Uniting the Timber Supply Chain

The UK government must increase the use of timber materials in construction projects, according to a recent report from the Environmental Audit Committee. Timber Development UK offers insight into how the supply chain can unite to make this goal a reality.

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n 2016 less than one-third (28%) of newbuild homes across the UK were built using timber frame, with most of those homes being constructed in Scotland. The use of timber in England, Wales and Ireland was comparatively low, but the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has recommended that the use of timber be increased to 40% by 2050.

Now, a new report from the government’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has warned that urgent action is needed to help reduce the levels of carbon emissions in construction.

The report, ‘Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction’, highlighted the limited incentives that have been introduced to encourage the use of timber in construction, as well as the need to close the skills gap in the construction sector by improving training and knowledge among structural engineers and construction teams in how to design and build with modern timber products.

Sustainable timber has a fundamental role to play in the move to creating a net-zero carbon supply chain within the construction sector and built environment. It is inherently a low-carbon commodity, and a strong carbon capture and storage solution that can significantly reduce the embodied carbon impact of construction. And yet, for many years, the timber supply chain has perhaps struggled to effectively communicate the strength of the material to government, local authorities and to contractors and architects who are often less experienced in using timber than with other less sustainable materials, such as brick, steel and concrete.

How can we change this? TDUK sustainability director, Charlie Law, believes the merger of the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA to form Timber Development UK provides a perfect opportunity to implement real change.

Charlie says: “The timber supply chain consists of many players and many thousands of businesses. This can make the kind of collective effort required to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as an industry quite difficult. With the arrival of TDUK, this is already changing. The energy that already surrounds this new organisation is lending itself to taking on the big challenges we all face as an industry, including the creation of a net-zero carbon roadmap for the timber industry.

“From sawmiller, through merchant to specifier and end-user, we want all our members to know that they are connected to a supply chain which is doing all it can to bring carbon emissions to net zero. By working together, we become more than the sum of our parts.”

Timber Development UK’s net-zero roadmap is designed to help the UK meet its legal commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 78% compared to 1990 levels by 2035 –

Bespoke racking solutions from Stakapal

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joining the UK Government’s legal target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

TDUK has already made a number of commitments to further this goal, including signing up to the SME Climate Hub commitment.

Recognising that climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society at large, TDUK commits to take action immediately in order to: • Support our members in halving greenhouse gas emissions intensity before 2030 • Achieve net-zero emissions before 2050 • Disclose our progress on a yearly basis.

Over the past six months, TDUK has brought together a partnership of all the trade associations who are active in the timber supply chain. Together, these associations represent a multibillion-pound network of thousands of businesses. Together, we can make a real difference to the construction industry and encourage the use of timber in every part of the built environment.

Charlie adds: “We are only at the start of the journey, and just beginning to scope out the industry’s emissions profile and understand where our material carbon emissions sit. While we know that timber itself is inherently low-carbon, now we need to understand the relationships between our processing, our kilning, and transport emissions – and how can these be improved.

“Once we have done this, we can move onto the next step – which is to identify opportunities for decarbonisation, and at the end of this process we will have a public facing net-zero carbon roadmap and a user toolkit to support the industry in reducing their carbon emissions.

“By understanding our carbon footprint, both as an industry and as individual businesses, we can start to target the key areas of carbon intensity and bring these down in line with our 2050 target. With many of the pieces now in place, we look forward to working with our members, and the wider timber supply chain, to demonstrate that timber is the ultimate, low-carbon solution for creating a modern, circular economy.”

TDUK is a new organisation formed by the merger of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA). TDUK will be formally launching as a single supply chain organisation spanning sawmill to specifier during the summer of 2022. More at  www.ttf.co.uk

 Check Your Battens

SR Timber warn against the increase of ungraded batten being passed off as British Standard graded to meet timber demand.

Image courtesy of Ben Hulme. Batten was removed from roof after installation.

Supply issues are showing few signs of improving and while price was the first hit the market took, the second hit goes against quality. As demand outstrips supply, we’ve seen a surge in dangerous, substandard product entering the market to meet demand.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has hit the supply chain through the removal of timber from Russia and Belarus. Timber from these regions is now classed as conflict timber which cannot be sold, adding pressure onto already strained suppliers. This has given way to some suppliers cutting corners to ensure stock can meet demand. The result is a trend of hazardous substandard batten being sold as British Standard graded.

The consequences of this subpar batten being sold are dire for roofers. While working at height, only correctly graded BS 5534 battens can be used as footholds while working. Substandard batten drastically increases the chances of the batten breaking or giving way during working. This could result in severe injury, or worse, for those working at height and using this product which is not fit for purpose.

