Structural Timber Magazine - Issue 32

STRUCTURAL TIMBER

The latest in structural timber building design and technologies

STRUCTURALTIMBERMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ARC BUILDING SOLUTIONS CAVITY BARRIER INNOVATION

AND PROMOTING BUILDING SAFETY

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Competing Timber Philosophies Working with wood needs clear architectural and industrial thinking to transform our buildings

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The Net Zero Challenge

How the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap can help the sector deliver real carbon savings

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Mass Timber Insurance Playbook Guidance on securing confidence and an equitable insurance policy for mass timber construction

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Welcome to the first Structural Timber Magazine of 2023. The year so far has seen a growing momentum in showcasing timber’s benefits but also in dealing calmly with barriers to specification and perceived weaknesses.

Two key industry documents are covered inside. Firstly, Timber Development UK (TDUK), in collaboration with the Structural Timber Association and ten other UK timber trade associations, launched the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap. The Roadmap sets out the varied causes of carbon emissions throughout the timber supply chain and the steps that need to be taken to address the relentless net zero challenge, that cannot be underestimated. The net zero journey is not easy and as TDUK’s Sustainability Director, Charlie Law points out, an important first step is understanding how your business can accurately count its carbon emissions. Only then, “can you begin to accurately identify ways to be more competitive in a low-carbon market.”

Secondly, the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook is a landmark piece of guidance. The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, with funding from Built by Nature, has endeavoured to create a tool for developers, investors and designers. As outlined by the three authors of the Playbook, it is hoped to encourage, “early and ongoing dialogue between the client, designer and insurer with a view to producing buildings that can be considered for insurance on a more equitable basis as traditional construction methods.”

Yet another example of how mass timber can deliver stunning buildings and save thousands of tonnes of CO2 at the same time, can be seen in The Black & White Building. The entire building is – as architects Waugh Thistleton describe it – ‘visibly sustainable’. The CLT frame was chosen for its perfect balance of sustainability, lightness and strength with glulam used for the curtain walling, and the columns and beams made from beech LVL. Alongside being powered by 100% renewable energy sources – including 80 solar panels on the rooftop – what is there not to admire?

Finally, as the UK faces dwindling supplies of homegrown wood, Stuart Goodall, Confor, Chief Executive provides a spirited piece on how we can stop ourselves ‘sleepwalking’ into a timber shortage crisis in the near future.

A special thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters for their help this issue, it is genuinely appreciated.

Gary Ramsay | Consultant Editor

E: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk

AUTOMATIC OPTIMISING & DEFECTING CROSSCUT SAW

NEW Gang-Nail iPanel timber frame software

With the introduction of Gang-Nail’s new iPanel software, timber frame panel designers can now take their drafting to the next level. iPanel provides new tools to ensure maximum efficiency and accuracy for timber frame panel designers. iPanel is a robust panel design tool that manages all the information needed to draft, estimate, manufacture and install wall panels.

Using iPanel and STITCHER® in conjunction with ITW Construction Products Offsite’s new award-winning Gang-Nail Truss Frame walls, timber frame panel designers can now get a complete panel solution.

THIS ISSUE...

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COVER STORY - ARC BUILDING SOLUTIONS

George Danzey-Smith, Commercial Manager at ARC Building Solutions, explores the issues created by overspecification of cavity barrier products and introduces a new innovation – the TCB Square – a brand new, easy to install, robust cavity barrier for timber frame construction.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS

A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: International Timber become part of STARK Building Materials UK, Donaldson Timber Systems appointed to the Building Better dynamic purchasing system and Hemsec and SIP Build UK join together to build on a shared SIPS vision.

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RECONCILING COMPETING PHILOSOPHIES

Wood’s role in the transition to low-carbon construction seems inevitable. But how that looks, architecturally and industrially, demands careful thinking about the nature of wood as a resource and as a material to transform buildings. Martin Self, Co-founder and Design Director of Xylotek explains more.

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THOUGHT YOU WERE OUT OF THE WOODS?

The Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) recently warned that the UK faces declining supplies of homegrown wood due to lack of productive tree planting, Stuart Goodall, Confor Chief Executive, examines the threats and answers to long term supply.

P30 PATHWAY TO CARBON REDUCTION

Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at TDUK, picks out some of the central themes contained in its new Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap.

P32 GLOOM AND DOOM FOR 2023 – OR IS IT?

Andrew Orriss, from the STA, highlights some key themes that the organisation and its members will be concentrating on this year.

P34 CAVITY BARRIER CONCERNS

What do you need to know when designing and installing cavity barriers for timber frame buildings? Robin Lancashire, Senior Timber Frame Consultant at BM TRADA lets us know.

P36 PERFECT CURVES

Charles Church at Wellington Gate is a collection of three, four and five-bedroom family homes that feature a highly technical curved ‘room in roof’ system.

P40 GUIDELINES FOR INDUSTRY CONFIDENCE

The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook provides guidance for all parties on how to secure an equitable insurance policy for the construction and operation of mass timber buildings.

P42 TESTING HOW TIMBER HOMES PERFORM

As part of a wider project designed to accelerate progress towards low carbon and net zero housing, the eHome2 concept house at Salford University will soon enter an intensive testing period.

P44 ARCHITECTURE OF SUFFICIENCY

Opening in January 2023, the Black & White Building has become the latest in a series of landmark structures showcasing the best in timber technology and sustainable architecture.

P46 A YEAR IN TIMBER

As Donaldson Offsite CEO, Alex Goodfellow explains, Donaldson Timber Systems has had a strong start since acquiring Stewart Milne Timber Systems.

DRIVING MARKET LEADING PRODUCTS: PROMOTING BUILDING SAFETY

George Danzey-Smith, Commercial Manager at ARC Building Solutions, explores the issues created by overspecification of cavity barrier products and introduces a new innovation – TCB Square.

For 15 years, ARC Building Solutions has been bringing unique and innovative cavity barrier products to market, cementing themselves as industry experts and contributing to the delivery of safer and more sustainable homes and buildings. However, a shifting trend in recent times has seen overspecification of products as a ‘knee jerk’ reaction to heightened regulation.

The Golden Thread and overspecification

With the introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022, underpinned by The Golden Thread, there is greater emphasis on building safety and regulation than ever before. While the importance of these regulatory changes

cannot be underestimated, there are still challenges to address, not least with the issue of overspecification.

Our job is always to get the right product, into the right hands and installed correctly, that’s how you maximise building safety. However, we are seeing a shifting trend towards product overspecification. Increasingly, we see installers and contractors specifying what is perceived to be the best performing overall product, often at greater expense, with less consideration of the specific context in which the product is being installed.

In general, overspecification is a reflection of a desire in the industry

to be risk averse, with greater scrutiny and external pressure bringing higher risk of liability. While not a problem in itself – as inevitably this means higher standards of care and accountability – it does mean that the right products are still not necessarily finding their way into the right applications. In simple terms, good cavity barrier specification is about specifying the right product for the right application.

ARC TCB Square

With this in mind, in March 2023 ARC launched its latest product innovation, the TCB Square. A brand new, easy to install and robust cavity barrier for timber frame construction. The TCB Square is specifically designed

to fit around penetrations through the external wall in low rise housing, offering up to 60 minutes of fire integrity.

We’re really excited to be launching the TCB Square, our new cavity barrier specifically targeting pipe penetrations in timber frame construction. The TCB Square is designed to be compression fitted where there will be a pipe penetration, fixed through the flanges at the point where the pipe penetration will be in the timber frame structure. Once the service penetration has been drilled and the service pipe installed, a hole is cut on the protective polythene packaging and the product is placed over the pipe. The exterior brickwork can then be laid creating the cavity and compressing the ARC TCB Square to its required fit and securing the product in place.

The problem of overspecification certainly extends to this market, where linear barriers are frequently specified and used to ‘box in’ or ‘wrap’ the pipe. This is one of the problems ARC TCB Square is designed to eliminate.

The aim of any cavity barrier product, first and foremost is containment and compartmentation, maximising the amount of time occupants have to evacuate a building. Different types of cavity barrier offer advantages, ensuring their suitability for their intended applications. At present, it is not uncommon for linear barriers to be used in place of specialist products in the application of pipe penetration. These products however, by their very nature, require some adaptation to fit this purpose. Linear barriers in this context, must be cut to size, with cut sections used to ‘box in’ or ‘wrap’ the pipe. Of course, this creates problems for specification.

Linear barriers are not specified for this purpose and as a result, intended performance cannot be guaranteed. The box section requires great care and attention on-site to achieve a correct installation. If lengths are cut incorrectly, or any small gaps are left exposed, the fire performance of the product could be entirely compromised.

Equally, wrapping linear cavity barriers around the pipe can also be detrimental to performance. Any bending of a linear mineral wool cavity barrier

before or during installation can cause the fibres to tear, resulting in reduced performance. It might be the case that some of these linear products offer higher rating of fire integrity and insulation. However, where usage falls outside of the certified scope, whatever performance benefit may have existed can be undone in installation.

Reducing the margin for error

This was one of the driving forces behind the development of the TCB Square. Specifically designed to perform the function of a cavity barrier around openings in the wall, TCB Square is a far more robust and safer solution than linear cavity barriers. Of course, the TCB Square must also be specified correctly, with accurate measurements of the cavity and designed widths essential to achieving design intent. However, there is far less margin for error with a specialised product. It is worth noting that this is not a penetration seal product or ‘fire stop’ and does not replace the requirement for such products where one exists. Instead, TCB Square aims to bring a safer cavity barrier solution to market.

Exceeding the technical requirements of Approved Document B, the TCB Square has been tested in accordance with the principles given in EN1366-4, achieving up to 60 minutes fire integrity within a timber frame construction.

The key message that cannot be emphasised enough, is that the ‘best’ solution is the one that minimises the potential for performance gaps to occur once the solution has been installed and people start to use the building. In this context, more care must be taken across the industry to specify the correct solution, for the correct application. Only then can greater and more consistent standards of building safety be achieved.

www.arcbuildingsolutions.co.uk

IMAGES: 01-03. When specified correctly TCB Square is a far more robust and safer solution than linear cavity barriers

NHBC SHOW OFFSITE BENEFITS TO SHADOW MINISTER

Shadow Minister for Business and Industry, Bill Esterson MP visited David Wilson Homes’ Sundial Place development in Sefton, hosted by NHBC, to discuss ongoing skills shortages in the housebuilding industry, preparing for the Future Homes Standard 2025 and the advancement of offsite manufacturing.

During the visit, which took place on 15 February 2023, Mr Esterson received a demonstration of the low carbon technology at Sundial Place and was shown a ‘smart roof’ – manufactured offsite then brought on-site and tiled – that cuts build time from two weeks to just one day. He praised the use of timber frame being used on site and the new technologies being embraced by the newbuild housing sector commenting: “there is much to learn regarding technologies that can cross over to the retrofit sector.” Talking about skills shortages, he said “greater flexibility of the Apprenticeship Levy is needed to encourage

greater business engagement and uptake among young people.”

