivered to site concurrently with the CLT structural frame and minimise any impact on sequencing.

There are already examples of this model of engineered timber construction is already, such as Brock Commons Tallwood House, an 18-storey student housing scheme in Vancouver, which was completed last year. The building is a CLT hybrid structure with floors of CLT supported on a frame of glulam columns and beams. The external walls are a lightweight closed panel metal frame system and the building would be completely compliant with the new UK legislation. In the USA, which is currently updating their building code to allow timber buildings up to 18 storeys, the principal models are a similar ‘post and beam’ construction. This change is supported by extensive fire testing.

We continue to press the case for better legislation that deals with the actual risks that were exposed at Grenfell and the dysfunction within the industry that allowed it to happen. Issues such as competence and responsibility that were raised in the Hackitt Report have yet to be addressed. We are hopeful that in the long term, legislation based on evidence rather than politics, will prevail.

It is essential that we continue to push for the wider use of CLT in construction. In addition to the benefits in construction and use, using CLT creates long term storage

for CO2 sequestered during tree growth.

Traditional building materials involve high levels of energy in their manufacture creating a significant carbon footprint – an average UK home has around 21 tonnes of embodied CO2 in the building fabric. In contrast, the figure for a CLT-built home is -19 tonnes CO2 - a saving of 40 tonnes.

The UK needs to build 250,000 homes a year. Building these from CLT could create a saving of over 10 million tonnes of CO2 every year – the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road. Furthermore, widespread use of CLT can increase global demand for timber and drive reforestation, which is one of the only ways in which we can hope to meet the climate challenge.

For more information visit: www.waughthistleton.com

IMAGES: 01. CLT is at the centre of much innovative structural timber. Courtesy Will Pryce

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DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY TIMBER SOLUTIONS FOR DECADES FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit: www.kopperspc.eu Email: kpc@koppers.eu Call: +44 (0)1628 486644 Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757 Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LS ™ Protim Solignum Limited trading as Koppers Performance Chemicals. Koppers is a registered Trademark of Koppers Delaware, Inc. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in this document, Protim Solignum Limited gives no undertaking to that effect and no responsibility can be accepted for reliance on this information. Information will be updated when the need arises. Please ensure you have an up to date copy. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1LS. Visit: www.kopperspc.eu, Email: kpc@koppers.eu, Call: +44 (0)1628 486644, Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757.

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by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Manufacturers Of Wood Preservatives Protim Solignum Ltd Marlow, Buckinghamshire

STRUCTURAL TIMBER ASSOCIATION

Offsite Solutions – the answer to Brexit?

As politicians wrestle with Brexit, demand is ramping up in the construction industry, particularly in the housing sector. To avoid any disturbance to this momentum – the STA as a leading industry body – must ensure that the best interests of its members and their customers are a key priority.

01 The NHBC has publicly declared that builders will struggle to meet the government’s target of delivering 300,000 homes a year in England by the mid-2020s, unless the industry switches to offsite construction technology. This is further reinforced by the statements made by the housebuilding industry regarding their ability to meet this target due to the skills shortage, with a reported 2,500 bricklayers needed for every extra 10,000 homes. If we consider that the UK needs to go from 220,000 to 300,000 units per annum, that’s a lot of brickies.

Overlay this with the Brexit situation and the potential for an exodus of European construction workers, then we have more of a challenge to deliver on the government’s target for housing provision. So, the challenges are clear but we do not have to ‘reinvent’ the solution.

Barratt Developments, Britain’s largest housebuilder has lifted its first-half, pre-tax profit by 19.1%, in the process offering hope that the sector is proving to be more resilient than many had thought.

drive can provide a degree more certainty by offering accurate forecasting and the commitment that is needed in order to provide confidence to Barratt Developments and other housebuilders.

The security of supply chains has been at the forefront of many of the Brexit debates, in common with all major housebuilders, this is something that Barratt Developments’ has prioritised. It states that about 90% of its construction materials are manufactured or assembled in the UK, with pricing for almost all of these materials fixed until the end of June, with pricing for 40% fixed until December. Barratt said they had worked with suppliers to ensure that they were holding additional inventories of imported construction materials and that they had reviewed logistic routes to mitigate any potential border disruption caused by Brexit. From a supply chain perspective this

In order to deliver an increased volume of houses to meet market demand, Barratt Developments initiated a review to find the best offsite methods of construction.

The review found that timber frame was the preferred option and so consulted STA member company, Stewart Milne Timber Systems (SMTS) to work with them to achieve their goal of producing more costeffective quality homes.

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In an attempt to deliver 20% of their housing portfolio using offsite construction, Barratt Developments has already built more than 3,000 timber frame homes over the past two years through the collaboration.

STRUCTURAL TIMBER ASSOCIATION The structural timber sector has the capacity to deliver advanced timber systems in greater volume than any other offsite technology solution, a fact that is recognised by many volume housebuilders who appreciate all the benefits of this proven technology. Another of Britain's biggest housebuilding companies, Persimmon – is investing heavily in prefabricated housing.

The York-based housebuilder acquired the Space4 timber frame factory at Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham, as part of its takeover of a smaller rival, Westbury in 2006. The factory sold more than 3,250 timber-frame home kits last year, a 19% rise on the previous year, supplying just over a third of Persimmon's homes.

Speaking at the launch of the NHBC’s review for 2018, Steve Wood, Chief Executive said: “Unless modern methods of construction are taken up to a greater degree it will be very difficult to hit the 300,000 annual government housing targets.” This view was

supported by the NHBC’s Chief Operating Officer Neil Jefferson adding: “The industry is facing capacity problems that only new techniques can fix.” He cited Japan, where the bulk of homes are built in factories and traditional techniques are used to top that up to meet cyclical changes in demand.

02

The STA has formed a close partnership with Swedish Wood. As the largest timber trading partner and an EU member state, Sweden’s view on future trading relations is important. Tony Traynor, UK Project Manager for Swedish Wood said: “The Swedish Forest Industry recognises the UK as its most important export market for timber and timber products. The construction sector and in particular, the offsite manufactured timber technology developed by STA members, is important, as we feel that structural timber systems represent a great opportunity to assist the UK government in achieving its targets for both social and private housebuilding. With consistent product

production available from Swedish Wood members, we know they can maintain the timber volumes which would be needed for such an increase in housebuilding demand.

Our member companies supplying into the various trade sectors in the UK remain optimistic that trade and the supply lines will be uninterrupted post Brexit.”

For more information and to discuss STA membership visit: www.structuraltimber.co.uk

IMAGES: 01-02. Housebuilding targets are tough enough without

the potential slowdown created by Brexit.

Courtesy Edinburgh Napier University

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SÖDRA

The Future is Made of Trees With over 51,000 members, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association with a business built on ‘value-generating’ relationships. There are exciting times ahead with the organisation gearing up to supply new products in 2019 and further expansion into the UK and European markets. new segment, where we will be offering the most cost-effective construction material in the market for high-rise buildings.”

CLT and glulam in particular are exciting structural alternatives to steel, concrete and masonry. The new facility at Värö has been in development for just over a year and is now beginning to roll out its first panels on a trial basis.

01 Since its transition in 2017 from Crown Timber, Södra Wood has positioned itself as a pivotal player in the UK, as a marketleading distributor of structural timber products to the construction and merchant sectors. Central to this has been the longstanding ‘just in time’ delivery model with engineered wood an increasingly crucial element. The Södra range is set to be supplemented even further with the potential of cross laminated timber (CLT) entering the marketplace later this year.

The company has built its first CLT facility at Värö – co-located with Södra’s pulp mill and sawmill – and is part of a wider

programme of investment and growth across the company’s diverse portfolio.

For example, from 1 March, the annual production volume of sawn timber at the Mönsterås sawmill will increase by 100,000 m³. “The journey of change undertaken

by Södra’s sawmills in recent years is now yielding results in terms of more competitive production and a better offering to our customers,” says Jörgen Lindquist, President of the Södra Wood business area.

“We have identified CLT as an interesting product and believe that taking this next step in the value chain is a natural progression. CLT will provide the basis for a

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“We have built a new CLT facility and installed all the necessary CNC machinery,” says Jeremy English, Great Britain and Ireland Sales Director, Manufacturing. “We are processing panels and testing our skills and ability to handle the product. We expect to be able to deliver CLT products in late 2019 from the factory we have just built, and we have plans for a second factory on a larger scale. It’s a big investment in people and skills to develop the business going forward.”

Plans are initially to service the domestic and Scandinavian markets to the tune of 20,000m3 a year and rising to 100,000 quickly, so the targets are ambitious and have exciting implications for global markets.

Brexit casts a shadow over everything of course and Södra are well prepared for whatever outcome of final negotiations – deal or no-deal. “Södra is making sure we have sufficient stock on the ground as of March 29 so we can continue supply easily,” adds Jeremy. “The only problems we foresee are bureaucratic ones. We have set up a separate company in Ireland – Södra Ireland Ltd – to make sure we can

SÖDRA work smoothly and is a prevention against potential bureaucracy. In a way you can’t plan – you can just look at options. But it should be business as normal.”