Evidence of this product is on the rise with one contractor coming forward highlighting the challenges faced working with this product, saying: “I could tell straightaway some battens weren’t right. I’ve trained my entire career to spot a graded batten and some of the lengths were smaller, knots larger than tolerance allowed, and it was all mixed in with what looked like proper graded blue battens. To pass the timber off as conforming to BS 5534, it looked like the producer had painted the battens blue instead of the correct treatment method. “Whatever process they used to colour the batten was clearly a shortcut. It didn’t look like it had been properly treated with a colour dye at production stage”.

If substandard batten is coming in from shipments, it’s merchants and stockists’ responsibility to check if the stock is up to standard. Checks such as evidence of full chain of custody with documentations the batten has been produced to BS 5534 need to me made. It’s critical we spot the signs of substandard batten early to ensure the integrity of the UK timber market. Our customers need to have confidence that what they’re purchasing is fit for purpose and safe to use.

More at:  www.sr-timber.co.uk

Next Stop – Timber Expo

Culture change, optimism and opportunity – UK Construction Week London left a lasting impression on industry leaders looking to the future of construction.

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K Construction Week’s (UKCW) London show – its first in the capital – was attended by more than 20,000 visitors on 3-5 May 2022, alongside 300 exhibitors showcasing more than 10,000 products, some of which were being shown for the first time. Demonstrating the strong demand and clear need for a dedicated all-round construction show, 71% of visitors to UKCW London had not attended UKCW before, and bookings for the Birmingham show (4-6 October) are already ahead of expectations.

The key theme for both UKCW shows this year is culture change in construction, making it the biggest event in the sector to address and debate the most crucial industry issues. No area of construction was left unturned with topics including net zero goals, sustainability and biomimicry, energy futures, retrofit, digitalisation, modern methods of construction, health and wellbeing, and diversity. The event also took a hard look at how to enact best practice and real change around building safety and the latest government regulations.

These subjects were driven by 15 keynotes and 300 specialist speakers who presented at multiple theatre stages and in hubs dedicated to innovation, CPD, offsite construction, sustainability, digital construction, and infrastructure.

Natalie Goodridge, marketing manager, LAMILUX UK commented: “The exhibition had a refreshing buzz about it, with a positive and uplifting atmosphere around promoting innovation, culture change, and sustainability across the construction industry, which resulted in a really successful show.”

Tim Seabrook, managing director at Scanland Built Environment agreed adding: “UKCW showcased an incredible range of innovations and panel discussions with leading industry figures on culture change, professionalism and recruitment, procurement and net zero. Never has there been a time in this industry where there is so much progressive change, opportunity, and innovation.”

On the topic of building safety, Charlotte Collins, marketing and communications manager at the Fire Protection Association commented: “We really enjoyed coming together with the industry and keeping the important role of fire safety high on the agenda for the built environment. It was the ideal platform for us, and we look forward to connecting with those who visited our stand to help them reduce any fire-related risks and achieve stronger resilience against the threat of fire.”

Continuing the strong focus on culture change and sustainability, UKCW Birmingham will see the return of the popular Timber Expo. The UK’s largest showcase event for timber in construction, it will bring together award-winning architects, clients, and contractors to showcase the many uses and benefits of timber and why it is such an increasingly sought-after building material.

Supported by Timber Development UK, product exhibitors and learning sessions will cover everything from modern methods of construction, biophilia, structural timber frame, the latest timber technologies, sawmills, merchants, glulam, SIPs and cross laminated timber (CLT) to fixings and fastenings, timber cladding, doors and windows, mouldings, and skirtings and flooring.

The Timber Expo Focus Theatre will also return in association with TRADA to share some of the industry’s most creative timber construction projects, and provide independent design, best practice advice and technical guidance on the latest fire safety regulations for timber products.

Summarising the London show, Nathan Garnett, event director said: “It was wonderful to spend our first London show with so many inspired and talented construction professionals, change makers and disrupters that are truly dedicated to building on the positive culture shift that we’re seeing across the industry. Every visitor to UKCW is a part of driving this change, and we look forward to coming together again at Birmingham this October to debate, demonstrate and celebrate even further just how ever improving and evolving construction is.”

UK Construction Week will be back in London in May 2023 and Birmingham on 4-6 October at the NEC. Once again it will run alongside co-located shows Timber Expo, Offsite Show, Concrete Expo and Grand Designs Live. To find out more about UKCW Birmingham, go to  www.ukconstructionweek.com