NHBC Regional Director for the North West, Darren Horner said: “We were delighted to welcome Bill Esterson MP to David Wilson Homes’ Sundial Place development and talk to him about the advancement of offsite manufacturing and NHBC Accepts, our comprehensive review service for innovative construction systems.

“With the demands on the industry to increase the volume of new homes’ supply and the simultaneous challenges around materials and skills, we are at a critical stage in the development of modern methods of construction (MMC). We are proud to be using our scale, expertise and knowledge of house building to work with manufacturers to provide developers, investors, lenders and home buyers with the confidence that innovative systems can meet the same high standards of quality and durability as traditionally-built homes.”

Robert Holbrook, Managing Director at Barratt David Wilson North West, said: “If we are serious about achieving net zero carbon, we need to innovate and invest today in the right technologies and the right skills for the future. The team at Sundial Place were proud to show Bill Esterson MP how we are building low carbon, high quality homes in Sefton, and to discuss the importance of diverse and accessible routes into the construction sector. This includes a wide-ranging and flexible apprenticeship programme as well as a pathway for experienced workers, from inside and outside of the sector, to upskill or retrain, so we have the depth of knowledge to continue to innovate and evolve.”

Pictured: L-R: Dave Aspinall of Barratt David Wilson, Bill Esterson MP, Darren Horner of NHBC, Céara Roopchand of NHBC, Robert Holbrook of Barratt David Wilson.

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Sign up to the MEDITE makes it real website to gain access to key industry info, be first to hear about new MEDITE developments and be inspired by what others are creating.

International Timber has officially joined STARK Group A/S. The acquisition confirmed that International Timbers’ parent company had reached an agreement to sell International Timber to STARK Group. This sale has today completed and International Timber are now wholly owned by STARK Group.

International Timber has now joined one of the fastest growing merchants and distribution groups in Europe and

HEMSEC AND SIP BUILD UK SHARE SIPS VISION

Hemsec and SIP Build UK have announced a partnership that aims to provide a cost-effective, end-to-end solution for the creation of energyefficient building systems.

Building with structural insulated panels (SIPs) can significantly contribute to meeting Future Home Standards and Passivhaus standards, resulting in reduced days that require heating, significantly reducing energy bills.

a business completely focussed on its expertise in distributing building materials for tradespeople. The International Timber brand name, much recognised and respected by those in the industry will continue and International Timber will become part of the UK subsidiary of STARK Group, STARK Building Materials UK.

Paul Martin, Managing Director of International Timber (pictured), said: “STARK Group is a leading distributor of building materials across Europe and their business will bring their experience of successful growth. They have a culture of sharing best practice and will be supporting our plans to deliver the solutions, services and great experience that will help customers grow and make their life easier. So it’s great for our customers and for our suppliers who are also a critical part of our success.

“Customers won’t notice any immediate change, as it’s very much business as usual and we will continue to trade as normal for customers. Over time we will be working closely with STARK, sharing and building on our great plans for our customers. We have a lot of opportunities now to share best practice with STARK and learn from their business and operations elsewhere in Europe. They have a tremendous track

Additionally, when building with SIPs, homes are airtight, resulting in cooler homes during the warmer weather. Through the partnership, Hemsec and SIP Build UK aim to build on existing synergies to provide high-quality sustainable building systems, with a focus on taking responsibility in today’s environment for the generations of tomorrow.

Sarah Gazzola, Sales & Marketing Director at Hemsec said: “At Hemsec, we are on an exciting journey to become a B-certified corporation and therefore it is extremely important for us to build relationships with organisations where there is a synergy in our values and purpose. With a strong alignment in the direction we’re heading, we are looking forward to building on the relationship we have with SIP Build UK and hope to make a real difference in the construction industry through providing high-quality panels that contribute to an energy-efficient future for homeowners.”

record of growth and delivering a great experience to their customers. We’ll be spending time seeing in what ways we can learn from this experience to support our local customers.”

STARK Group CEO Søren P. Olesen added: “We are very pleased to have completed this acquisition in great time and look forward to welcoming the International Timber colleagues and branches to STARK. We have a strategy that successfully focuses on professional tradespeople and the renovation and maintenance market together with specialist distribution for a range of customer segments. Entering the UK market is a great opportunity for our combined business to share best practice across the Nordics, Germany, Austria and the UK making life even easier for tradespeople.

“We’re delighted to now be a major employer in the UK, with 9,000 colleagues, where we will continue to operate as a good corporate citizen, placing a strong emphasis on sustainability, valuing and caring about our new UK employees and supporting UK growth and building decarbonisation.”

www.internationaltimber.com

Chris Duckworth, Managing Director at SBUK Group, added: “The future direction allows us to make the most of being a market leader with Nationwide Coverage, SIPs are regularly featured on Grand Designs and other property programmes, we have seen demand soar in this marketplace. Energy efficiency is harder to achieve using traditional methods and the short supply of brick layers is moving many developers and builders towards offsite manufacture. Our partnership with Hemsec and our dedicated teams and systems enables us to continue our passion for better products and processes which aim to increase efficiency, quality, resident satisfaction, environmental performance and sustainability.”

www.hemsec.com

www.sipbuilduk.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL TIMBER JOINS STARK GROUP

TIMBER CLADDING THAT MAKES A STATEMENT

The Naturally Perfect® Factory Finish for the perfect modern building.

Just because it’s black doesn’t mean it has to be charred. Sansin Precision Coat provides a stunning Onyx finish to this beautiful Siberian Larch timber cladding. Our specification program will help you achieve the perfect finish and protection.

Precision Coat factory finishes deliver the colour, transparency and performance that architects, engineers and builders can count on.

Passive House | Wadebridge, England Photography by Airey Spaces

CELTIC OFFSITE TEAMS UP WITH PREMIER FOREST GROUP

Caerphilly-based social enterprise, Celtic Offsite, has teamed up with one of the UK’s leading timber suppliers, Premier Forest Products, as part of their ambitious plan to develop a Welsh supply chain to reduce its carbon footprint and support the local economy.n.

Celtic Offsite, part of the United Welsh Group, manufactures low carbon homes by producing high quality, sustainable timber frame structures, complete with factory fitted insulation and windows, to build up to 250 low carbon homes a year.

Premier Forest Products was initially approached by Celtic Offsite to supply Oriented Strand Board (OSB) for sheathing for timber frame panels, plywood and chipboard. However, thanks to Premier’s growing product offering, they have recently started supplying roof trusses, engineered floor joists and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) for structural beams, taking Celtic Offsite ever closer to their goal of using Welsh suppliers for more of their manufacturing work.

Neil Robins, Managing Director of Celtic Offsite said: “We are actively committed to making the areas in which we work better and more environmentally sound. We have been certified as a Climate Positive Business by Earthly, meaning we will remove more greenhouse emissions than we produce. One of the ways that we will do this is by working with local suppliers who have a similar mindset to our own. We have been so impressed by the service and quality of the products supplied by Premier Forest that we have consistently increased the range of items that we order from them.”

Co-founder and CEO of Premier Forest Products Terry Edgell said: “As an organisation, we firmly believe that the use of timber should be at the forefront of sustainable housing development. At the moment, wood in construction is the only commercially viable carbon capture and storage system so, simply by using more wood in construction, we can turn our built environment into a weapon against climate change. It is so inspiring to be working with an organisation in Wales that not only

recognises the benefits of using timber but is actively working to build a sustainable supply chain, hopefully changing the way that homes are built.”

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, sawmilling, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its 12 sites in the UK. As part of its commitment to the local community, Celtic Offsite offers an on-site training suite to provide skills development and apprenticeships for green construction jobs. Celtic Offsite has also achieved PEFC certification for the chain of custody of forest-based products and was awarded Gold by the Structural Timber Association (STA) in their latest audit.

www.unitedwelsh.com

Photo: (L) Neil Robins, Celtic Offsite, and (R) Terry Edgell, Premier Forest Products

HUGE JV CONFIRMED FOR UK REAL ESTATE

Sumitomo Forestry, one of Japan’s largest developers, has established a joint venture with British developer Bywater Properties to enter the UK real estate market, focusing on lowcarbon property development and refurbishment.

The new venture aims to achieve over £1billion in assets across the UK and Europe; the new entity will be a pioneering developer with a strong focus on decarbonisation and mass timber real estate projects.

Construction is already under way on both companies’ first project – Paradise in the London Borough of Lambeth – a new sixstorey office building with a mass timber structure that locks away approximately 60 years of tenant operating emissions. Completion is expected in autumn 2024. The project is also focused on minimising the environmental impact of the building, with lifecycle embodied carbon – the

carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction, and the use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal – of 491kg CO2e/m2 compared to the RIBA 2030 target of 750kg CO2e/m2

“Sumitomo Forestry has a global network of hugely successful residential and commercial development companies – with Bywater ready set to help the business grow its European operations,” said Richard Walker, Chairman and Founder of Bywater Properties, and Executive Chairman of the Iceland supermarket chain.

“This new venture is more than just a business opportunity, however. It’s also a meeting of minds. Both companies share

a philosophy based on the principles of sustainability, with a long-term ambition to decarbonise the real estate industry through the adoption of mass timber projects. Bywater’s expertise and robust business relationships in both the UK and throughout Europe was a critical factor in this joint venture coming to fruition,” added Atsushi Kawamura, director and senior managing executive officer at Sumitomo Forestry.

“Paradise is just the beginning of what we anticipate being a long and successful relationship with Bywater. As a combined entity, we can revolutionise how real-estate projects are managed across Europe, establishing timber frames refurbishment and construction as a standard.”

www.bywaterproperties.com

BM TRADA LAUNCHES NEW TECHNICAL TIMBER WEBINARS

Ben Sharples, Commercial Lead for Timber Services at BM TRADA, said: “Provided it is ethically sourced, timber is an inherently sustainable construction material that uses a fraction of the carbon in its source to end-use process when compared with other construction materials and products, not to mention its ability to sequester carbon too. With the UK construction industry tasked with reducing its carbon emissions in line with government net zero targets, timber is likely to have an increasingly prominent role to play over the coming years.”

The final series will consist of four webinars discussing timber fundamentals starting with timber origins (2 November), before covering quality (16 November), moisture (30 November) and protection (14 December).

BM TRADA has announced a new programme of technical timber webinars which will be delivered throughout 2023. Each will benefit from refreshed content and new topics on strength grading; modified woods, plywood and other panel products; and degrading microorganisms, the webinars are set to provide a valuable educational resource for stakeholders across the construction industry.

NATIONAL TIMBER SYSTEMS REBRANDS PANELISED ROOF SYSTEM

BM TRADA is one of the UK’s leading experts on technical timber and offers a broad range of timber services and project support, including timber condition and structural surveys, expert witness services, timber identification, in-situ visual strength grading, timber frame consultancy and laboratory testing.

Technical timber sessions covering misconceptions when strength grading solid timber take place (27 April), modified woods and panel products (11 May) and understanding wood degrading insects and microorganisms (25 May).