As part of the fresh face of Södra for 2019, a brand new website was launched in January to serve as a ‘go-to source’ of information for those interested in specifying and working with timber. “The UK is one of our largest markets,” says Nigel Buckley-Ryan, UK Sales Director, Merchants at Södra. “So it is really important to have a UK-focused website that provides in-depth information about our products, and our commitment to growing a sustainable timber supply. It’s also a significant step forward in Södra’s commitment to be the industry’s most digitally-focused company.”

2019 will see the continued growth of Södra’s three main UK core ranges: C24 timber for carcassing, TR26 for trussed rafters, and CLS for the timber frame and merchant markets. “TR26 will be dictated to by increased housing starts and newbuild,” adds Jeremy. “CLS will grow due to the timber frame sector growing and C24 is always steady and increasingly linked to the RMI sector. Looking forward, as homegrown timber availability reaches a peak, the market will have to turn to imported timber. Södra has a long-term strategy to grow in three main markets – UK & Ireland, Sweden and Holland. Timber has been described as a ‘miracle’ building material – and for us there is no doubt that it can overcome many of today’s construction challenges, from helping to meet government housing targets to increasing speed and agility of construction dramatically.”

Värö is Södra’s key sawmill consuming around 1.2 million m3 of logs per year, 15% pine and 85% spruce to fuel a booming European market.

Finished products from Värö are mostly shipped from Varberg to international ports including Wicklow where Södra Ireland is best placed to deal with Brexit fallout.

For more information visit: www.sodra.uk

IMAGES: 01. Tord Baron, Södra’s Falkenburg nursery site manager and forest owner, oversees the nurturing of 26 million saplings a year under FSC and PEFC-certification.

The test CLT facility will be providing product later in 2019 for the domestic housing and commercial sectors with plans already in place for a larger second factory.

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 33

INSULATION

Natural insulation: enhancing the health of a building and its occupants Alex Campbell, Director at Steico, explores the effects of making better decisions when it comes to choosing materials for your building on a building’s performance and occupant health.

01 Most of us spend the majority of our lives indoors. Little surprise then that the health of the buildings we live and work in, heavily influences our physical, psychological and social well-being. A healthy building is both life-enhancing and supports occupants’ health, mood and productivity.

British buildings are currently regulated regards their ventilation and heating but there are some glaring omissions. For instance, indoor air quality and exposure to natural light remain free of legal requirements despite the health benefits they offer occupants. It’s the responsibility of the entire UK construction industry – from designers, to architects, to builders – to drive the need to change.

But how do we build healthy buildings when we’re already struggling with volume? The key to building healthy buildings is using natural materials which is no longer the more expensive solution. Natural building materials contribute to a healthier internal environment of a building – maintaining a more stable and comfortable temperature and humidity throughout the seasons as well as improving indoor air quality and acoustic properties.

Although some of the more common building materials have their advantages, there is a better, more efficient way to build – and we hope this will soon become the norm. Insulation is a key component in a building’s design. There is a proven

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relationship between insulation and the overall performance of a building and the health of its occupants.

Natural insulation is hygroscopic in that it provides a degree of humidity control to a building, positively impacting its thermal comfort. It is typically recognised for its ability to retain heat within a building but it has an equally important role in preventing a building from overheating in summer months. The properties of natural insulation – such as woodfibre, sheep’s wool or cellulose – mean they tend to have a higher thermal mass than their synthetic alternatives, providing improved thermal efficiency.

INSULATION

03

02 Woodfibre insulation boards are quick and easy to install and thanks to their tongue and groove profile, the boards slot together seamlessly, creating a tight thermal envelope. The cleanliness of wood fibre insulation means it does not release any harmful chemicals as it degrades so carries zero risk of toxic emissions, dust or fibres.

Natural insulation is also breathable and vapour-permeable – an essential quality to prevent the build-up of damp, condensation or structural decay. This is the key factor

in improving the overall indoor air quality.

The higher density of natural materials also makes them more effective at mitigating noise pollution – both into and from a building – improving the occupants’ daily life.

In years to come, our children’s children will wonder why on earth we continued putting synthetic insulation into buildings in 21st century – using up the world’s precious and dwindling non-sustainable resources

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– when woodfibre is not only renewable, reusable, recyclable and compostable but also does a better job. To raise the bar on building healthy British buildings, developers, planners, architects, designers and engineers must all work in harmony.

Together, let’s embrace natural materials and shape a built environment that performs brilliantly and feels more solid making for happier occupants.

For more information visit: www.steico.co.uk, Email ‘health newsfeed’ to leaf@ecomerchant.co.uk to sign up to the healthy building newsfeed.

Visit us at Futurebuild, stand E54, 5-7 March 2019, ExCel, London where you can pin a leaf to the Steico tree to demonstrate your commitment to building healthy buildings.

IMAGES: 01-03. Natural insulation is breathable and

vapour-permeable – essential qualities to prevent

the build-up of damp, condensation or structural decay.

INSULATION

Woodfibre and CLT Woodfibre insulation specialist, NBT, has provided the company’s Pavatex insulation and airtightness membrane for a groundbreaking Taylor Wimpey residential scheme trialling cross laminated timber (CLT) and sustainable design. combination of woodfibre insulation and membrane for the project, and, alongside technical specification, the company has also provided training at its own facility and on site, installation guidance and fixings calculations to support the Taylor Wimpey team as the housebuilder pioneers CLT homes as part of a major scheme for the first time.

“Timber construction and CLT are growing in popularity amongst many smaller developers,” says NBT’s Andrew Mitchell.

“Because CLT is an extremely robust and lightweight material that offers excellent design flexibility. All timber products provide carbon lock up, actively offsetting carbon emissions from both the construction and occupation phase of the development, making them extremely environmentallyfriendly while ensuring an extended design life and comfortable indoor environment.

01 Taylor Wimpey’s is one of the housebuilders involved in developing Great Western Park in Didcot, Oxfordshire – an ambitious project to create a new community, including 3,300 new homes, along with schools, infrastructure improvements and public realm spaces. Taylor Wimpey, is utilising the development to construct concept homes using various alternatives to block and brick. The homes are part of Taylor Wimpey’s ‘Project 2020’ initiative, which aims to trial innovative prototypes that could be constructed on a grander

scale at future developments, as part of the company’s strategy for sustainable housebuilding.

NBT’s Pavatex woodfibre insulation and DSB weatherproof membrane have been used on semi-detached and detached prototype CLT (cross-laminated timber) homes at Great Western Park as part of Taylor Wimpey’s Infinity development, which will be available for purchase alongside the conventionally-built houses.

NBT advised on specification of the right

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“Our products have been proven on a number of CLT builds but this is the firsttime we have worked with a major player in the housebuilding sector. We are excited to see that Taylor Wimpey is taking such a progressive approach to considering how they can build the homes of the future with reduced impact for the environment and enhanced comfort for residents.”

A capillary-active, hygroscopic woodfibre insulation with excellent thermal performance, Pavatex was specified because, unlike closed cell and synthetic materials, it is a breathable insulation that allows any moisture absorbed by the structure during construction to dry to the outside, sharing the moisture load of the

INSULATION CLT and ensuring the longevity and integrity of the building fabric. The insulation was used to form a wrap around the external face of the building envelope and the structure was then wrapped with the Pavatex DSB membrane, which was pulled tight and the system was then fixed in place through batons prior to installation of the external wall finishes, which include brick slips, Cedral cladding and render.

Danielle Heard, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire said: “As a responsible and forward-focused housebuilder we have implemented our Project 2020 initiative to consider the materials we will use in the future to drive down carbon emissions, enhance the comfort and service life of the homes we build and ensure continuity of supply for the materials we use.

“CLT and woodfibre are both renewable materials which offers significant benefits for the housebuilding sector in terms of both availability and sustainability.

Woodfibre insulation not only provides excellent thermal performance during the winter but, thanks to its increased thermal mass, also protects against heat in summer, offering an ideal solution for homes that are comfortable all year round. Our Project 2020 trials are in their infancy at the moment but it’s inspiring to see what can be achieved with non-standard design and specification.”

Taylor Wimpey’s Project 2020 aims to explore and evaluate trends, changes and new innovations in design, architecture, technology, materials and build methodology. The competition to find a new design for Taylor Wimpey houses was won by London-based Openstudio Architects with its Infinite House – a set of terrace housing prototypes. The Infinite House can be constructed from both traditional and offsite methods. CLT is likely to become more feasible over time as offsite construction becomes economically

02 viable, the architects says, but SIPS, timber framed or brick and block construction are also possible. Roof pitches have been optimised for PV panels and eaves spaces can be used for plant and M&E technology requirements.

For more information visit: www.natural-building.co.uk

IMAGES: 01-02. Woodfibre insulation is well suited to timber

structures and provides superb thermal performance

Growth Expected in Woodfibre Insulation Woodfibre insulation currently accounts for less than 1% of the UK insulation market but supply problems in the mineral wool segment of the insulation market, coupled with fire risk concerns for poly-iso insulation products, has encouraged specifiers to re-examine how they are insulating buildings.

