4 minute read
Boards of Protection
Whilst engineered wood-based panel products are an integral part of many timber frame systems, they also have many flexible functions inside the construction world including site security.
onstruction sites and vacant buildings are tempting places C for thieves, trespassers, vandals, arsonists and children. A perimeter barrier, such as a site hoarding, is seen as the first and most important line of defence in securing a site. The windows, doors and other openings of individual, unoccupied properties may be boarded up. Widely recognised as the ideal panel material to fulfil these needs, OSB is easy to use, consistent and great value.
SterlingOSB Zero is a highly versatile board for structural use in load-bearing dry or humid conditions. Naturally strong and hard-wearing, it is tougher than most softwood plywood and has no knots, voids or delaminating problems.
Securing construction sites is challenging. The theft of tools, building materials and expensive plant such as diggers and generators is just one of the problems. Security is linked inextricably with health and safety, there are also serious liability issues. Those owning or operating a site are responsible for managing access and ensuring the safety of nonemployees, trespassers and particularly children.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states: “While the numbers of children being killed or injured on construction sites has reduced, there is no room for complacency. Each year, two or three children die after gaining access to building sites, and many more are injured.”
Security breaches have implications in terms of downtime, loss of revenue, increased insurance premiums and equipment replacement costs; they also do little for the PR effort when problems on a site become public. According to the HSE, site boundaries must be defined physically, where necessary, by suitable fencing. The inherent strength of SterlingOSB Zero makes it the natural choice for hoardings. Requiring minimal finishing, the product is available in a number of sheet sizes and thicknesses. The boards are square-edged so butt together easily and cleanly; nails can be driven as close as 8mm from the panel edge without causing splitting. Hoardings created using SterlingOSB Zero may be finished with most popular surface treatments, allowing logos and marketing messages to be displayed, creating a smart site perimeter for the duration of work.
Not all sites lend themselves to hoardings. In some cases, it is important to secure access to individual buildings by boarding up doors and windows. This is particularly necessary for renovation and conversion projects involving old buildings where the structures may be unsound and present a potential danger to trespassers. In addition, thieves will be lured by the prospect of valuable architectural salvage; fireplaces, panelling, doors and even staircase are vulnerable. Such items may require ‘boxing in’ to provide protection from both thieves and damage due to the building work itself. SterlingOSB Zero is a robust solution in all these situations.
The first OSB product to be made in the UK with zero added formaldehyde, SterlingOSB Zero is a ‘greener’ board that meets all standards with ease. Its environmental credentials are enhanced further as it is manufactured in the UK from responsibly sourced timber, so its carbon footprint is low.
More at www.norbord.co.uk
Panel Imports Rising
The recovery in import volume seen in the second half of 2020 continued in January 2021 with timber and panel imports 12% higher than in January 2020. The volume of solid timber and panel products imported in January 2021 totalled 895,000m3, a 100,000m3 rise from January 2020’s total imports of 795,000m3. When comparing January 2021 with January 2020 the statistics revealed that among the individual product categories:
• Softwood import volumes rose by 22% (530,000m3). • Hardwood import volumes fell by 5.5% (38,000m3). • Softwood plywood import volumes rose by 24% (82,000m3). • Particleboard import volumes fell by 42% (41,000m3) • OSB import volumes rose 135% (58,000m3). • MDF import volumes fell by 22.5% (60,000m3)
The increase in import volumes comes amidst a resurgent housing market, with housing starts up by 26% in England in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019. David Hopkins, CEO of the Timber Trade Federation, said: “Our latest statistics reflect the determination of our members to match supply to demand, with a growth in overall wood product imports amidst a competitive international market which is keeping supply tight the world over, and a surge in construction in the UK. This growth is being supported by a buoyant housing market, a government eager to invest, and consumers choosing to spend money saved during the pandemic on home improvements, with some £160 billion saved during the last year.”
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