NTS was formed in 2019 combining the design, manufacturing, and logistic capabilities of NTG companies Arnold Laver and NYTimber’s engineered wood products division. With the rebrand NYTROOF, the original gable to gable supply only system developed by NYTimber and launched in 2015, has become NTSROOF with a new logo and delivery wrapping. NTS will be introducing more innovative industry leading products soon as part of a NTSROOF range.

Ben Sharples continues: “While timber is likely to further increase in prominence as a primary construction material over the coming years, it can also be found in countless architectural and heritage projects, all of which are covered by a strict code of practice. We hope that by offering such an extensive programme of educational content we will be able to support all stakeholders, irrespective of the age or condition of a project, and help add clarity to some of the most persistent technical timber misconceptions.”

For full details of the BM TRADA 2023 Technical Timber Webinar Series are at: www.bmtrada.com

National Timber Systems (NTS), the specialist engineered wood products division of National Timber Group, has rebranded their panelised roof system, to bring it in as part of the NTS portfolio of products.

“The original NYTROOF was developed on the back of many years’ industry experience and expertise working closely with housebuilders,” said Philip Carney, NTSROOF Commercial and Technical Manager at National Timber Systems. We’re continuing that tradition providing a custom-designed offsite manufactured system that means contractors need to do less on-site.

“With the rebrand to NTSROOF we’re showing clearly that the products are available nationally from NTS. Over 7500

roofs have been supplied as NYTROOF to date and our customers include several national housebuilders. Demand continues to grow. Over the last year we have invested in our manufacturing sites and expect to have the capacity to produce 3000 roofs in 2023.”

As well as providing the advantages of offsite manufacturing, such as dimensional accuracy and safer working on-site due to less time at height, NTSROOF is robustdetails® approved which eliminates the need for on-site sound testing. NTS has a turnover of almost £50million. There are 240 employees across the division’s four sites in Yorkshire, the North East and South West England and work is underway to open a new site in the Midlands. Other NTS products include gable and party spandrels, trussed rafters, engineered joists, and floor and roof cassettes.

www.nationaltimbersystems.co.uk

Just

SUPPLY CHAIN WOES LEADING TO PROFIT LOSSES

Three in five (59%) UK construction companies that have been hit by supply chain issues over the past year have seen once profitable projects turning unprofitable, research from business insurer QBE has found.

In a survey of senior leaders in the construction industry, 83% said they had experienced an issue with their supply chain over the past 12 months, while 85% said that they expected supply chain issues to pose a challenge in the next 12 months. 85% said that the cost of importing construction materials increased at a rate higher than inflation over the past year.

According to a new report from QBE Business Insurance in partnership with Oxford Economics and Control Risks, ‘Supply Chains and the UK Construction Sector’, the outlook for the UK construction industry in 2023 is likely to be equally

as disruptive as 2022. Geopolitics and domestic developments will continue to affect access to materials and their price. Since the first pandemic lockdown, a shortage of materials has been the largest factor constraining construction activity in UK. Nine out of 10 (89%) of respondents impacted by supply chain issues said that they were currently experiencing a shortage of materials.

Andy Kane, Portfolio Manager, Construction, QBE International said: “Construction firms in the UK have seen continuing shortage of materials and supply chain disruption since the start of the pandemic. Therefore, it is no surprise that the majority of those we surveyed have seen disruption which has ultimately impacted profitability. With these challenges set to continue throughout most of 2023, now is the time to take action to limit disruption and protect profitability. There are steps that construction industry leaders can take in order to lower their

supply chain risk. This includes shifting away from the ‘just in time’ supply chain model we have witnessed in recent years to a ‘just in case’ supply chain.”

In addition, businesses can take steps such as using technology to automatically order supplies when stock levels go below a certain point, look to diversify suppliers and, where higher input prices are the likely fallout from supply chain disruption, consider adding a cost escalation clause to future contracts. Many of the construction firms surveyed said they are taking steps such as diversifying supply chains (42%), holding greater stocks of strategically important materials (31%), establishing robust monitoring systems of stocks and suppliers (23%) and nearshoring (17%), however the survey found nearly one fifth 18% have not taken any action.

www.qbeeurope.com

DTS APPOINTED TO BUILDING BETTER DPS

The objective of the alliance is to ensure its members have access to a variety of modern methods of construction (MMC) solutions to provide suitable, trustworthy and high-quality solutions for every type of site they develop. The DPS was launched in May 2022 following its original volumetric framework in 2021 and aims to produce approximately 5,000 MMC properties by 2026.

opportunity for us to increase our presence in the affordable housing market.

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has been appointed to the Building Better dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for MMC category 2 construction systems. Building Better is an alliance of 30 housing associations and councils supported by the National Housing Federation.

In England, there is a total housing backlog of four million homes across the country. With new house build completions hitting just 175,390 in 2021, there was a shortfall of 164,610 completed homes that year - and the trend is expected to be similar for 2022. To address the overall shortfall, 340,000 homes need to be built every year until 2031. DTS’ appointment to the Building Better DPS will support this objective by increasing the number of timber frame homes constructed.

Mike Perry, Business Development Director of Donaldson Timber Systems, said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed to Building Better’s DPS and to have the opportunity to work with its members. With over 215,000 homes managed by the member organisations, it provides a great

“MMC systems are an increasingly important consideration for developers of all kinds, and our offsite timber frame systems can play a leading role in housing associations and local authorities meeting the energy requirements of new homes. By demonstrating our quality and experience to Building Better, we are now a trustworthy resource for these members and look forward to working in partnership with its members.”

Trina Chakravarti, Project Director at Building Better added: “We are pleased to welcome Donaldson Timber Systems into our group of category 2 offsite manufacturing partners. Building Better is aggregating demand in the affordable sector so our members can procure high quality, sustainable offsite homes at the right price. We’re confident that Donaldson Timber Systems will be able to work with us and our members in delivering the sector’s housing ambitions over the next three years.”

www.donaldsontimberengineering.co.uk

DURABILITY FOR YOUR GROUND CONNECTIONS

ALU START is the aluminium profile for ground connection of CLT and timber frame walls of any size. A unique system for tracking, levelling and raising the timber wall from the ground. It protects against capillary rising damp and transfers all shear, tensile compressive and lateral forces to the foundation without the need for additional plates.

The strength values are validated by comprehensive and reliable calculation models in accordance with the CE marking according to ETA-20/0835.

NEW TIMBER SKILLS ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE CONSTRUCTION NET-ZERO TARGETS

Timber Development UK (TDUK) has unveiled a comprehensive Timber Skills Action plan in partnership with the HCI Skills Gateway, aimed at equipping the UK construction industry with the necessary skills to increase the use of timber and achieve net-zero targets.

With the construction industry responsible for almost 40% of global emissions, and half of all materials extracted from the environment, experts have identified the use of timber as a key solution to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Engineered products like cross laminated timber can capture and store carbon in the built environment, resulting in a net benefit of 754kg CO2/m2 reduction compared to other forms of construction.

The Timber Skills Action plan provides an industry-agreed breakdown of the skills and knowledge required for building with timber. This will aid the development of training programmes and support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) progression, enabling built environment professionals to confidently incorporate timber into building designs.

David Hopkins, Chief Executive of TDUK, said: “Our ambition is to support every built environment professional to identify and address timber skills and knowledge gaps so the industry can make the best use of timber in construction. The construction industry faces a steep climb to achieve net zero targets as one of the worst-performing industries. Timber provides a ready-made solution that doesn’t rely on greenwashing, speculative innovations, or progress in other industries to deliver genuine carbon savings in the short and medium term. We now need the construction sector and government to hear this call to action.”

To address the skills gap, TDUK has built a coalition across industry, academia, and funders, creating the competency framework at the heart of the plan. The framework already underpins a set of short, practical courses developed by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) in partnership with TDUK. The Timber TED (Technical Engineering & Design) courses provide comprehensive and flexible training for modern timber construction methods, enabling professionals to upskill and reskill in this critical area.

Kirsty Connell-Skinner, Programme

Manager at the HCI Skills Gateway, said: “This plan, led by HCI Skills Gateway using Scotland’s best practice, is an important step in the development of the UK-wide timber construction trade, as it allows us to set a national mission for the industry. The four UK nations have achieved different standards and progress within the sector, but this action plan has been built on the best practice, learning and thorough research by a strong group of partners, and serves as a collaborative way of moving forward.”

Timber provides solutions for affordable, energy-efficient housing, national retrofit targets, and net-zero public sector buildings. With the launch of the Timber Skills Action plan, the UK construction industry can take a significant step towards achieving its net-zero targets and reducing its impact on the environment.

www.timberdevelopment.uk

www.HCIskills.org

ACCSYS APPOINTS NEW GROUP MANUFACTURING AND PROJECTS DIRECTOR

industries. Coming from a global company with presence in over 100 countries and manufacturing operations in over 40, Stephen is highly experienced in overseeing multi-national operations and sites.

Rob Harris, CEO, Accsys commented: “This newly created role is central to our ambitious growth plans to expand capacity and improve our operational offering to meet the significant market demand for our products. We have recently expanded our Arnhem, NL site, added a new Accoya Color® production facility in Wales and, this time next year, we plan to bring our first USA manufacturing site online.”

wood to homeowners. The campaign features the first UK TV commercial to promote Accoya® wood.

Accsys, a global leader in wood technology announced that Stephen Cox has joined the company as Group Manufacturing and Projects Director. The new role supports and reinforces Accsys’ global expansion plans as well as the company’s commitment to, and drive for, achieving operational and project excellence.

Stephen joins Accsys from Coats PLC, a market leader in the manufacture and supply of high-quality sewing thread and zippers for use, amongst others, in the ready-made garment and footwear

Stephen Cox, Group Manufacturing and Projects Director said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Accsys at this exciting time as we embark on expanding our operations and developing our global reach. It’s a privilege to join a fast-growing and transformative business that is committed to a more sustainable world. I look forward to meeting the Accsys team and our partners and working together to create new opportunities.”

Accsys – the manufacturer of Accoya wood - also recently launched a new UK national advertising campaign, ‘Lasts a Lifetime’, highlighting the high performance of Accoya

The commercial aired from the 27 February on Sky, supported by digital advertising including YouTube and other social media channels. The campaign launched with a commercial on Sky TV targeting a subset of the homeowner market audience. This will be supported by digital ads running through the spring. The commercial was produced by RD Content. The commercial on Sky is expected to reach an audience of more than 3.1 million homeowners with an advert frequency of 5.5 million. It follows a young family’s life through the lens of an Accoya window, charting the ups and downs of a relationship between a father and his daughter over the years.

George Neel, Communications, Marketing and ESG director at Accsys: “Windows and doors are one of the biggest investments to add value to a home and choosing the right material is key. We want to ensure homeowners understand the durability and reliability benefits of Accoya and know that it lasts a lifetime.”

www.accoya.com

OREGON TIMBER FRAME ANNOUNCE NEW FACILITY

Infinity Park Derby LLP has reached practical completion on a new 186,000sq ft state-of- the-art production facility at Infinity Park Derby for Oregon Timber Frame.