Andrew Mitchell: “Woodfibre insulation, like the Pavatex range that we supply, is often the system of choice for timber and CLT projects, and well as the environmentally-focused projects for which you’d expect it to be the solution of choice due to the low embodied carbon thermal performance benefits.

Current market conditions affecting other types of insulation are now prompting specifiers to look more closely at the benefits woodfibre can offer in terms of performance, ease of installation, technical support and cost, which is taking woodfibre beyond the realms of ‘eco’ and ‘heritage’ to meet the needs of any project.”

“The natural properties of woodfibre mean that it combines reduced heat loss with improved building comfort and low combustibility for a temperate yearround environment and low risk installation. It’s a sustainable choice made from renewable materials that delivers carbon lock up of 10 tonnes for the average new build dwelling, but current market conditions are prompting specifiers to focus on woodfibre’s buildability and performance credentials too, which is great news for us, the construction sector and building occupiers.”

SIPS

01

Small and Perfectly Formed An ambitious project on a tiny plot in East London, showed an innovative approach to tackling London’s housing crisis by maximising a limited urban plot to create a ground-breaking home using SIPS technology.

The two-bedroom house – that was featured on TV’s Grand Designs – showcases structural insulated panels (SIPS) engineering at its most complex and creative. JML Contracts, a well-established, NHBC-registered, family business was approached by Joe Stuart of Warehome Ltd, to support the SIPS build on a tiny 38sq m plot in East London. In his role as architect, developer, main contractor and future owner of the house, Joe designed a split-level home, built over six half-floors and engineered to maximise space.

The innovative design used every inch of the tiny plot, incorporating both a basement and a roof terrace over six half-floors.

The client was determined that the house achieve Passivhaus certification, therefore ensuring that the building was thermally efficient was a top priority. He chose SIPS for its exceptional thermal performance and U-values.

The very narrow site made this house especially challenging from an engineering perspective. After extensive research and discussions it was evidenced that SIPS could provide the best construction method to achieve both the low-energy ambitions and to ensure that the structure could be precisely engineered to maximise every bit of space on the limited site. JML Contracts engineered the whole house structure

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and it was pre-built it in the factory to demonstrate how it would work and to ensure that the design would fit perfectly when it was constructed on site.

The finished house is potentially the smallest two-bedroom house able to be built in London under the London SPG (Supplementary Planning Guide) and, crucially, has exceeded the requirements for Passivhaus status, having been engineered both to maximise thermal efficiency and to utilise every inch of the plot as well as incorporating cutting edge design. The narrow London city centre site was extremely tight, therefore every millimetre of space needed to be accounted

SIPS for. Specification testing for the project often came down to choosing a product that would give as little as 10mm of extra integral floor space.

Using SIPS allowed the wall sections to be kept as slim as possible, with no additional bulky cavity insulation required. The use of SIPS furthermore minimised thermal bridging within the building, offering a fully airtight structure while maximising the internal floor area. With an airtightness result twice as good as the required 0.6 AC/H (air changes per hour) the house has been confirmed to be a Passivhaus and is testament to the effectiveness of SIPS. The carbon footprint was assessed using SAP software at the design stage, which illustrated the anticipated carbon dioxide emissions expected from the running of the building. The initial design SAP was around 85. During the development stage, the SAP calculation was re-run along with the energy modelling using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP). The optimisation of the energy performance, along with monitoring the SAP rating, increased the SAP rating to the mid-90s. Along with being Passivhaus compliant, when the installation of the solar PV is completed, the SAP rating will achieve 100; essentially a carbon neutral building.

The SIPs panels used by JML are BBA-certified and fully insulated, requiring a minimal timber sub-frame. This almost completely eliminates thermal bridging. The finished product consumes fewer materials than a conventionally built home, requires substantially less energy to maintain, emits less pollution and will result in a more comfortable living environment. An external timber-clad rain screen allowed the maximum external insulation while keeping the thinnest wall build-up possible to ensure the internal space was as large as possible.

Additional steps were taken to ensure neighbours were aware of the logistics and

02 continuous updates were provided. The building was engineered in such a way as to reduce the need for heating and cooling.

This approach resulted in passive solar design through which the sun’s energy has been harnessed, an insulated airtight construction method, and high-performance windows and doors. These elements were carefully engineered to ensure that the client’s energy demands were met without compromising the look and design of the building. For this project, JML Contracts took a ‘fabric first’ approach: the client specified that they wanted to build using SIPS from the beginning, therefore the energy demands of the project could be considered from the outset. While the traditional expectation of an ‘eco home’ is often an array of solar panels on the roof or sustainable forms of insulation, modern sustainable building needs to look at the fabric of a building, focusing on the design and construction techniques.

The main component of the insulation is the core of the SIP which are also the primary structural loadbearing elements. These formed the external walls and the roof above ground level. Because the structural walls are SIPS and therefore incorporate insulation within the structural elements themselves, their thickness was less than would be needed to achieve the same thermal performance with other forms of construction. This maximised the usable floor area on a very tight site.

03 This project took an unsightly, rundown and structurally unsound coffin workshop that was a danger to local residents and replaced it with a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing family home. It featured on Grand Designs in October 2017 thanks to its innovative and trailblazing approach. It was the first time the programme filmed inside a SIPS factory and also the first time they had been given the opportunity to film in a house completely pre-constructed offsite. It has shown how very small plots in urban areas may be used for the highest quality of new sustainable dwellings and simultaneously help regenerate and enhance their surroundings.

For more information visit: www.jmlcontracts.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. An unsightly old coffin workshop has been transformed

into a SIPS Passivhaus 02. The home was engineered in a factory environment to

guarantee quality 03. The project was featured on TV’s Grand Designs where

they filmed inside a SIPS factory for the first time

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 39

TALL TIMBER

Taking Timber to New Heights Multi-storey timber is a trend that has seen a number of innovative buildings rise across the globe, including the ten-storey SKAIO, where ZÜBLIN Timber worked on what is the tallest timber building in Germany.

01

02 With many years of expertise in development, production, delivery and execution of high-quality timber construction and timber engineering, ZÜBLIN Timber produces customised components in its own state-of-the-art own production facilities and work in close co-operation with local project managers, engineers and architects during the planning period.

The ten-storey SKAIO high-rise in Heilbronn, based on a design by Berlin-based architectural firm Kaden+Lager, is built by Stadtsiedlung Heilbronn GmbH and ZÜBLIN Timber. The SKAIO is Germany's first timber high-rise building and another milestone in multi-storey timber construction.

The 34m building, was erected as part of the city exhibition for the BUGA 2019 horticulture show in Heilbronn, with an above-ground gross floor area of 5,685m² and offers space for 60 rental units with a total of 3,300m² of living space. The design for the SKAIO project was awarded to Kaden+Lager – a specialist in urban timber construction for many years and has designed several timber and timber hybrid buildings for a number of different clients.

A major advantage of timber construction is the relatively short time needed for construction, as the timber elements are largely prefabricated and merely require mounting and assembly onsite. “We build one floor a week,” says Markus Brandl, Project Manager at ZÜBLIN Timber. “The supports for the new buildings are made of glulam timber. For the timber walls and ceilings, ZÜBLIN Timber uses only spruce – mainly from German forests and is fully PEFC-certified.” That is an important requirement for additional certification as Stadtsiedlung Heilbronn GmbH applied for gold certification for SKAIO from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

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ZÜBLIN Timber has also proven its expertise on 3xgrün – a five-storey residential complex in Berlin. This pioneering project in multi-storey timber construction, saw the company manufacture the timber components for the wooden house prototype, created by a research project and combined them with concrete semi-finished parts. This made the precise construction possible which has been awarded with numerous prizes. Further proof of ZÜBLIN Timber’s credentials can be seen on the Treet project in Bergen. For this project ZÜBLIN Timber partnered up with local specialised Moelven Limtre. This 14-storey residential tower, consisting of load bearing glulam and CLT members offers space for 62 apartments with a total area of 5,600m² and is famously regarded as the world’s first skyscraper in wood.

ZÜBLIN Timber were also pivotal in the seven-storey Neubau Müggelstrasse, Berlin.

The house has timber-concrete composite ceilings and load-bearing steel-concrete walls. The exterior walls are constructed as highly heat-insulating timber walls with a shingle facade. The residential building is accessed from the street by a single safe staircase and contains parking in the basement. The first residential level is on the raised ground floor. Altogether there are 42 apartments between 30m² and 122m² For more information visit: www.zueblin-timber.com IMAGES: 01. The 34m SKAIO is an iconic building and the tallest timber building in Germany.

Courtesy Kaden+Lager and JSB Stuttgart 02. Neubau Müggelstrasse Berlin.

Courtesy Sebastian Johnke

Proud exhibitor at Solid Wood Solutions 2019.

ZÜBLIN Timber stands for ambitious and pioneered solutions in the field of timber construction. We are your single-source provider for the development, production, delivery and execution of high-quality timber construction systems, from simple to complex engineered timber structures and turnkey project execution.

