TIMBER CONSTRUCTION NEWS
AIMCH Publishes Housebuilding Report
A new report, Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes, published
Using the RICS Standard for Whole Life Carbon Assessment, the
by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of
report represents a rigorous cradle-to-grave assessment of the carbon
Homes (AIMCH), concludes that using sustainably sourced timber
impact of both types of construction materials and their respective
panelised MMC methods to build new homes rather than masonry
methodologies. 82% of emissions are generated from the homes
products can reduce the carbon impact of construction.
operational use over 60 years, which is the same for both methods. 14%
On a whole life carbon basis, the study predicts that up to 5t CO2e
of emissions are generated from the materials and construction process.
per four bed dwelling, equivalent to 16,500 road miles, could be saved,
A small proportion of emissions are generated at end of life.
when using timber panelised MMC methods.
The study, authored by green energy consultancy Verco, examined
AIMCH is a £6.5 million collaborative R&D project which aims to
four types of home utilising either: masonry – aerated blockwork and
promote and develop industrialised off-site modern construction
offsite manufactured open and closed panel timber MMC, both with
methods to build homes quickly and viably. Participating partners are
brick cladding.
Stewart Milne Group, Barratt Developments PLC, L&Q, the Manufacturing
Carbon sequestration benefits of timber, in line with RICS protocols,
Technology Centre (MTC), the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre
were applied to all methods of construction, for example benefiting
(CSIC) and Forster Roofing Services Ltd.
masonry homes bult with timber floors and roofs. End of life assumptions
Stewart Dalgarno, AIMCH Project Director and Director of Innovation
used identical 90% recycle/re-use and 10% to landfill ratio across both
and Sustainability at Stewart Milne Group said, “The comprehensiveness
material types.
of this report provides valuable insights into where developers, house
Cementitious products including roof tiles, concrete blocks, brick
builders and the supply chain can make a positive contribution to
cladding, strip foundations and floor slabs, were found generally to have
reducing the whole and embodied carbon contributions of new build
the highest lifecycle embodied emissions. Conversely, timber frame wall
homes.
elements sent to landfill, were found to produce 0.5 tCO2e emissions at
“AIMCH commissioned the report to understand the differences in
end of life, compared to aerated concrete blocks.
whole life carbon emissions over 60 years, to current building regulation
Panelised timber MMC construction methods outperformed masonry
standards, between open and closed panel timber MMC systems and
construction on a whole-life carbon basis, when comparing the direct
aerated concrete blockwork used in masonry construction. All processes
substitution of various wall elements – external, load bearing and party
relevant to the construction cycle, in line with the RICS model have been
wall elements. Embodied emissions of these wall elements being as much
considered — materials, manufacture, transport, usage through to the
as 82% less than that of the masonry construction. In addition, timber
end-of life and disposal stages. The resulting comprehensive analysis
MMC key properties contributing to reduced emissions.
provides invaluable data to inform house builders on the carbon intensity More at www.aimch.co.uk
of the two construction methods.” Timber Construction Magazine
Spring 2022
02
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