Infinity Park Derby comprises a 100-acre development targeting the manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors. The public-private partnership delivering the wider scheme includes: Derby City Council, University of Derby; the D2N2 local enterprise partnership, Rolls-Royce, Harpur Crewe Estates and Developer consortium comprising Wilson Bowden Developments Limited and Peveril Securities. Oregon Timber Frame and Wilson Bowden are both part of Barratt Developments PLC, the UK’s largest housebuilder.

Barratt purchased Oregon, one of the country’s largest timber frame manufacturers, in 2019 to support a planned increase in the number of homes that it can build offsite, as part of its

commitment to grow its business and become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. To expand the number of homes that Barratt can build using timber frame, Oregon will relocate this summer from its existing base in Burton-upon-Trent to a cutting-edge manufacturing facility. Barratt has invested £45million into the factory and will create an additional 200 jobs.

Nick Richardson, Managing Director at Wilson Bowdon Developments, said: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the development of Oregon’s new production facility at Infinity Park and ultimately adding to Barratt’s commitment to lead the future of housebuilding. The close proximity of a highly skilled labour force and Infinity Park’s location being at the apex to the Golden Triangle, means it is a premier address for businesses and a perfect location for our sister company, Oregon.”

Peter Wade, Joint Managing Director at Oregon, added: “Infinity Park Derby will ultimately become our new base to support

Barratt’s move to modern methods of construction, and so it was imperative that the building’s sustainable credentials were in line with those of our business. This new state-of-the-art facility will support our long-term goals to increase our use of modern methods of construction off-site and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Councillor Steve Hassall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Decarbonisation, Strategic Planning & Transport at Derby City Council, said: “We are thrilled to see more companies choosing Derby for their home. Oregon is one of the largest timber frame manufacturers in the country, and their move to Infinity Park Derby is testament to our city’s reputation as a national leader for innovation, manufacturing and logistics. With more design and build opportunities available, and more and more brands based here, we are looking forward to welcoming more businesses to Derby in the future.” www.oregon.co.uk

A well-known face across the timber sector will be retiring later this year.

Ivan Savage, CEO of the Timber Trades Benevolent Society (TTBS), will be leaving on 4 May at the TTBS Annual General Meeting after nearly 63 years of unbroken service in the timber industry.

Ivan started work in the timber industry in October 1960 as a management trainee with A. Olby & Sons Ltd at their main softwood depot in Bognor Regis (now part of the Cover Group) and in 1976 he moved to Staffordshire to join Cox Long Ltd (now part of the Walker Group) until 1983. Following a short period as Senior Training officer at the Timber Research & Development Association in High Wycombe, he returned to the Midlands to join ex Cox Long colleagues at S. Jackson (Walsall) Ltd and was appointed as their Sales Director.

In August 1993, S. Jackson was purchased by the Carver Group in Wolverhampton and in 1994, Ivan was appointed as the Carver Group Sales Director, the first non- family director in nearly 100 years, a position he

held until his semi-retirement in November 2008, when he continued as a Director of ETS Ltd until 2011, when, with his appointment by the Trustees he took up the position of General Manager for the TTBS –the timber trades own charity.

In May 2021, he was appointed by the Trustees as the Society’s Chief Executive Officer in recognition of his exceptional work for the Society, both in administration and also for his involvement with the timber industry promoting the TTBS work assisting the less fortunate.

After a hugely successful career within the timber industry, he has become a familiar face at many timber industry events over his final 12 years heading up the TTBS. The TTBS aims to serve the retired, sick and less fortunate members and their dependants in the timber sector. Following the AGM, the TTBS will announce the new office address and the contact details for Ivan’s successor.

www.ttbs.org.uk

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RECONCILING COMPETING PHILOSOPHIES

We are on a trajectory towards engineered wood being a mainstream construction material, but as Martin Self, Co-founder and Design Director of Xylotek explains – how will this timber revolution play out?

Wood’s role in the transition to lowcarbon construction seems inevitable. But how that looks, architecturally and industrially, demands careful thinking about the nature of wood as a resource and as a material to transform into the stuff of buildings.

We need clarity of thinking now about the paths available: does engineered wood become standardised and industrialised like steel? Or do we

exploit the diversity of tree species and material characteristics? Should we maximise volumes used to lock up carbon, or seek to minimise use of a precious resource? How do we reconcile timber production with ecological crises including the growing threat of diseases and climate change on forest ecosystems?

These are some of the questions that frame the competing philosophies of designing with wood. We need to reconcile these questions to create an ethical and practical way of using wood in construction. First, consider the nuances of designing with wood. Its complex behaviour and variability mean it is not a material simply to ‘apply’ to realise an architectural vision (in the way that, arguably, steel and concrete are).

Theoretically it is possible to limit wood to formalised standards of product and design codification, in the same way that we codify steel and concrete.

But as a natural material, wood has more complexity and variation. We can negate that variation through standardisation, but we risk degrading wood’s complexity to the lowest common denominator. The other way to deal with wood’s individual characteristics is to design with sympathy.

Osnaburg pavilions

The way to achieve sympathetic design is through considered creativity at the very start of the process. In Xylotek’s work we seek to be involved early in projects to act as a bridge between the architectural skillset and that of the analytical engineer. For example, on the Osnaburg pavilions project we worked closely with the architect (Nex) during the scheme design stage.

A methodology emerged that allowed us to create these complex forms with minimal wastage, and an efficient use of jigs. For example, the lath’s curving

and twisting paths were form-found to trajectories that could be made from initially straight oak lamellas. A parametric digital tool – in which those key physical behaviours were embedded – was used with the architect to iteratively home in on the layered geometric basis of the pavilions and their play between repetition and randomness. Then through design, engineers Format joined the team to bring further optimisation and refinement to the structure.

In the microcosm of a small pavilion project, we tested a holistic approach where the design worked in sympathy with the material behaviour, the spatial intent and effect of the pavilions, and the pragmatics of fabrication and construction. On these pavilions the aim was to minimise the timber section sizes to achieve a filigree effect. But in other projects the motivation can become the opposite – to maximise the carbon locked up. This raises a critical question in design with timber: how much timber to use?

Buildings and carbon storage

On the one hand, engineers are trained to ‘optimise’, which in this context means minimising section sizes and finding the lightest-weight structures. This philosophy has the benefit of saving resources, and reducing carbon released into the atmosphere through the transport of timber (which can account for around 50% of its embodied carbon). By using less material, the environmental impact of production and transportation is reduced, which

can help to minimise the overall carbon footprint of the building. Of course, trees don’t regenerate instantly, and the processes of extract and transport attract costs, so by minimising the use of wood, there are fewer concerns about deforestation and biodiversity loss.

On the other hand, some projects drive to maximise the carbon sequestered in a building. Mass timber buildings have the potential to store large amounts of carbon on a long-term basis. But it is only effective if the carbon remains locked up when the building reaches the end of its life. That’s why it’s essential to design buildings for the re-use of timber products, and we consider this very carefully in our projects.

Ultimately, the best approach will depend on the specific context and goals of the building project. In areas where deforestation is a concern, minimising material use may be the better choice. However, in areas

with sustainable forestry practices, maximising timber use may be more appropriate. Additionally, other factors such as energy efficiency, cost, and aesthetics may also play a role in the decision-making process.

All of this demonstrates that, as an industry, we need to be more rigorous and nuanced in our plans to transition to wood. We should be wary of taking the easy route and specifying from a narrow range of standard products. Instead, we should understand the underlying drivers of forestry, treelifecycle, and the overall environmental impact.

www.xylotek.co.uk

IMAGES:

01. Martin Self, Co-founder and Design Director, Xylotek 02-04. Timber usage needs careful thinking about from a design, carbon storage and wider material lifecycle perspective

ALTERNATIVE STORAGE OPTIONS

French timber frame construction company

Bati-Nature has created new capacity for the storage of both timber and prefabricated wall elements with a special racking system from OHRA.

Two 24m long cantilever racks with integrated roof supports form the walls of a hall-like construction. Between them, there remains an approximately 6m wide, passable area for ground storage. OHRA needed only about one and a half weeks for the assembly of the specially adapted warehouse building.

Bati-Nature wanted to create additional storage capacity for both structural timber, beams and other timber elements. Instead of conventionally building a space for the wall elements and installing separate racks for the

wood materials, the company combined both solutions with the help of OHRA.

OHRA assembled two 24m long rows of cantilever racks. Both cantilever arms and bases are facing outwards. The 5.51m high columns also support 3.2m long roof arms on both sides. The racks are aligned to create a covered floor storage area between them that is around 6m wide. Thanks to the cantilever bases that only point outwards, it can be driven through without any problems. This is where the prefabricated wall elements are placed.

On the outer walls, the 1.2m long cantilever arms with a load-bearing capacity of 800 kilograms form three (or four with base level) likewise covered storage levels. There is space for beams and construction timber here. With an assembly time of only 1.5 weeks, this scheme made it possible to create new storage capacities much faster than would have been possible with a conventional warehouse.

www.ohra.co.uk

THOUGHT YOU WERE OUT OF THE WOODS?

The Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) recently warned that the UK faces declining supplies of homegrown wood due to lack of productive tree planting. Stuart Goodall, Confor Chief Executive, examines the threats and answers to long term supply.

With the country currently needing to import over 80% of its wood requirement, the UK could be sleepwalking into a timber shortage crisis in the not-too-distant future. It should be concerning to everyone when a mature economy with the perfect conditions for growing a wide range of tree species should be in a potentially precarious position in relation to wood supply. But that’s exactly where we find ourselves. For decades we have not taken responsibility for investing

in our domestic wood supply, leaving us exposed to fluctuating prices and fighting for future supplies of wood as global demand rises and our own supplies fall.

UK: the big net importer

The UK is the world’s second largest importer of wood after China, importing around £7.5billion annually, because it currently grows only around 20% of its wood requirement, leaving it exposed to a very significant balance (80%) needing to be imported from other countries. In 2020 the UK imported 48 million cubic metres of wood products, of which 22% was sawnwood and wood-based panels destined for use by the building and construction industry. By 2021 this had increased by 15%, with the UK importing an average of one million m3 of timber and panel products every month – a rare occurrence according to Timber Development UK. Specifically, softwood import volumes increased by over 21%, hardwoods by 26% and plywoods by over 13%, demonstrating increased demand even during ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Beyond the UK, it is estimated by the World Bank that global demand for wood products will treble by 2050, driven by an increased population of 7.8 billion today, to 10 billion in less than 30 years. This huge increase is being driven primarily by higher living standards, greater urbanisationincluding China’s almost inexhaustible need for timber for both construction and manufacturing - and greater use of what is increasingly seen as a more sustainable building material.

These trends are being compounded at a time when a number of other global developments are coalescing. In particular, security of supply of natural resources is under ever greater threat from geo-political upheavals, as witnessed by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and soaring energy prices.

An overlooked partner for Net Zero

The UK’s commitment to become net zero by 2050 is, in part, dependent on the greater sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) for which productive tree planting in the UK can make a significant contribution.