Together with our clients we develop efficient solutions and a sustainable quality of life.

www.zueblin-timber.com

ZÜBLIN Timber GmbH, Industriestr. 2, 86551 Aichach /Germany

© SKAIO Heilbronn, Architecture: Kaden+Lager, Visualization: JSB Stuttgart

© Maggies Centre Oldham, dRMM | de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects

Timber Construction Competence

EDUCATION

Timber – a tool for healthy learning Tate Harmer has completed an innovative new science and arts building at Cranleigh Preparatory School that maximises student wellbeing to enhance learning and showcases glulam and timber technology. and interact with it. This new building on the school site will improve learning and set the tone for the future development of Cranleigh.”

01 Working on behalf of design and build contractors Blue Forest, Tate Harmer’s unique project is situated within the heart of the site’s open green spaces providing a healthy and natural learning environment for its students. Tate Harmer’s aim was to capture the ethos of the school – a soul and spirit that inspires.

02 trusses leaning together to facilitate large open spans beneath. An open deck at first floor doubles as a cricket pavilion to support activities on the adjacent fields.

Situated in the Surrey countryside, the building’s efficient layout replaces two existing buildings, relocating the art classrooms and providing new stateof-the-art education facilities including three new science labs, dual aspect art classrooms and a home economics room.

A new circulation route around the building ensures that all teaching rooms open to the outside, increasing access to the outdoors, with no internal corridors.

Ridges on either side of the building respond to the site: a projecting south ridge provides rain cover and solar shading and a raised north overhang offers expansive views to the cricket pitch. Tate Harmer has installed two staircases: one central to the new building which connects to the new access route into the school and one on the North West corner of the scheme which connects to the existing exterior colonnade.

Carefully selected materials are used to create a warm and natural environment with the extensive application of timber matching the tones of the surrounding environment.

Reflecting the healthy ethos of the school, the scheme provides a sustainable and low-energy/low-cost learning environment, naturally ventilated with high levels of daylight and fresh air. The building comprises two offset timber-clad blocks and an innovative ‘floating’ vaulted glulam roof conceived as a series of structural

Rory Harmer, Partner at Tate Harmer says: “Working on buildings such as the Eden Project has given us an extensive knowledge of carefully inserting structures into some of the most sensitive natural settings. We wanted this building to respond to the surrounding landscape and create an opportunity for students to be engaged

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Research conducted by the University of Salford in 2015 offers a number of recommendations on how to create optimum learning environments with the key aspect being ‘naturalness’, meaning a space must provide good natural daylight and ventilation to create a sense of physical and mental comfort for its users. Tate Harmer adopts this approach to ‘naturalness’ throughout the scheme and explores how linking internal learning spaces to a natural landscape can help with education, learning and collaboration.

This project for Blue Forest at Cranleigh Preparatory School demonstrates an architectural approach that finds and responds to a natural affinity with the landscape, addressing the needs of the school for enhanced facilities, without impacting negatively on its green assets.

Michael Wilson, Headmaster of Cranleigh Preparatory School added: “Tate Harmer have suggested innovative solutions for the heart of our campus and designed a building that is architecturally interesting, functional, flexible and sustainable.”

For more information visit: www.tateharmer.com

IMAGES: 01-02. Optimum learning environments should provide

good natural daylight and ventilation

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CONFERENCE | EXHIBITION

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: CHAIR: Nick Milestone – Trada Andrew King - Constructional Timber Robin Dryer - Chadwick Dryer Clarke Representative from Smith and Wallwork Daniel Kreissig - ZÜBLIN Timber Frank Werling - METSÄ WOOD

21.05.2019 Inmarsat, London

Pioneering Engineered Timber

John Spittle – Wiehag Kelly Harrison - Heyne Tillett Steel Wayne Yeomans – B&K Structures Jannick Jahnke – Simonin SAS

Solid Wood Solutions conference and exhibition will be returning for 2019.

The event will reflect the swift upward trajectory that materials such as cross

Tickets cost £125 + VAT

To book your place, visit: www.solidwoodsolutions.co.uk

laminated timber (CLT) are now on as a sustainable, structural alternative to steel and concrete.

EDUCATION

Creating New Timber History Cowan Court is a three-storey building that takes its cue from traditional English and European timber-framing techniques and has used glulam to give the Grade II-listed Churchill College a new contemporary lease of life.

01 Cowan Court is a 68-room hall of residence and the first completely new court since the college was founded as a memorial to Sir Winston Churchill in the early 1960s.

Churchill College was a pioneer in the radical expansion of university education in the post-war period, and for British architecture in general.

The new hall of residence inverts the traditional relationship in Cambridge between court and courtyard – instead, private lawns typical of a college setting surround the building with bedrooms that face out onto views of the expansive

grounds and cricket field. The interior courtyard is filled with a forest of birch trees, offering a shared space for refuge and meditation.

Cowan Court evolves many features of the original college buildings. The untreated reclaimed oak cladding echoes the textured board marked concrete and the colour of brick in the original college. New pale oak adds refinement in the lining to the cloister and triple-glazed windows. In summer, the densely planted birch forest within the court shades an informal garden for students to meet and study, which turns to orange

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in autumn and opens to the sky in winter.

The materiality of Cowan Court forms part of an ambitious environmental strategy: passive ventilation, triple glazing and super insulation reduces the amount of energy consumed in construction and in use. Solar electricity, solar water heating and rainwater collection reduce the energy requirements even further.

Cowan Court responds to the original design in a contemporary timber construction. In three overhanging floors, the ‘jettying’ timber cuts recall the concrete bands across the facades of the existing courts. Each of the facades is curved like the entasis of a classical column, and the square windows of the student rooms spiral up and across, chasing around corners in playful misalignment.

The exposed concrete structure of the existing courts provides a strong character and rhythm which is referred to in the new court. The structural frame is left exposed internally – uncommon for buildings of this type – and provides a richness and warmth to the student rooms. Glulam timber is used here in a way that it maintains a strong architectural presence. It is left unfinished so its laminated structure can be read. The oak cladding boards were reclaimed from railway freight carriages and form the exterior cladding, becoming a visible embodiment of sustainable design and creative re-use. The courtyard birch trees provide shade in the summer, while advanced solar coatings reflect heat from large areas of glazing further limiting heat loss and therefore running costs.

The new building is forecast to produce a third of the carbon emissions of a 'standard student accommodation' building, and the Part L model predicts a CO2 emission rate of 42.1kg/CO2 compared to an existing standard residential accommodation building that would produce 115.6kg/CO2.

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EDUCATION

The foundational oak planted by Sir Winston Churchill in 1959 started a landscape which has grown alongside and within the original Brutalist courts. The new building inverts the spatial and material order of the picturesque Brutalism of the original college, shifting its mineral world of brick and shuttered concrete to timber. Cowan Court’s timber, both new and old, defines its structure and in turn encloses a central court filled with recently planted birch trees.

Architects 6a were drawn to glulam for its speed of erection, accuracy of prefabrication and energy efficient properties. Cowan Court was conceived as a doppelgänger: an unidentical twin which has a familiar scale and character but whose construction reflects the time in which they were made. This set up a series of material translations – the timber board-markings on the original concrete become the actual grain of the glulam lamellas. Each iteration carries the memory of the previous. For the cladding a system of prefabrication was employed, applicable to Cowan Court due to the repetitive nature of its facades. Once tested, refined and decided upon, this system allowed 900m² of cladding to be hung in a matter of weeks, comparable to a more mechanised cladding system such as fibre cement.

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The project was extensively drawn in two and three dimensions throughout the design process. 6a completed a fullydeveloped set of 2D technical drawings for the various sub-contractors alongside a comprehensive 3D model of the structural frame. The slightly curved facades were calibrated carefully through digital as well as physical modelling, where the properties of the timber structural elements could be replicated accurately. The square plan resulted in a pin wheeled structural grid, meaning in corners the structure was at differing points overlapped and truncated.

beams, columns, CLT floor decks and shear walls assembled as a kit of parts using proprietary bracketry.

As the glulam frame remains visible internally with no finishing, the accuracy and elegance of these connections was paramount, and made possible only through the use of sophisticated software. The specialist glulam engineers constructed a full BIM model – complete with all screws and brackets – and ran complex tests for load-bearing and deflection. From this model was generated some 200 detailed drawings, which after checking by architects, engineers and main contractors, were fabricated to precise tolerances and delivered to site in batches, dovetailing with the contractor’s programme and reducing time and wastage onsite. No adjustment nor re-fabrication was required, with the

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The original client brief called for a contemporary building of exemplary architectural merit and the highest possible sustainability properties, which was in keeping with the existing listed college.

Cowan Court can be seen to satisfy that criteria, providing a model for building characterful timber buildings of presence and permanence in historic contexts. For 6a and the college the relationship to landscape was of primary importance.

There is an intensity of detail and craft, borne of a careful looking at the existing building as well as the history of timber framed buildings in the UK. For more information visit: www.6a.co.uk

IMAGES: 01-03. The combination of contemporary timber and Brutalist design makes for an exceptional building.

Courtesy 6a Architects/Johan Dehlin

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OFFSITE MANUFACTURE

An Emerging Reality Mike Chaldecott, CEO of Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland and Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Innovation in Buildings workstream discusses the huge significance of offsite delivery.

The importance of offsite manufacture has long been recognised in the construction industry and has become a key strategic component of the CLC’s vision for a transformation of the sector – something that we envision will be driven by a focus on digital, manufacturing and whole-life performance.

It’s also a key focus for the Government’s Construction Sector Deal which includes a £170 million research and development fund for transforming construction. Five Government departments are also now working closely developing a presumption in favour of offsite construction by 2019.

Many of the contributors to our report agree and see offsite manufacturing as a chance for the industry to improve the quality and quantity of houses in the future.

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The construction industry is facing a time of unprecedented change. Thanks to external factors such as socio-demographic pressures and advances in technology there’s a host of challenges, and potential opportunities, unfolding for the sector. But which approach or tool is likely to become ‘the new normal’ – and how will it affect our industry? That’s what our report, ‘Emerging Realities in the Construction Industry’ set out to explore. The report is an overview of selected areas where new realities are emerging in the construction sector, using statistics and opinions from industry players across a wide range of disciplines to look at the issue from multiple perspectives.

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As leader of the Innovation in Buildings workstream of the CLC, it is essential to progress the use of ‘smart construction’, of which offsite manufacturing is a key part.

For me, this is about modernising the sector by removing the barriers to innovation to increase the number of homes built and enhance productivity, whilst improving quality and whole life performance.

The Construction Sector Deal is so important for the industry because it encourages precisely this kind of transformation making our sector fit for the 21st century. With its launch, the CLC and industry will have access to further resources to accelerate the adoption of smart construction through innovation and collaboration.

OFFSITE MANUFACTURE The joint investment by the Government and Industry – over £420 million – is a huge opportunity to embrace more digital technology, to speed up the use of advanced manufacturing in construction and will result in more innovation, better careers and enhanced skills. All of which will be delivering better performing buildings, built faster at a lower cost and offsite manufacturing is key to the success of this transformation.

As we know the skills gap is a very real crisis facing our industry. In our report Mathew Holloway, CEO of tech company Q-bot, discusses the potential effect of new digital technology on the skills gap. He says that the company was born to revolutionise the way workers construct, maintain and upgrade buildings by developing robotic tools which can operate in hard-to reach or hazardous areas. He says: “The drive to provide more intelligent tools and smarter processes will change the industry and create new, more interesting jobs. Moving a joystick on a game pad is a new kind of construction craft that future generations of construction workers will use.”

The creation of new roles within construction is something that could not only attract new blood to the industry and enhance diversity, but also potentially allow employees to keep working for longer if some of the jobs are of a less physical nature.

Offsite manufacturing plays a huge part in what the future workforce of the industry could look like. According to research from the ‘Modernise or Die’ report the potential decline in available labour force within a decade is 20 – 25%, a figure which could be even higher depending on the outcome of Brexit. This reveals yet another grave problem in our sector – which offsite could form part of the answer to. What’s clear is that the adoption of an offsite approach has great potential to move the dial and bring our industry into the digital age.

03 At Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland we’ve recognised the rising importance of offsite manufacturing. We’ve developed our own offsite solutions for building structures through strategic partnerships, via the evolution of existing Saint-Gobain brands, whilst also adding an offsite manufacturer to our broad portfolio spanning construction products, building distribution and innovative materials. We completed the acquisition of Scotframe Limited earlier this year accelerating our involvement in the offsite manufacturing and closed panel construction market. Further evolution is planned to complement our growing offsite proposition.

I’d like to thank all of the contributors who took part in the formation of this report.

Business thrives on foresight and I hope

this report helps spark a debate about the future of our industry. Specifically, how we all might prioritise our thinking and activity across our industry to maximise the opportunities at our fingertips and capitalise on the vast potential of our sector.

The report ‘Emerging Realities in the Construction Industry’ and an introductory video can be found at: www.saint-gobain.co.uk/emerging-realities

IMAGES: 01. Mike Chaldecott, CEO of Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland 02. The Emerging Realities in the Construction Industry report was published September 2018 03. 48% of built environment professionals believe artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to new skills and professional opportunities

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 49

OFFSITE EXPO 2019

Showcasing International Offsite Best Practice and Knowledge Sharing Taking place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 24 and 25 September 2019, Offsite Expo is the brainchild of leading industry experts who understand the urgent need for a dedicated event which showcases international offsite best practice, maximises knowledge sharing and opens up collaboration opportunities in order to move the offsite industry forward at a faster pace.

The construction sector is at a critical crossroads with offsite technology now recognised as providing the most important solutions to many of the problems facing the industry today. The case is unequivocal – offsite technology challenges outmoded ideas and is a progressive step that is set to revolutionise the way buildings are designed and assembled.

Every major review of the construction industry has in some way recommended a move towards advanced factory-based construction methods and as one of the leading offsite manufactured solutions, structural timber system providers are experiencing an upturn in growth. Offsite Expo is the optimum platform to promote the latest innovations in structural timber systems and align your products and services with this increasingly important sector. The event presents opportunities to gain the exposure you need through a range of options - exhibitors and sponsors can cost-effectively access this rapidly growing, lucrative market through its focused industry engagement campaign.

Explore The event will play host to over 100 leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, volumetric modular systems, pod and prefabricated MEP solutions. Manufacturers, software developers, engineers and architects are changing the face of construction, transforming the way buildings are designed and assembled. Offsite Expo presents a compelling proposition - visitors will be able to explore an extensive range of advanced offsite solutions and smart digital technologies in a dynamic immersive environment.

Exposure Offsite Expo is set to become the pivotal event in this rapidly expanding and fastmoving sector. The event which will attract circa 3,000 delegates over two days of activity, is geared towards creating a dynamic forum for businesses to showcase offsite solutions and the latest smart digital construction technologies. Offsite Expo is the place for people to engage with key industry contacts and leading exponents, meet face-to-face with suppliers, acquire new knowledge and network in vibrant surroundings.

Offsite Expo has a range of exhibitions and sponsorship packages available which have been designed to be flexible and offer a wide range of promotional opportunities to suit any marketing aims, resources and budget. The campaign will engage at a high level during the lead up to the event, during the event and post-event, by helping to create and cement an ‘offsite community’ and by creating real ‘centre of gravity’ for the industry.

Offsite Buyers & Specifiers Forum Exhibiting companies will also have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the unique Offsite Buyers & Specifiers Forum – a lively environment facilitating meetings with leading architects, contractors, specifiers and purchasing managers seeking the latest offsite innovations for live projects.

The Offsite Buyers & Specifiers Forum offers a structured, highly effective way for buyers to meet with new and existing offsite industry suppliers. This focused approach allows participants to get the most out of their time at Offsite Expo and achieve maximum return from exhibiting.

All programme activities are managed by a dedicated team and meetings are matched to participant requirements, organised on their behalf and completely free or charge for buyers and exhibiting companies.

Get Involved To maximise your business development potential at the UK’s biggest showcase of offsite manufactured construction technology and digital solutions contact: chris.ruff@radar-communications.co.uk or call 01743 290 001

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OFFSITE EXPO 2019

Experience The latest information is crucial to success - get to grips with the most advanced offsite solutions and applications from the leading influential global organisations, individuals and commentators who are driving change in the construction sector.

Offsite Summit A focal point of the event, the Offsite Summit will provide a dynamic and interactive experience for those looking to learn direct from eminent offsite industry experts. The Offsite Summit will host speakers from around the globe and showcase international best practice in offsite construction and manufacturing technology.

Case study focused, the presentations at the Offsite Summit will bring to life some of the most inspirational and ground-breaking offsite projects from around the world, and profile some of the largest offsite manufacturing facility investments. Over 30 international speakers, will share best practice from around the world, meaning the range and scale of projects being presented at the Offsite Summit will be truly inspirational. Delegates will have the opportunity to interact with speakers during panel Q&A sessions, structured networking meetings and the evening drinks reception.

International knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer is a prime objective for the Offsite Summit, with the potential to identify collaboration opportunities.

Offsite Masterclasses The Offsite Expo Masterclasses will focus on key industry innovations and will provide a comprehensive and balanced perspective on this rapidly emerging sector from a host of offsite technology pioneers, engineers and architects. Several offsite solutions will be showcased across two Masterclass seminar theatres with 80 presenters covering: framing solutions in concrete, timber and steel, modular volumetric systems, bathroom and kitchen pods, offsite roofing technology, pre-engineered building services and a range of prefabricated building components. Developed and curated by leading offsite conference organisers Explore Offsite – a range of free CPD accredited masterclasses will be presented by the industry pioneers who are making the headlines.

Ask the Expert Exhibitors and visitors will be able to meet one-to-one with leading industry experts to discuss live projects and explore design efficiencies, engineering challenges and supply-chain development.

Leading offsite industry experts and engineers from Cogent Consulting will be on hand to discuss project objectives and to make recommendations on design, value engineering, comparable case studies and supply-chain opportunities, or just provide endorsement of current strategies. Cogent Consulting offers independent advice on exploiting innovative construction techniques - their multidisciplinary approach delivers more efficient construction systems and processes, with new ways of tackling construction challenges.