Wood in all its versatile forms – from high value engineered wood products, roof and floor trusses, roof linings, timber frames, insulation, cladding, volumetric chipboard flooring, doors, windows, skirting and door frames – is a unique natural material that is truly sustainable. Not only is wood a readily available substitute for many materials which have much higher emissions loads, including brick, concrete, steel and polyurethane, but the tree from which it evolves sequesters large amounts of CO2 as it grows.

Wood fibre insulation, in particular, is an excellent choice for insulating homes and has impressive green credentials and there is currently interest in establishing a manufacturing plant in the UK. Recyclable, compostable and dimensionally stable, it is typically a by-product from waste wood from the sawmill industry, further adding to its sustainable characteristics.

There are also indications from scientific studies that wood finishings in homes and other structures can provide significant biophilic benefits. It is safe to say that no other construction material can match all the advantages that natural wood provides. And with the UK facing the likely scenario of increased competition for future imports, it is little wonder that Confor is highlighting the declining supply of UK domestic wood supply and the potential risk this poses to major industries including construction and manufacturing.

The opportunity is here

The UK has ideal conditions for growing wood to build low-carbon homes and is a global leader in certifying that its forests are sustainably managed, yet while the UK government has stated its ambition for more tree planting, there has been little action on the ground outside of Scotland. Confor is now calling for much greater impetus behind those aspirations to ensure we have enough wood to help meet increasing construction demand.

The causes of the UK’s current position whereby wood supply is falling just at the time we need it to increase, is complex and ranges from outdated perceptions of productive forestry to a disconnect in thinking between consumers demand for wood products and understanding the need to plant

the forests that they come from. It also encompasses significant hesitation on behalf of farmers and other landowners to invest in longer term planting projects.

While productive tree planting can deliver real financial benefits to rural economies and contribute to the UK’s net zero strategy, the focus of government support continues to narrowly be on flood prevention and the planting of native woodland solely for biodiversity, alongside an assumption that this means more native woodland and fewer trees grown to produce wood. While these are critically important activities, the importance of future supplies of wood and the opportunity to deliver a wide range of benefits in modern, well-designed, mixed woodland has largely been overlooked.

Confor believes there is a step-change needed in attitudes towards productive tree planting, which, if achieved, will enable government to meet its own ambitious tree planting targets, and meet its ambitions to use more homegrown timber in construction – without one you can’t achieve the other. Achieving this will require the government to communicate the benefits of productive woodland for the building of more energy efficient low carbon homes, carbon sequestration, as well as biodiversity and flood control, in order to combat the misconceptions that hamper productive tree planting applications.

We also need to ensure that our existing productive forests are optimised. We need to better avail of planting stocks that deliver higher productivity and improved quality of fibre for downstream processing and manufacture, with further research to guarantee we are using the most productive species. Some adoption of tree planting on shorter rotations (typically 15-19 years) could also supply manufacturers with wood for products like panel boards to fill the gap before new forests mature in 30-45 years’ time.

Being a highly populated, mature economy with a limited land mass, the UK is likely to always be a large importer of wood products. However, we are in the enviable position of having excellent growing conditions for productive planting, a robust regulatory system in place to ensure good forestry management and a deep commitment to biodiversity and achieving Net Zero status by mid-century. The building blocks of a stronger domestic security of wood supply are in place. What is needed now is greater stimulus by the UK government in order to leverage these advantages into reality.

ENTRY DEADLINE 23.06.2023

PATHWAY TO CARBON REDUCTION

emissions which comes from the processing of wood products in the country of origin. This figure, taken together with territorial emissions, would make the timber industry responsible for about 0.68% of the UK’s total emissions.

Timber has long been advocated as a solution to reduce embodied carbon in construction. The roadmap suggests several opportunities for the timber supply chain to influence their emissions, which, when put into practice, can reduce carbon contribution and lower costs.

Scope 1 and scope 2 emissions

Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at Timber Development UK (TDUK), picks out some of the central themes contained in the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap.

In January, Timber Development UK (TDUK), in collaboration with Structural Timber Association (STA) and ten other UK timber trade associations, launched the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap, setting out the causes of emissions throughout the timber supply chain and proposing steps the industry can take to reduce these and what the journey to net zero could look like.

The UK timber supply chain is a critical contributor to the economy, employing over 350,000 people and generating a turnover of over £10billion. To describe the timber supply chain as a significant contributor to the UK economy is

an understatement. While timber is inherently a low-carbon material, there are still actions the industry can take to reduce emissions associated with its use as the construction industry seeks to reach net zero.

The first step of the Roadmap has been to outline the size of the challenge, with 12 months of expert analysis showing the timber supply chain is responsible for 1,575,356 tonnes CO2e territorial emissions – which is about 0.35% of the UK total. While this is very low compared to other manufacturing industries such as UK steel production, which is responsible for 12 million tonnes CO2e (2.7% of UK emissions), and concrete, which is responsible for 7.3 million tonnes CO2e (1.5% of UK emissions), the Roadmap starts from the position that no emissions are acceptable.

Much of the industry’s emissions come from imported timber. The Roadmap also seeks to influence the 3,655,715 tonnes CO2e of imported embodied

One of the most important steps for businesses to put in motion is to align to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol and report scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, which all non-SME operators are required to do by 2023. Direct emissions, such as those caused by the use of natural gas in boilers, biomass in CHP plants, or fuel used in company vehicles, fall under scope 1, while indirect emissions, predominantly electricity used by a business for manufacturing and in offices, falls under scope 2.

Businesses can reduce their scope 1 and 2 emissions by identifying ways to switch to renewable energy sources and decarbonising the operation of their buildings. For instance, businesses can configure building controls and building management systems based on the actual use of the building to reduce unnecessary use. In addition, it may be necessary to audit sensors and detection devices to identify problem areas. Ventilation systems should also be reviewed to ensure they are not running unnecessarily, and controls should be automated where possible with the use of timers and occupancy sensors.

Transportation emissions

Transport is the single most significant contributor to the timber industry’s carbon profile accounting for 49% of emissions.

The Roadmap suggests that transport and logistic operations can benefit from small improvements to the efficiency of their fleets. This could be as simple as ensuring optimal tyre pressures are maintained along with driver style training, through to the introduction of route optimisation software and aerodynamic improvements to vehicles. Longer term, both hydrogen and electric vehicles have great potential to move our dependency away from oil for transport. As of now, electric

vehicles appear to have an advantage over hydrogen, due to multiple factors such as cost, availability, ease of charging, and efficiency. Electric HGVs are currently undergoing trials and are expected to enter the popular market shortly before 2030. Hydrogen vehicles, which will be required for certain areas of the industry, are expected to follow by 2040, but will require significant improvements to infrastructure to make these a viable option.

Scope 3 emissions

The Roadmap also sets a target to reduce the scope 3 carbon emissions of the industry by 90% by 2050. Scope 3 encompasses emissions that are not produced by the company itself, and not the result of activities from assets owned or controlled by them, but by those that it’s indirectly responsible for, up and down its value chain. Examples include the embodied emissions in the products we buy from suppliers, or emissions from vehicles used by externally hired haulage companies. Businesses can start working with their main suppliers to understand their carbon footprint so they can begin to

understand where savings could be made as soon as possible.

First steps on the road

The most important first step is making sure your business can accurately count your carbon emissions (Scope 1,2 and 3). From here, businesses can identify ways to be more competitive in a lowcarbon market. The Timber Industry’s Net Zero Roadmap is available for download on TDUK’s website, and it provides a clear pathway to achieving net zero in the timber supply chain. By taking action to reduce carbon emissions, the timber industry can continue to be a vital contributor to the UK’s economy while also reducing its impact on the environment.

To download a copy of the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap visit: www.timberdevelopment.uk

IMAGES:

01. The new Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap sets out a pathway for the timber supply chain to further reduce its carbon emissions

02. Charlie Law, Sustainability Director, Timber Development UK

03. The UK timber supply chain is a critical contributor to the economy

“There are some really quick wins in there for businesses – wherever you are in the supply chain – which can be put into practice now. And if you reduce your carbon, you reduce your costs.”

GLOOM AND DOOM FOR 2023OR

IS IT?

Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association (STA), picks out some key themes that the organisation and its members will be concentrating on over the next 12 months.

With a somewhat uncertain year on the horizon for 2023, some in the construction industry are growing increasingly nervous about a tough year ahead, but this may not be the whole picture for the structural timber industry.

Economic downturn

The ongoing economic pressures are certainly having an adverse effect on the commissioning of new construction projects, meaning 2023 will be somewhat of a challenging year. However, the story could be a little different for the timber construction industry. The STA and the Timber in Construction Working Group (TiC), along with collaboration with Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) and Timber Development UK (TDUK), have worked vigorously to increase the safe use of timber in construction through clarifying perceptions within the construction industry.

Bringing together key industry stakeholders, the TiC is tasked with identifying important actions that should be taken by the Government, the construction industry and the timber industry to increase the number of timber and hybrid structures built in the UK. There is a roadmap currently being developed by the TiC that offers guidance and information to construction companies about how they can implement structural timber systems into their projects, along with revealing how this is beneficial in everything from build efficiency to carbon savings.

Zero carbon design

Talking of which, the benefits of timber are widely recognised now in terms of its versatility and sustainability. Timber presents the opportunity for the construction industry to reduce its carbon output significantly, through zero-carbon design and low embodied carbon in particular.

This is reinforced by market research that shows there is a growing interest in seeing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles being applied by construction professionals to projects driven by their clients. The property investment market is starting to demand low to net zero carbon timber buildings. As such, the goal is now to help more designers and developers incorporate structural

timber into their building design plans at an early stage.

Apart from encouraging the use of structural timber, the STA works to support members with changes in regulations, updates to the Future Homes Standard, the Building Safety Act and any other aspect of the industry which impact STA members and the wider timber construction industry. Additionally, the testing and research that we invest in works to clarify structural timber is a safe building material, and in 2023 more results from this testing and research will be published.

While the STA is unable to affect the overall downturn for the construction industry, it most certainly is working to safeguard and develop the structural timber industry through support and collaboration, as well as the continuation of research and testing for the benefit of all.

PROTECTING THERMAL EFFICIENCY

the Energy House 2.0 environmental chambers, which utilise state-ofthe-art technology to test how well the specified building products and systems perform even under the harshest of environments. The research from the Energy House 2.0 project will provide a greater understanding of how energy efficient and low carbon building techniques can reduce the environmental impact of housebuilding and the wider construction industry.

Jamie Bursnell, Group Technical and Innovation Manager at Bellway Homes said: “Collaboration with product manufacturers and suppliers is a key part of The Future Home@The University of Salford and the lessons learnt from this experience will help shape the future of housebuilding for years to come. There is also real need to improve the efficiency of the building fabric in new homes and the work we have done with Glidevale Protect has highlighted their products which will be under test to help contribute to better performance.”

Glidevale Protect is putting its specialist range of energy efficient building solutions to the test by providing a range of products for use in the new Energy House 2.0 development.