Be Part of the Most Dynamic Offsite Event of the Year

With the shift away from ‘traditional construction thinking’ to the adoption of assembly principles – Offsite Expo presents an opportunity to align your products and services with this increasing important and lucrative sector – for more information go to: www.offsite-expo.co.uk In partnership with the leading offsite industry bodies and associations:

HOUSING

Structural Timber Magazine.co.uk

Offsite Expo is a brought to you by: specialists in building technology communications

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 51

BUILDING PERFORMANCE

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Stagecraft – timber and theatre design Prefabrication offers distinct advantages in construction, but in theatre design, offsite construction can help clients deliver superb structures in less time. Simon Ricketts, architect at Haworth Tompkins explains how they found new ways to make two buildings perform better.

Timber has always had a place in the making of theatres, particularly in northern Europe, and a connection with this tradition is key in designing a modern theatre.

Two different theatre projects by Haworth Tompkins illustrate how timber can be used to make public spaces.

The Perse School in Cambridge commissioned Haworth Tompkins to design a performing arts centre, and the brief asked for a welcoming foyer, state-ofthe-art auditorium, classrooms, workshops, and rehearsal and exhibition spaces.

The foyer incorporates the rehearsal room and exhibition space, so that the foyer can expand to include them when they are not in use. The upper parts of the foyer including the rehearsal room are expressed as a timber volume, faced in glass, sitting on a heavy concrete and masonry base.

The building addresses a landscaped courtyard, as well as two routes to the sides. Again, the timber diagrid is used to offset a directional emphasis and refers to the timber structure of the original school buildings.

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The roof is composed of sections of laminated veneered beech, doweled onto a node formed around steel cylinders by Constructional Timber. Lighting points are connected and wired through these tubes. Acoustic absorption is contained within the coffers as at the deck, making the roof structure an efficient acoustic soffit. Racking strength is provided by sheets of lapped plywood fixed to the top of the diagrid, forming the roof deck. At the junction with the masonry wall of the auditorium, steel brackets fixed into the masonry are flitched into the timber

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BUILDING PERFORMANCE

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members. An equivalent detail is used on the other three sides at the connection with the LVL columns. Steel brackets fixing the bases of the columns to the concrete deck are concealed within the floor. Beams and columns are lightly stained to match oak finishes, and the timber framed curtain walls.

The oldest continually used theatre in the English-speaking world, the Bristol Old Vic was originally clandestine, the 1766 auditorium hidden behind houses and the 1744 Coopers’ Hall on King Street. Several additions to the front-of-house retained this peculiar civic relationship. The new foyer finally reveals the auditorium to the city, creating a deep and tall open public room with a glazed façade to face Bristol screened by openable panels, almost like a new external space. Crucial to the concept was the use of a timber structure, aligned to the surrounding existing buildings, tying

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the various elements into a cohesive whole.

The geometries of the existing buildings created a framework for the structural timber of the foyer, which are designed to drop in, touching existing masonry structures as little as possible; legibly new but crafted and human.

acts as the horizontal bracing. Each roof beam pairs with another beam at a column in a V shape, the column being a pair of rectangular glulam sections either side of spacers or flitches, depending on the structural requirement. Columns sit in steel shoes, which express just above floor finishes as a steel skirting around the column base. Timber members supporting floors are ‘oversized’ to account for charring, but also a response to the governing aesthetic of the foyer. The expressed timber structure of the gallery against the Coopers’ hall has a reassuring, almost medieval solidity.

This also echoes the auditorium, which is a glorious painted timber structure within a masonry box. Douglas fir glulam, flitched and with bolts expressed, was chosen as the structural material. Douglas fir has the warmth of softwood with the fine grain and almost knotless quality of hardwood, which is exaggerated by the glulam process. In the roof, the main timbers have no steel, with only the largest spans requiring steel reinforcement in the form of T flitches.

Roof beams are designed to span in one direction, with the short spans connected with ricon connectors, allowing tight joints at any angle. The roof deck in plywood

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For more information visit: www.haworthtompkins.com

IMAGES: 01-02. Bristol Old Vic. Courtesy Fred Howarth 03-04. The Perse School Cambridge. Courtesy Philip Vile

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FUTUREBUILD 2019

Uniting Industry to Tackle the Biggest Issues Taking place from 05-07 March at ExCeL London, Futurebuild 2019 will tackle the biggest challenges impacting the industry and provide visitors with unrivalled insight and hands-on experience around the latest technology, regulation and thinking to address these issues. teams on the advancement of structural timber projects. Across the three-day seminar programme, teams featured in the publication will be discussing their projects and the exact nature and benefits of the collaborative team working, in sessions hosted by Rupert Scott, Membership and Marketing Manager at TRADA and Christiane Lellig, Campaign Director at Wood for Good.

01 Developed in conjunction with renowned, industry leading partners, the packed three-day programme will provide over 500 hours of learning across an inspiring conference programme and 11 seminar streams – all completely free and CPD-accredited. Helping visitors gain a truly immersive and in-depth experience across all areas of the industry, over 500 exhibitors will be hosted across six curated Hubs: Materials, Urban Infrastructure, Buildings, Interiors, Energy and Offsite.

The Possibilities of Timber The Materials Hub promises to be unmissable for professionals working across the industry, as this is where the possibilities of timber and natural building products will be explored, as well as innovations in

concrete, steel and masonry. The Hub will host the TRADA Bookshop, where visitors will have the ability to view the most recent publications from across the sector. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the work created as part of the TRADA University Challenge competition, with the shortlisted visuals being displayed within the bookshop.

In partnership with leading trade organisations, the Hub will also host a CPD-accredited seminar programme to provide a wealth of knowledge for visitors.

This year, TRADA and Wood for Good will be launching ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ at Futurebuild – a free to download publication that takes a close look at the impact of strong, innovative and collaborative

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The Natural Building Area will also feature in the Materials Hub, providing free educational information and showcasing natural materials and businesses that work in the UK natural building industry, as well as hosting exhibitors such as Steico, Millworks, Piveteaubois, Hoppings Softwood, Capital Holz, Glavloc and Magply.

Looking to Offsite The Offsite Hub at Futurebuild 2019 will address industry demand for comprehensive information and guidance on the latest innovations and opportunities in the sector.

The Explore Offsite Masterclass programme will bring together a range of supply-chain specialists and industry leaders to provide expert, CPD accredited information on the effective application of offsite technology.

Aimed at delivering fast, qualitative improvements in working knowledge, the series will feature over 100 carefully chosen guest speakers – including James Donington, UK Commercial Manager at FP McCann, John Spittle, UK Representative for Wiehag GmbH, and Nathalie Meunier, Senior Business Manager, McAvoy Group.

The future of Offsite @FuturebuildNow

Introducing Futurebuild 2019 Be at the heart of construction innovation in the Offsite Hub, brought to you in partnership with Explore Offsite. This year’s offsite hub is bigger than ever before and ensures that Futurebuild 2019 remains the premier destination for professionals working across the built environment to learn about and experience first-hand the latest innovations and opportunities in offsite construction.

Four seminar theatres will be on offer in the Offsite Hub, with one dedicated to Structural Timber. In association with the Structural Timber Association, these sessions, will focus on the different

/FuturebuildNow

/FuturebuildNow

In partnership with

HUB

wood systems available for offsite construction, including CLT and glulam, SIPS and open and closed timber frame panel systems.

Register for free today www.futurebuild.co.uk/register

/FuturebuildNow

FuturebuildNow

FUTUREBUILD 2019

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03 Taking place in four dedicated seminar theatres, the Masterclasses are backed by key Trade Bodies – the Structural Timber Association (STA), the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA), British Precast and the Light Steel Frame Association.

Each session will examine a specific sector, technology or related topic, with real-life case studies to bring the subject to life. An open forum will offer visitors the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight into approaches and experiences. Key highlights in the Structural Timber Theatre include the latest innovations in Structural Timber Education projects from Kay Hartmann – KLH UK and Peter Blunt – Innovare Systems on 6 March and Gavin White, Ramboll discussing the Beechwood West project on 7 March.

Visitors to the Hubs will be also able to meet market-leading offsite manufacturers – including the Hadley Group, which will be

exhibiting its two-storey stand. Speaking about the event Chris Holleron, Group Product Manager for Housing at Hadley Group, said: “Futurebuild helps to showcase what the face of construction might look like in the future. It’s an event that’s truly interested in what the future looks like and wants to help the industry as it drives towards a number of major technological breakthroughs. Our focus at this year’s event will be on our range of high quality, light gauge galvanised steel structural framing systems and their wide range of applications across the world of construction.”

Other exhibitors include Marley Modular Systems and Elite Systems who will be showcasing and demonstrating the latest offsite technologies, systems and materials.

For more tailored support in fully embracing the opportunities presented by offsite, the Hub will also offer a dedicated Meet the Expert space, facilitated by Cogent Consulting, where visitors can have one-to-one consultations with recognised leaders in the field.

The Buildings Hub The Buildings Hub will cover all aspects of building, including newbuild, retrofit and refurbishment. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak to pioneering brands working across construction and maintenance – such as Internorm, Recticel, Bauder, Durisol and Smart Systems – as well as engage in conversation around the

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latest technology and legislation.

The Buildings Hub seminar programme will give timber professionals insights into the latest thinking and initiatives in building quality and performance and occupier comfort. The sessions will explore new tools, technologies and delivery approaches to improve both new and existing buildings.

In an industry still feeling the effects of Grenfell, attendees will also be given the opportunity to voice their concerns on topics such as social value, overheating, high-rise, Passivhaus and build performance.

Further key features include the ZED project led by architect Bill Dunster OBE and the RIBA Marketplace, designed by Gundr + Ducker and sponsored by ROCKWOOL and Rockpanel. Both will create key focal points and networking opportunities for building professionals.

The ZED project will enable sixth form students to learn vital construction skills while building affordable, energy-efficient, multi-occupancy homes. With space for up to eight people, they are not only affordable but also exceed building regulations, are super insulated and have the potential of no net annual energy bills. A prototype will be displayed at Futurebuild before providing much needed housing for young people.

The Urban Infrastructure Hub will explore the latest solutions across blue, green, grey and social infrastructure. The Urban Infrastructure Seminar Theatre, sponsored by ACO, and the accompanying exhibition will feature both nature-based and manufactured solutions to address challenges in active travel, air pollution, landscaping, water management and more, while the Hub’s own green space, City Walk, will allow visitors to experience the benefits of a green setting and see innovations on display.

The Waste Zone will return with new and expanded features for 2019. Curated by architect, academic and author Duncan

FUTUREBUILD 2019 Baker-Brown, the area will showcase how waste can be a valuable resource for industry. Central to the experience will be the new Circular Economy Hub, which will take a unique beach hut format and feature a collection of hand-picked brands at the forefront of making the circular economy a reality.

Meeting Challenges and Making Commitments Located at the centre of the surrounding Hubs the ecobuild conference will inspire visitors to take action on the most pressing challenges through insights from leading experts. With an overarching theme of 'Time for Action', the conference sessions will be collaborative forums where visitors can develop plans for implementing change and proposing action for a more sustainable future.

A total of 13 key challenges will be tackled through the conference programme, including The Housing Challenge – more than houses by Jane Briginshaw, Director of Design England. ‘The Quality Challenge – why can’t we build better buildings?’ will also be addressed by Robin Nicholson of Cullinan Studio, Ben Derbyshire of RIBA and Kath Fontana of RICS. Other topics being addressed include: the challenge to change; how to achieve a built environment fit for 2050, to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, how to apply innovative technology and techniques to transform the industry, how to overcome the housing crisis, how to reinforce the connections between education, skills and research to develop a future workforce and how to transform existing homes through behaviour change and deep retrofits.

Visitors can also take a more comprehensive look into the biggest issues facing the built environment through the Knowledge Forum – new for 2019. Throughout the three days of Forum sessions, industry

04 leading partners, academia and professional bodies will provide useful solutions and guidance for construction professionals to take back to the office. These workshops will comprise of ‘Building Sustainably’, ‘Building Productively’, ‘Building Responsibly’ by the BRE Academy, Image of Construction delivered by CCS and sponsored by CITB, Research & Education delivered by various partners and institutions such as Bioregional, CIAT, Carbon Trust, CISL and Nottingham and Southbank Universities.

The mindful MATERIALS workshop taking place within the Knowledge Forum will take a new approach to bringing the industry together around materials. The sessions will explore sustainable material sourcing and specification from two different vantage points, in two half day sessions: A Contractor & Owner Perspective – Success, Challenges and Solutions plus Building Rating Systems & Certification Bodies – Industry Collaboration and Synergies.

As an official UK Government Innovation Partner, Futurebuild will also be hosting the Innovation Zone with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK. At the Zone, BEIS will be showcasing the work of the Energy Innovation Programme and demonstrating how it is delivering the Clean Growth Strategy. Focusing on true innovation, it will provide a platform for investment and knowledge exchange across three areas: a dedicated three-day seminar series – an exhibition featuring innovative businesses BEIS and Innovative UK have provided funding to and a ‘Business Bar’ in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Network – providing one-to-one advice and support on accessing funding.

For more information visit: www.futurebuild.co.uk/register IMAGES: 01-04. The Futurebuild Hubs will provide a wealth of

information and guidance on all aspects of construction

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 59

DFMA

The Role and Future of DfMA in the UK Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is critical to the success of offsite technology and a new breed of construction thinking. Sarah Newine Moore, Project Manager at Eurban, illustrates a tale of two design methodologies. further efficiencies on the production line.

Accompanying the development of the DFM and DFA software came the publication – Product Design for Manufacture and Assembly – and so the term Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) was born.

DfMA is the combination of the two design methodologies: DFM (the design of individual parts of an assembly) and DFA (how to assemble all the parts to make the final product.)

01 In 1948 the industrial engineer and educator Geoffrey Boothroyd started his career as an apprentice in the Mather and Platt factory in Manchester. He would have worked with some of the figures immortalised in LS Lowry’s painting. This factory, a major employer in Manchester, produced mainly large centrifugal pumps. It was there that Boothroyd gained his insight into industrial production lines.

By the 1970s, such production lines were radically changing and Boothroyd was teaching in the University of Massachusetts.

His team’s research aimed to provide designers with tools to drive efficiencies in automatic and manual assembly of products in factories. This research

built upon other contemporary studies in European Universities and industry.

Boothroyd and his team’s work resulted in a piece of software: Design for (Automatic and Manual) Assembly (DFA) for the Apple II Plus.

Two of the world’s biggest companies, Ford and General Motors, claimed to have saved billions by adopting DFA, and interest in this design methodology grew exponentially.

Boothroyd Dewhurst Inc. was established in 1983 and the team developed their next tool for designers: Design for Manufacture (DFM). This additional module of the software enabled a series of design options that could be accurately costed prior to manufacture, allowing for

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The core principles of DFM are to simplify the design of a product by reducing the number of constituent parts, and by selecting the most cost effective materials and processes in their manufacture. While DFA aims to minimise the number of operations and therefore reduce assembly time and cost of a product.

The success of the DfMA design methodology has led to its adoption across a wide range of professions including the construction industry in the UK. In the construction industry, DfMA relates to the prefabrication of building elements offsite in controlled factory environments for onsite assembly, enabling efficiencies in time, labour and cost.

RIBA published the DfMA overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work in 2016. One of the key recommendations is to front-load the design process by bringing specialist subcontractors and consultants on board as early as stage 2 in order to discuss

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DFMA hand with BIM enables much better risk management.

02

03 buildability from the outset. This requires a significant shift away from more traditional forms of design and procurement. The industry still has a long way to go in this regard as the Farmer Review of the Construction Labour Model made clear – declaring in its title that the industry needs to ‘Modernise or Die’. Among the recommendations outlined in the Farmer Review are ‘pre-manufactured approaches’ – such as CLT/solid timber structures.

DfMA methodology is integral to the design, manufacture and assembly of solid timber buildings and to how we work at Eurban.

Ten years ago Eurban completed the installation of Waingels College, designed

by Sheppard Robson. The term DfMA with reference to construction was not yet fully in use, however the adoption of earlier versions of the CAD/CAM software still used by Eurban today, enabled structural design options to be explored, agreed and integrated into the project. The architects co-ordinated and signed off the

drawings produced, and these were then manufactured by the factory offsite.

Fast forward eight years to 2017. Eurban now adopts far more sophisticated software and more rigorous QA processes to deliver projects. Two recently completed buildings, Highpoint Terrace, a large eight-storey residential block in central London, and Frilford Golf club in Oxfordshire both employed advanced 3D BIM to develop the most efficient designs in terms of manufacture in the factory and assembly onsite.

During the design phase of Highpoint Terrace, Eurban’s specialist timber engineers designed the most efficient structural solution, significantly reducing the number of elements by designing large 16m floor panels. A reduced number of operations onsite should lead to increased safety. 25% less labour was required to assemble this building, only eight site operatives as opposed to 35 if it had been a concrete structure. DfMA hand-in-

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4D BIM gives design teams the opportunity to develop the DfMA methodology one step further. Both projects introduced the fourth dimension to the BIM models – time.

The entire solid timber superstructure assembly can be modelled before work begins onsite. Crane locations and lifts, material set down areas, deliveries, and labour requirements can all be mapped out and communicated to the design team. This brings real advantages: sequencing issues and risks can be identified and addressed earlier, giving stakeholders and clients a high degree of insight and control over the process.

The continued use and improvement of DfMA design methodologies should enable projects to become more efficient and enable government targets in the sector for greater productivity and lower emissions to be met. The solid timber industry continues to grow in this country, in Europe and globally. New production plants are opening for business all over the world while existing plants are increasing their capacity by extending and opening new sites.

DfMA may require higher expenditure earlier in the design phase due to fees for specialists, but this early expenditure leads to greater predictability and therefore pays off during the build phase. When client bodies understand the longer term gain of early investment their projects should reap the benefits.