This collaborative research partnership with the University of Salford and national housebuilder Bellway Homes, will see Glidevale Protect is working alongside Bellway Homes by supplying its specialist construction membranes for use on The Future Home@The University of Salford – one of the two detached timber frame houses that have been built within the Energy House 2.0 energy performance test facility.

Energy House 2.0 is a unique £16million research facility, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), enabling SMEs to innovate and develop low carbon technologies for the built environment. Energy House 2.0 is a collaborative project between partners including the University of Salford, Bellway Homes, Barratt Developments and Saint-Gobain. Together, partners will drive innovation and solutions to address global and domestic energy efficiency challenges.

Glidevale Protect’s reflective, low emissivity Protect TF200 Thermo breather membrane and Protect BarriAir air and vapour control layer have been used on the innovative eco home. To provide high levels of thermal efficiency, the Protect TF200 Thermo breather membrane has been installed to the external walls, while the Protect BarriAir membrane has been fitted to the internal walls with the company’s universal reinforced sealing tape to eliminate air leakage and energy loss. Also installed is the Protect FCM 750 floor cassette membrane to maintain the integrity of the airtightness system at the floor junction and to provide condensation control at the edges of the floor cassette.

Once complete, The Future Home@The University of Salford will be subjected to various weather conditions within

Glidevale Protect’s involvement in the unique Energy House 2.0 project continues the manufacturer’s positive relationship with The University of Salford, which is an established leading innovator of low carbon technologies thanks to its work as part of its Energy House Laboratories programme.

Having previously provided reflective membrane products for use at Zed House, a collaborative project between The University of Salford and Barratt Developments plc, which was built to exceed the planned Future Homes Standard, Glidevale Protect has recently become an official research partner to facilitate a greater understanding of the benefits and energy performance of specialist construction membranes in housebuilding. The research programme, which is at the development stage, will see Glidevale Protect work closely with the teams at The University of Salford and Bellway Homes. With the Glidevale Protect head office based in Sale, Greater Manchester near to The University of Salford, this will allow the teams to work closely on site at Energy House 2.0 as the research project is commissioned.

www.glidevaleprotect.com

IMAGES: 01-02.

The membranes are being installed as part of a wider programme of testing and building fabric performance monitoring

CAVITY BARRIER CONCERNS

in recent fire events across different building types. Without a properly designed barrier, cavities act much like a chimney and can allow fire and smoke to quickly travel unseen through what can often be an extensive network of connected spaces in a building.

National building regulations stipulate where cavity barriers should be installed, what they should be constructed of and how they should be fitted. In the UK, there are some regulatory differences between the nations in terminology and specific requirements, but the principles are all the same – limit the spread of fire in a cavity.

Fire safety and ventilation must be balanced

What do you need to know when designing and installing cavity barriers for timber frame buildings? Robin Lancashire, Senior Timber Frame Consultant at BM TRADA has many of the answers.

With timber frame construction growing in popularity, it is critical that any building made from the material is adequately protected against the spread of fire. The sustainability agenda is leading a renewed interest in the use of timber in construction. Demand is rising exponentially across both residential and commercial building sectors, and a study by MTW Research found timber frame housebuilding was expected to rise by more than £150million by 2026.

Reasons for the increased usage is clear. Highly sustainable, timber captures carbon better in comparison to other materials such as steel and aluminium that capture none at all but use tonnes of carbon in their production. From a

commercial perspective, one of the biggest benefits is that it’s fast to build with, making it more profitable for developers.

While it’s a good sign that timber construction is on an upward trend, safety is still key. In the event of a fire, cavity barriers are of fundamental importance, and they must be able to perform as intended. From design and specification through to installation, there are several key factors that must be considered so that buildings and the people within them are protected.

Preventing fire and smoke from tearing through The performance and installation of cavity barriers has been flagged

When designing timber frame external walls, one of the earliest decisions that needs to be made is how to balance ventilation with fire safety. It is important to accommodate the requirement for cavity barriers while also ensuring timber elements remain dry and below the decay threshold (a moisture content of 20% of less). A drained and vented external wall cavity behind all types of cladding is required for any timber frame construction. This space allows moisture vapour that travels through from the warm side of the wall to the cold side to ventilate away, without forming damaging interstitial condensation.

The external wall cavity is a line of defence to protect the timber frame from external moisture. It prevents wind-driven rain or leaks through the cladding from directly wetting the timber frame structure, by letting moisture drain away freely. Therefore, the decisive challenge is delivering cavity barriers where required, while still allowing the timber frame structure to drain and vent.

Choices with cavity barriers

Understanding where to specify cavity barriers is just one part of the equation. The material they are made of must be tailored to the type of cladding specified. There are a number of choices available, from using timber itself, to mineral wool, and intumescent seals.

Surprising to some, timber is listed in the building regulations as a material that can be used to provide the necessary fire resistance of a cavity barrier. It is the material of choice for cavity barriers around window and door openings, and with claddings that are supported by the timber frame structure. In the event of a fire, the timber slowly chars at a predictable rate so it can provide the required period of fire resistance. Available for installation in continuous lengths, it is reasonably robust during construction, and fulfils other roles while acting as a cavity barrier.

Mineral wool cavity barriers

Mineral wool is another choice. Strips of mineral wool, typically protected in red polythene sleeves, can often be seen on many timber frame buildings under construction. As a cavity barrier, this material performs well if it is fitted in a continuous line and is sized to be installed under compression to fully close the cavity.

When designing with this building product, bear in mind that in the event of a fire, the polythene sleeve quickly burns, meaning there is no support from it to keep the cavity barrier in place. Accurate sizing to ensure a compression fit of the mineral wool core is therefore critical to stopping these strips falling down the cavity and failing. It is important to note that they can also be easily damaged or dislodged during the construction phase, so care must be taken during installation.

Intumescent seal cavity barriers

Despite being more expensive than timber or mineral wool, the use of intumescent cavity barriers is expanding. In the early stages of a fire or heat exposure, they are designed to swell up, closing the cavity against further fire and smoke. In their inactive state they can contribute to maintaining good drainage and ventilation through a clear cavity. This can simplify detailing and reduce the need for what can be unsightly drainage slots.

External walls are not the only place where cavities are found. The other main area where they occur is in party walls. Timber frame buildings rely on cavities to reduce acoustic transfer between areas of the same building. To prevent fire and smoke having a direct route between them, these cavities need closing at compartment lines.

Hard materials cannot be installed as cavity barriers here, as these would provide a route for acoustic transfer. Instead, wire-reinforced or polythenesleeved mineral wool cavity barriers tend to be used in these locations. It is important that they are fixed and sized to close the cavity and remain in place at compartment lines. Most cavity barriers are installed at edges of cavities and along compartment lines, but there are other locations where they are required by national building regulations. The relevant statutory documents should always be consulted.

Check with timber frame consultants Designing and building timber frame constructions ultimately needs appropriate due diligence to ensure that the resulting structures are durable and safe. The accurate specification of cavity barriers is critical to this.

It is highly recommended that designers and construction planners work with timber frame consultants at the initial design stage to ensure the project adheres to best practice. Using services such as BM TRADA’s frameCHECK allows specialists to evaluate drawing details and visit sites under construction to provide specific advice. By going down this route, the standard of timber frame construction can be raised while also helping to make the buildings of tomorrow safer than todays.

Party Walls – merging acoustics with fire safety

PERFECT CURVES

Charles Church at Wellington Gate is a collection of three, four and five-bedroom family homes that feature a highly technical curved ‘room in roof’ system.

Built by Persimmon Homes on a former WWII airfield, close to Wantage in Oxfordshire, one of the highlights of the development is a curved crescent of four-bedroom townhouses. Each of the two and a half storey homes in the terrace feature a panelised ‘room in roof’ system capped off at each end by three-storey traditional truss roof plots which come together seamlessly to further highlight the adaptability of this system with the developer specifying Smartroof as the company to deliver both elements of this bespoke curved roof structure.

A complete roof solution, the Smartroof system is designed to offer housebuilders and developers a solution to exploit a new home’s full potential by creating rooms in roofs. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulated roof panels, spandrel wall panels, dormers, roof windows, dummy chimneys, soffit

and fascia, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require roof tiling. The system has many benefits – less waste, better control of quality, safer to install – and meets the industry’s demand for solutions that allow us to build better quality homes, more efficiently.

One of the challenges at the Wellington Gate development was the curve of terraced townhouses. With each plot offset by approximately 6° this makes the rear approximately 1.7m wider than the front. This relatively small adjustment adds up across six plots to create the curved effect of the townhouses. This would have been very time consuming and a huge technical challenge if built traditionally on-site.

During the design stage of the project Smartroof designers were tasked with adapting the system to suit this unique curved geometry. The architectural design of the plots imitate curvature using angular facets along the party wall intersections. These facets are visible to the eye when close to the building yet provide the illusion of curves from a distance.

Commenting on the bespoke modular roofing system at Wellington Gate, Jamie Bremner, Head of Contracts at Smartroof said: “Working closely with our clients on these complex projects gives us a real sense of achievement and really sets us apart from the rest. The Persimmon Homes and Charles Church teams did a great job building these plots enabling the Smartroof team to really make them shine with a beautiful, curved roof.”

The main challenge was the connection between the spandrels and roof cassettes, for any other build this connection would be a 90° angle however incorporating the curve on plan leads to acute angled connections. This is where Smartroof designers utilise their tailored 3D software to detail the non-standard connections and provide the factory with precision CNC data.

Once designed, Smartroof’s production team used the design exported CNC data to manufacture the precision engineered bespoke system at the company’s offsite fabrication facility in Derbyshire. These increased efforts during the design and production stage lead to a seamless site installation where the Smartroof installers can be oblivious to the curved nature of the build and install the system as normal at the Wantage site.

At a time when housebuilders need to embrace new and faster methods of construction as well as comply with more stringent energy efficiency

demands, the offsite fabrication of the roofs at Wellington Gate provided Persimmon Homes with huge benefits in terms of health and safety, speed of construction and quality control. For this bespoke design, it is estimated the Smartroof system saved up to four weeks installation time when compared to using traditional onsite methods of roof construction.

Stuart Faulkner, Commercial Director at Persimmon Homes said: ”The Smartroof system offered airtightness, thermal efficiency and was brilliantly engineered to fit the curved terrace. The townhouses now have a room in roof system, which was installed on site faster, more efficiently and without the

hours working at height that is typically the norm with traditional roofing systems.” With the terraced townhouses in Oxfordshire now complete, Smartroof has fabricated and installed a complex and high performance roofing system which has enabled Persmimmon Homes to reduce costs and build times as well as health and safety risks on-site.

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THE POWER OF FASTENING

BeA manufacture fixings and fastening for construction and industrial sectors across the world.

BeA Fastening Systems Ltd is part of the successful global group BeA GmBH and have been in the fastening business for 50 years in the UK. In recent years in the UK, BeA has seen increasing demand from many offsite and structural timber manufacturers, with a focus on housebuilding. The offsite industry has some unique and specific construction challenges – the type and quality standards of fixings are very often bespoke to this sector.

By working closely with some of the major manufacturers, BeA has actively developed specific fixings, fasteners, tools and manufacturing automation to satisfy this fast-growing sector. Staplers and nailers remain the core products

INTRODUCING THE ELECTRIC COMBI-FSE

Irish forklift manufacturer

Combilift has added yet another model to its extensive electric range with the Combi-FSE – a 4-wheeled, 2-directional sideloader with 5,000kg or 6,000kg lift capacity.

This truck delivers on reliability, durability, powerful performance and ease of maintenance, combined with the quiet and emission free electric operation that more and more industry sectors are demanding. The Combi-FSE also incorporates innovative technology in the form of the patented Electronic Traction Control – Combilift’s most advanced steering system on its four wheeled trucks to date. This ensures optimum performance in all weather conditions, improved steering control

from BeA, more recently our range of automatic solutions for larger scale manufacturing have seen increasing demand from offsite and timber manufacturing.

Fully Automatic AUTOTEC for Offsite Manufacturing

BeA have semi-automatic and fully automated fastening solutions capable of reducing costs and further improving production efficiencies. Autotec is BeA’s fully automatic system with a full range of framing nail guns, coil nail guns and staplers.

A Complete Service

BeA also offer our customers an excellent service. This includes professional advice from our experts and field sales advisors, fast and on time delivery and both internal and mobile technical support tailored to our customers needs when it comes to maintenance and repair.

www.bea-group.uk or email: sales@uk.bea-group.com

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for the operator, better truck turning radius and reduced tyre wear.

The generous cab glazing, together with the under-deck battery system, guarantees the best all-round operator visibility of any comparable truck. Maintenance time is kept to a minimum due to key service features such as a quick interchangeable battery, centralised grease points on the front and rear of the load platform and removable panels for easy access to the motor.

Combilift CEO Martin McVicar commented: “Our first 4-wheel sideloader has become quite a

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standard solution for those who run intensive schedules which clock up many operational hours. Thanks to technological advancements in battery technology our new electric model offers powerful performance whilst helping customers to drastically reduce their carbon footprint.”

Setting the standards for timber fastening

BeA your partner for timber frame and offsite construction manufacturing

Across Europe and worldwide, BeA’s fastening technology, tools and consumables are the trusted choice for some of the biggest and best known names in timber frame and offsite construction.

BeA manufacture an extensive range of market leading fasteners, nails, staples and tools. We offer customers:

• An unrivalled range of manual and semi-automatic fastening solutions combined with a fully automated range in Autotec.

• I ndustry leading quality controls, BeA meet or exceed standards such as Eurocode 5.

Reliable products, competitive prices and the kind of service and delivery you can depend on from BeA.

01482 889 911 sales@uk.bea-group.com visit our website www.bea-group.uk

THE POWER OF FASTENING

GUIDELINES FOR INDUSTRY CONFIDENCE

The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook (MTIP) provides guidance for all parties on how to secure an equitable insurance policy for both the construction and operation of mass timber buildings.

To confront the challenges of securing insurance for mass timber buildings, not-for-profit sustainability organisation, the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) has been awarded a grant from the Accelerator Fund from Built by Nature to create an industry endorsed guidance and Playbook for developers, investors and designers.

Built by Nature is a network and grantmaking organisation with a mission

to accelerate the timber building transformation in Europe with a view to reducing carbon emissions. Co-funding for the Playbook and in-kind expertise are provided by global insurance broker Marsh, and Zurich Resilience Solutions, part of Zurich Insurance Group.

The main authors are Phil Callow, a 20year veteran of the global construction insurance market, both as a broker and underwriter across the London and Asian regions and Jim Glockling. Jim is the recent Technical Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and ex-Director of the RISCAuthority with 30 years’ experience, researching, evaluating, certificating and developing tools, standards, product and methods, in support of resilience within the insured commercial and military estates. The project is managed by the team at ASBP, led by their Director, Simon Corbey Msc MRICS, with input from Eurban and Gardiner and Theobald.

Extensive industry research has identified the difficulties of insuring timber buildings and the Playbook aims to be a relevant and practical resource to help overcome these challenges, with early-stage engagement of all parties a key element of success in the design and planning processes.

The perspectives of the client, designer, architect, insurer, broker, lender, fire service, fire engineer, and building control, can be different, requiring language, definitions, and actions that might be alien to some but must be understood if progress is to be made.

Buildings with combustible structural elements and a sensitivity to water, can radically alter a building’s risk profile, and challenge the fundamental principles and methods of insurance loss estimation both during construction and whilst in operation. Reliance on, and compliance with building regulations and design codes (historically the

explicit goal of many designers) is not always meaningful to insurers and clients, such is the difference between life-safety and the pursuit of an acceptable level of property / business protection.

The MTIP explains the needs and requirements of insurers for the benefit of anyone seeking to purchase insurance for either the construction or operation of a mass timber building. Its explicit aim is to support the increased use of mass timber in construction and the embodied carbon reduction it can enable, in a manner that maintains a level of building resilience that protects the client’s business, will act to obtain the best response from the attending fire service in the event of a fire, appreciates all perils and associated contributing factors, and will be insurable. Compliance with building regulations and design codes is assumed.

A starting point for the MTIP is to understand:

• Who are the Authority’s Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s)?

• What are the challenges that need to be addressed?

• What are the key differences between life safety and property protection objectives? – Setting Voluntary Objectives

• What is Estimated Maximum Loss?

Responding to the UK insurers’ white paper ‘Insurance Challenges of Massive Timber Construction and a possible way forward’ produced by RISCAuthority, the Playbook uses well adopted resilience reasoning embedded within the RIBA framework to address the potential current imbalance between sustainability and resilience to fire and other insured perils including escape of water and flood. RIBA have agreed to act as peer reviewers and will link to the Playbook post launch.

The Playbook will encourage early and ongoing dialogue between the client, designer and insurer with a view to producing buildings that can be considered for insurance on a more equitable basis as traditional construction methods.

It is uncommon for the provision of insurance to be such a barrier to introduction of a new building method but the use of combustible materials, like timber, as the main structural components of buildings that might be large and span many stories inevitably raises the anticipated potential scale of loss to fire and water exposure events. In association with the use of timber, newer methods of assembly can also introduce combustible voids between fire compartments, which, if breached, can allow fire to develop and spread out of view and out of influence of normal detection and suppression systems.

Whilst example solutions to key issues are mentioned for guidance, the playbook is non-prescriptive, affording the designer all of the normal freedoms to resolve the identified issued by the most appropriate means that satisfies the needs of all stakeholders. Use of the MTIP cannot guarantee insurability but through improving the risk profile and early engagement with insurers every opportunity for a satisfactory outcome will be explored.

The Playbook was road tested in a number of stakeholder workshops earlier this year and the project team is now seeking widespread industry endorsement, with the launch on 4 May 2023. For more information and updates, please see the ASBP website and sign up for their free monthly newsletter.

This feature was authored Dr James Glockling, Glockling Consulting, Phil Callow, Mass Timber Risk Consulting and Simon Corbey, ASBP.

www.asbp.org.uk/project/masstimber-insurance-playbook

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01-02. The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook aims to be a relevant and practical resource to help overcome difficulties of insuring timber buildings

TESTING HOW TIMBER HOMES PERFORM

Energy House 2.0 is a £16million testing facility that is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and harnesses the University of Salford’s expertise in climate and the built environment. This unique facility builds upon the success of the original Energy House Laboratory, which was opened in 2012. Completed in February this year, the Energy House 2.0 facility is the largest of its kind in the world, with two chambers which can accommodate two detached homes. These chambers can replicate weather conditions including rain, wind, snow and solar radiation, with temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to +40 degrees centigrade.

houses commonly built today. Pasquill’s Posi-Joist™️ cassettes’ metal webbed design creates a larger service void, allowing for easy and free routeing of utilities such as Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery systems (MVHR) throughout the home.

The pioneering eHome2 is a threebedroom family home built inside the world-leading Energy House 2.0 climatic chamber facility at the University of Salford. Over a period of nine months, the house will undergo rigorous whole-building testing –including thermal performance, energy efficiency, running costs and residential comfort, as well as its ability to cope with extreme temperatures and climatic conditions.

The eHome2 house was built using a combination of offsite methods, with Saint-Gobain Off-site Solutions brands Scotframe and Pasquill supplying advanced timber frame products and factory-installed pre-insulated walls. eHome2 – a collaborative partnership between housebuilder Barratt Developments, Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions, and additional brands within the Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland group, seeks to change the way we build highquality, sustainable and future-ready new homes in the UK. As such, the data gathered from eHome2, which is operationally net zero, will help inform how the housebuilding sector will design and build zero-carbon housing at scale using sustainable building materials and offsite solutions.

Futureproofing with Posi-Joists

Manufactured and assembled at Pasquill’s flagship Chorley site, the floor cassettes supplied to eHome2 are a timber frame construction. As the project is being built to exceed Future Home Standards requirements, it has been designed to accommodate many more heating, ventilation and renewable energy services than the

These top-hung Posi-Joist floor cassettes also help speed up the process of installation and reduce the thermal bridging at wall-floor interfaces. Pasquill has also supplied the roof trusses for eHome2 to help create a thermally efficient attic space. Combining traditional trusses with attic trusses has created a space that can also house additional services and pipework required to run future smart homes. Both the Posi-Joist cassettes and the roof truss systems add to the pre-manufactured value of the eHome2 build.

Thermally efficient panelised solution eHome2 features a new proposed MMC category 2 closed panel solution from Scotframe. The wall panel system, which is assembled with BRE A+ rated Isover mineral wool between the i-stud based timber frame, provides maintenancefree and long-lasting insulation. This cuts energy bills, while innovative connections reduce thermal bridging design and enhance airtightness.

With the inclusion of critical vapour control membranes, service zones and externally fitted battens, the system speeds up on-site build time and ensures a high-performing fabric –achieving 0.13 W/m2k. The result is a solution with a performance point that exceeds Future Home Standard requirements without the need for additional site-installed installation. It also means that the house can be erected from the slab to the finished roof in only two weeks, including cladding and windows.

As part of a wider project designed to accelerate progress towards low carbon and net zero housing, the pioneering eHome2 concept house built using timber technology at Salford University will soon enter an intensive testing period.

Tom Cox, Technical and Development Director, Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions, added: “This project is a fantastic demonstration of how offsite can deliver a high premanufactured value to housing developers. In particular, our brands Pasquill and Scotframe have made a significant contribution, with innovative timberengineered panels and cassettes which have sped up the build and increased its sustainability credentials.

“When working with the Barratt design team on the project, designers chose to use the Posi-Joist™️ cassette system to allow for easy rooting of utilities, which are required for future homes design. Meanwhile, the new panel system itself has also had a number of tests carried out on it so it’s looking like it’s going to be quite an exciting solution for developers moving forward.”