For more information visit: www.eurban.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. DfMA methodology is integral to the design,

manufacture and assembly of solid timber buildings

Courtesy Binderholz 02. CLT production. Courtesy Stora Enso 03. Solid timber has enormous structural and project benefits

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HOUSING & REGENERATION

Timber on the Record The Boiler House reimagines new styles of living and comprises of 54 balconied, studio, one and two-bedroom flats and is part of the Old Vinyl Factory regeneration site – named after the famous HMV factory that once manufactured vinyl records here.

lynchpin in the local authority’s plan to capitalise on the site’s musical history and the advent on the new Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) to regenerate a run-down part of their borough. It promises new housing, office space, shops, a cinema, a school, and lots of public amenity all unified around a new pedestrianised thoroughfare called the Groove.

Fronting onto the Groove, the Boiler House connects seamlessly with the local community to the north and has excellent transport links, being just 20 minutes from Paddington and ten minutes from Heathrow and the motorway network. With its truncated pyramid forms and multiple balconies it is instantly recognisable and a true landmark for The Old Vinyl Factory.

01 The highly marketable design takes its cue and name from the boiler house that once supplied the HMV factory’s heating needs.

The BREEAM Very Good building slots into the wider Old Vinyl Factory masterplan with quirky tapering external walls clad in shimmering stainless steel shingles that recall the area’s industrial heritage, while its

central orange staircase is an echo of the boiler house chimney that used to occupy the same site.

The building is a striking feature in the wider Old Vinyl Factory development masterplan, a triangular site west of the Hayes & Harlington train station. It is a

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Cross laminated timber (CLT) was chosen as the structural basis for the building after careful consideration of the available alternatives, of using steel or concrete frames. At a time when the more conventional elements of the industry were experiencing some overheating due to increasing demand, use of a new emerging method of construction offered the chance to achieve a number of goals. The speed of construction, on a tight site with restricted access, together with the certainty of supply of using factory made elements were very attractive. The inherent thermal properties, durability and stability of the timber structure all influenced the decision, agreed by Hub and Studio Egret West. It is interesting to note that the concrete framed building adjacent actually started well in advance, yet the Boiler House was able to complete first. CLT enabled the project to use a frame with advantages of programme and innovation, and a design which combines a number of striking features, raising the potential for sales.

Architects Stride Treglown, were appointed

by Squarestone Hub to develop the detailed design of the building, and novated to the contractor, Henry Construction Projects Ltd. Inheriting the project from the concept

HOUSING & REGENERATION

architect, Studio Egret West, the design complexities were jointly overcome with Eurban – the CLT system designer.

Accurately manufactured offsite, the CLT frame was erected in just seven weeks, overtaking other nearby housing projects to complete in May 2018. The fully BIM-enabled design work paid off: over 80% of the units sold off-plan, with the remaining flats set to sell quickly as the area regeneration beds in.

CLT’s low embodied carbon, high values for thermal insulation and airtightness, and capacity for re-use or recycling in the future helped the building to its BREEAM Very Good rating. CLT’s good thermal and airtightness values keep energy loads low.

Running costs are kept lower still because the flats are connected to the low-cost heating from the new district heating system.

As CLT is comparatively light, it required six times fewer lorry journeys to deliver the material to site. For example, each tonne of concrete releases an equivalent of 1 tonne of CO2, whereas each tonne of CLT captures 2.5 tonnes of CO2. Timber has good thermal and acoustic insulation values, and is airtight when assembled. This greatly reduces energy use in the building and, combined with the energy recovering ventilation and because it is hooked up to

02

03

the district heating system, substantially reduces running costs. The use of CLT on this project was compared with other possible structural systems, principally concrete and steel frames. CLT was chosen for its advantages across a wide range of factors. It needed less substantial foundations, requiring only a concrete raft rather than a piled foundation. This alone saved weeks of programme time and several complex operations on a restricted site – both within itself and because of the access for larger construction vehicles.

fit-out processes. Because the CLT frame in this project is entirely encapsulated, the long-term maintenance costs are close to zero.

Unlike concrete, CLT frames are much faster to erect, need less in the way of infill walling and insulation, embody far less energy, and can be reused or easily recycled. While steel frames are faster than concrete, it also has high embodied energy, and requires complex thermal isolation and fire protection which are not such major considerations with CLT. Because CLT is manufactured in the controlled environment of a factory and assembled quickly on site by specialists intimately knowledgeable about how it fits together, the overall health and safety challenges are significantly lower than either steel or concrete. CLT’s quality assurance and speed of erection also improves overall programme time. Because windows can be fitted in advance, the envelope can be completely watertight early on, speeding up and protecting the internal

With a remarkably successful collaborative relationship between architect and system designer at its heart, the building resolves multiple complex phasing and technical issues to deliver an accurate building on time and to budget. The use of sloping elevations, so prominent a feature of the design, is very unusual in this kind of building and particularly difficult to achieve with CLT. It sets a new standard for architectural design and technical delivery, taking full advantage of CLT’s considerable advantages.

The Boiler House shows how CLT can be successfully used on adventurous and unconventional projects. As such, it is an exemplar for the technology’s future promise not just for driving down programme times, reducing embodied carbon, improving recyclability, reducing environmental impact but also for its design flexibility.

For more information visit: www.stridetreglown.com

IMAGES: 01-03. CLT has made the Boiler House a landmark part of

the Old Vinyl Factory. Courtesy Stride Treglown

STMAG | www.structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk | 65

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY If you are interested in learning more about offsite construction in the timber sector and the associated manufacturing processes then choose from some of the timber specific events taking place in 2019:

DATE 28 February

EVENT

VENUE

WEBSITE

STA Member to Member Networking Event

NEC, Birmingham

www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events

This half-day event will be highly focused and have two objectives - to provide STA members with key updates on important topics such as; technical, quality, health and safety and provide strategic networking and business development opportunities between manufacturers and suppliers.

To register attendance go to: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events 5 March

Timber Estimating Guide Launch

ExCeL, London

www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events

In partnership with leading cost consultants Rider Levett Bucknall, the STA will be launching the new Estimating Guide at futurebuild 2019. Taking place on the Structural Timber theatre at 3pm this guide is aimed predominantly at; Quantity Surveyors, Housebuilders, Contractors and Specifiers.

To confirm your attendance go to: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events 5-7 March

Futurebuild

ExCeL, London

www.futurebuild.co.uk

A fresh format that’s nothing like an ordinary trade show bringing together the most innovative, exciting and inspiring brands, companies, speakers and experiences. The centrepiece will be the comprehensive conference programme curated by top industry figures surrounded by eight unique ‘futurebuild districts’ that will each explore a different aspect of the built environment. These will include building performance, infrastructure and energy.

5 Mar 19

Offsite Construction Awards

ExCeL, London

www.offsiteawards.co.uk

Celebrate the best in precision building design and delivery at the Offsite Construction Awards. The Awards will reward outstanding examples of prefabrication and factory-based methods, products, systems and disciplines that increasingly strive to develop a sustainable, streamlined and cost-effective way to deliver a better built environment.

27 March

HOUSING 4 April

Explore Offsite Housing

QEII Centre, London

www.exploreoffsite.co.uk

Experts have hailed offsite construction as the only way to respond to the demand for new housing. Moving the construction of houses into factories enables the build to take place both efficiently and economically, making the national shortage of labour less of a concern. This two day conference brings together technology leaders to discuss the growing opportunities that the housing shortage presents for offsite construction solutions.

Timber Talks Seminar

Bristol

www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events

These seminars are open to architects, engineers, clients, contractors, local authorities, housebuilders and developers and will feature high-calibre speakers who will discuss the aesthetic, commercial and technical possibilities of structural timber through case studies and award winning project examples. For more information and to book go to: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events 30 April

Tall Buildings Conference

London

www.tallbuildingsconference.co.uk

Tall buildings present unique challenges in terms of both design and construction. Their sheer scale demands that particular attention is paid simultaneously to strategic and detailed issues. This event is intended to assist architects, designers and engineers in understanding the common challenges associated with transferring standard building principles and knowledge from low-rise structures to tall buildings.

21 May

Solid Wood Solutions

Inmarsat, London

www.solidwoodsolutions.co.uk

Solid Wood Solutions will feature case studies on some of the major solid wood projects which have been delivered recently throughout the UK and Europe and this is supported by an exhibition of CLT and Glulam suppliers as well as complementary component manufacturers.

24-25 Sept

FFSITE

EXP

Offsite Expo

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsite-expo.co.uk

NEW FOR 2019 - OFFSITE EXPO brings together those who are driving change – the event will play host to the leading UK and international suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, pod and modular solutions. Exhibiting companies will also have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the Offsite Buyers Forum - a dynamic environment facilitating meetings with leading architects, contractors, specifiers and purchasing managers.

RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATION

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 31.05.2019 IMAGE COURTESY OF B&K STRUCTURES

www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk

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FFSITE

EXP

RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATION

BE PART OF THE MOST DYNAMIC OFFSITE EVENT OF THE YEAR! With the shift away from ‘traditional construction thinking’ to the adoption of assembly principles – offsite construction techniques and technologies are shaping the future of the built environment.

NEW FOR 2019 - OFFSITE EXPO brings together those who are driving change in the construction sector – the event will play host to the leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised and volumetric modular systems, plus pod and prefabricated MEP solutions. BOOK YOUR EXHIBITION SPACE NOW!

For more information contact chris.ruff@radar-communications.co.uk

WWW.OFFSITE-EXPO.CO.UK

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