During 2023, the house will undergo rigorous whole-building research and testing including thermal performance, energy efficiency, running costs and

COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE

comfort as well as its ability to cope with extreme temperatures and climatic conditions. The chamber can replicate environmental conditions experienced by 95% of the world’s population. Many of the technologies being tested are due to be in common use by 2026, so data gathered from this research period will inform how the housebuilding sector will design and build properties

What exactly is a comfortable and affordable home?

This is something very different for every individual and every homeowner. But with the chamber soon to close and enter its test phase all eyes will be on the results of the many sensors embedded in the homes to measure the different heating systems and fabric performance.

“With offsite, you have the capability to build a robust, standardised, repeatable product and get the same results every time,” says Tom Cox, Technical Director, Saint Gobain Off-Site Solutions. “This will demonstrate that a home produced in the same way, delivered and commissioned in the same way can deliver the end result that you want in terms of thermal efficiency and airtightness. The end product is thought about all the way through the design process.”

to meet the 2025 Future Homes and Building Standard and deliver low and zero carbon housing at scale.

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01-03. eHome2 will be trialled across a range of weather conditions for energy and thermal efficiency and features timber systems from Scotframe and Pasquill

04. Tom Cox, Technical and Development Director, Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions

“Offsite systems are engineered within a factory process with controls in a very ordered and qualified way. You are not facing the potential risks of site-based mistakes resulting in issues down the line during a building’s lifespan. Offsite is not a brand-new ‘space-age thing’ it’s often a lot of established materials being brought together in more solutionbased way. This all needs to be communicated in the right way.

“A big piece of the research is trying to understand how you balance design and deliver a comfortable, sustainable wellheated home in a scalable and achievable building shell. Balancing the fabric first approach with MEP, glazing and bring it all together in a number of flexible weather conditions, we can prove that this type of system will give you a specific cost to run with a certain comfort perception. Being able to qualify the embodied carbon of a kit at the level of the full structure and bring together all these different elements, all detailed correctly and knowing it works will be a game changer.”

Operating as a collaborative ‘chamber’ project and not ‘silo’ data being driven and collected by Saint Gobain, the final results will be published through Salford University and disseminated through the Future Homes Hub. The hope is to extend the testing for a further two years via Innovate UK to establish greater understanding of how the homes operate.

You can follow developments at: www.saint-gobain.co.uk/eHome2

ARCHITECTURE OF SUFFICIENCY

“When I heard that TOG were thinking about a new sustainable office building, it’s like I was standing in the queue for a nightclub and they put my favourite song on,” says Andrew Waugh, Waugh Thistleton Architects. “I admire the fact they had the commitment and the courage to do this in the first place. They flew in the face of naysayers, and they took the lead. It was very bold of them.”

Mass timber developments

Opening in January 2023, the Black & White Building has become the latest in a series of landmark structures showcasing the best in timber technology and sustainable architecture.

Design-led workspace specialist The Office Group (TOG) has come together with Waugh Thistleton Architects to explore a new approach to workplace design. In The Black & White Building, they have explored an ‘architecture of sufficiency’– where every element serves a purpose, nothing is superfluous, and all materials and processes are as efficient and sustainable as possible.

The new seven-storey mass timber building in the heart of Shoreditch

sets out to demonstrate that timber is not just a viable alternative to the conventional concrete and steel used to build offices, when it comes to performance and sustainability, it is the preferable option. Standing 17.8m above the Shoreditch streetscape, it can serve as a model for the office architecture of the future.

The previous building on the site – a 11,000sq ft structure painted black and white – was incapable of meeting the area’s growing workspace demand but also unviable for extension, so TOG co-founders and co-CEOs Olly Olsen and Charlie Green were determined to create the most sustainable building that they possibly could. Their research led them to Waugh Thistleton Architects – a firm responsible for pioneering timber designs for over a decade, including landmark residential blocks such as Dalston Works and Murray Grove, as well as Vitsoe’s Leamington Spa HQ.

TOG and Waugh Thistleton set out to create a building that minimised carbon in both its construction and, once complete, its operations. The architects proposed a structure built from the ground up using cross laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). “The principal message of The Black & White Building is sustainability, says Andrew. “This is a mainstream, grade-A central London office building, built entirely from timber. It clearly demonstrates that mass timber is a viable replacement for concrete and steel in the mainstream office market, saving thousands of tonnes of CO2. We’re trying to change the way we build, to transform the industry.”

The CLT frame was chosen for its perfect balance of sustainability, lightness and strength. Glulam is used for the curtain walling, and the columns and beams are made out of beech LVL.

The structure comprises a combination of timbers from 227 beech and 1,547 pine and spruce trees harvested from PEFC-certified forests in Austria and Germany. For a sustainable forest to regenerate the quantity of wood used in the construction of The Black & White Building would take approximately 137 minutes – meaning that it’s possible to grow enough timber to construct a sixstorey, seven-floor building in less time than it takes to bake a loaf of bread.

CLT is significantly lighter and easier to transport than conventional building materials such as concrete and steel, which means that fewer deliveries are required to bring the necessary quantities to the construction site. This not only represents a carbon-reduction in terms of logistics, it also makes building in dense urban areas a more efficient process that is less disruptive for neighbours and other road users.

Because the timber components are prefabricated, and precisionengineered to be slotted together, the ‘screwed not glued’ building not only requires a smaller workforce to construct, it also has a part to play in the circular economy. At the end of its life, the building can be easily disassembled rather than demolished, and the materials can be recovered and reused. Overall, The Black & White Building creates 37% less embodied carbon than a comparable concrete structure, and serves as a long-term carbon store for 1,014.7 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (55% of the building’s total) sequestered in the timber structure. The team expects to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating once the building is complete.

“The Black & White Building represents a major step forward for us,” says Charlie Green, co-founder, TOG. “And – I hope – the wider industry too. It’s a statement of who we are and how we will approach sustainability – we don’t need to build the traditional way with concrete and steel anymore. We always retrofit when we can, and when we build new buildings in future, TOG is committed to constructing them from timber and other sustainable materials.”

Sustainable inside and out

The Black & White Building is powered by 100% renewable energy sources – including 80 solar panels on the

rooftop. No element of The Black & White Building is purely decorative –everything has a purpose. Notably, the exterior is clad in timber louvres that run from street level to the roof. These provide natural shade, reducing solar gain on the façade and boosting the natural light reaching the interior. The louvres change in depth as they ascend the building in order to optimise energy efficiency.

The louvres are crafted from thermally modified tulipwood, recommended and supplied by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). This timber is highly affordable, lightweight, readily replenished, and has minimal environmental impact.

Internally, The Black & White Building has been consciously designed to encourage interaction and collaboration, enabling people to connect through a variety of spaces in multiple ways. Lounges of various sizes and layouts are found throughout, as well as plentiful break-out areas and pockets of outdoor space, culminating in a decked rooftop terrace offering cityscape views, ideal for sunny days. To maximise natural light in the building throughout the day, a lightwell runs the full height of the building from the rooftop terrace down to a courtyard containing a maple tree on the lower ground floor. The building is home to 28 offices of various sizes, six meeting rooms, focus booths and break-out areas, 94 bike storage spaces and showers.

The entire building is, as Waugh Thistleton has described it, ‘visibly sustainable’. The sensory impact of the space is significant. “I love that kind of ‘whoosh’ sensation you get when you first come in,” adds Andrew.

“The beauty, excitement and aroma. When you walk through the front door and discover the contemporarycathedral quality to the space, you just feel that there’s a sense of overwhelming optimism about the building.”

A benchmark for building sustainably

For both TOG and Waugh Thistleton Architects, The Black & White Building represents a proof of concept that they hope will inspire and encourage the wider architectural community to adopt carbon-minimal construction methods and engineered timber materials. In the short term, the building will provide a Shoreditch home for creative businesses determined to make a credible sustainability statement. In the long term, it is a call to kickstart a new era of architecture, founded on lowcarbon construction, circular thinking, and natural materials.

www.theofficegroup.com/uk/

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01-04.

The Black & White Building is another example of timber providing a low carbon solution to commercial construction. Courtesy TOG

A YEAR IN TIMBER

move more than 400 colleagues as part of an acquisition, but we’ve engaged with them every step of the way and this positivity led to a successful year for both Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) and for the Donaldson Group.

The blend of companies within the Donaldson Group, and the vision and ambition of the business, have supported a lot of growth in 2022. We created the Donaldson Offsite division, encompassing DTS, Donaldson Timber Engineering (DTE), Donaldson Door Systems (DDS), and Donaldson Direct (DD), which is a strong and timely offering for the industry as we all look at incorporating modern methods of construction (MMC) into new developments.

And in just this first year, we have grown and continued to invest in greater capacity and capabilities to meet customer demand. We opened a new DTE branch in Exeter to increase our geographical reach to fill a previous gap in the South West, we’ve invested in increased capabilities for doorsets and staircases at DDS and we’ve invested heavily in automation and robotics capabilities at DTS. This ambition has also assured our existing customers that they remain in capable and reliable hands, and it demonstrates our market leadership to new customers.

All of this growth and continued investment strengthen our position as we deal with current market challenges. While there is no question that many of our customers operate in the slowed-down housing market, there is reason to be hopeful that the current downturn will be shorter than those we’ve experienced in the past. We’re already seeing trends that suggest the market will be recovering by the end of 2023, and certainly into 2024. Mortgage products, for example, are much more readily available and affordable now than they were even one month ago.

These objectives are especially pertinent in the affordable housing sector, which we are working closely with to drive continued quality and performance standards. We’ve continued to increase our engagement with this market, most recently with appointments to the Off-Site Homes Alliance (OSHA) national construction framework and the Building Better dynamic purchasing system.

As part of the OSHA framework, we will work closely with 23 local authorities and housing associations nationally to design, manufacture and install timber frame wall panel building systems. With a fabric first approach that achieves net zero operational carbon, housing providers can use DTS’ timber systems to create sustainable, resilient, and affordable homes that meet the Future Homes Standard, as well as build speed, fabric performance, building design and cost requirements.

Building Better is an alliance of 30 housing associations and councils supported by the National Housing Federation with the objective to ensure its members have access to a variety of MMC solutions as it aims to produce approximately 5,000 MMC properties by 2026. DTS’ appointment will support this objective by increasing the number of timber frame homes constructed.

The sector is already engaged in timber frame, and wants to incorporate MMC into its plans, so it’s vital that we facilitate these demands. Affordable housing is crucial in the UK, and it’s important that these homes are built with long term performance in mind. Timber frame is one of the most effective construction methods for guaranteeing that performance.

www.donaldsontimberengineering.co.uk

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As one family business joined with another, the transition has been straightforward, largely because the culture and approach of the two companies were similar. It’s not easy to

And we’re encouraged by our customers’ five-year strategies and longer-term plans, which have remained unchanged. While they are adapting to short term challenges, we know that timber is key to meeting their longerterm objectives, particularly around sustainability and energy performance.

With just over 12 months since the acquisition of Stewart Milne Timber Systems to form Donaldson Timber Systems, it has been a strong period for the new business. Alex Goodfellow, CEO of Donaldson Offsite explains more.

01. Alex Goodfellow, CEO, Donaldson Offsite

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