The selling point for timber frame construction is remarkably simple; it is one of the most established, most sustainable and most efficient construction materials in the world, with physical capabilities far beyond any previous expectations.
Advocating for timber construction has been one of the goals for suppliers and this makes the news that the UK Government is establishing a roadmap to increase the use of timber for the construction of up to 1.5m affordable and sustainable homes in the next five years is encouraging.
Whilst timber has always been used for construction, in recent years it has seen increased use in more ambitious, far-reaching projects as a way to reduce carbon in the construction industry.
Here are some of the details for how this roadmap goes further.
Encouraging Low-Carbon Construction
One of the major steps on the roadmap is a fundamental change in how carbon emissions are considered during the construction process.
The concept of whole-life carbon, where the carbon emissions of construction are measured not from the building site but from the acquisition of raw materials up until the final demolition of the building, is a vital part of ensuring truly sustainable construction.
Materials such as concrete have a much larger carbon cost than is often measured using typical materials, as the material cannot always be readily recycled and reused.
A major priority of the roadmap is to establish the complete benefits of timber in this regard, and how it can be carbon neutral or potentially even carbon negative over the lifespan of the building.
Timber frame construction is a proven leader in rapid, sustainable housebuilding, but having official government data to back up just how much of a leader it is will have significant benefits.
This includes environmental data during harvesting, lifespan information on timber construction and transport emissions.
Timber frame construction is a proven leader in rapid, sustainable housebuilding, but having official government data to back up just how much of a leader it is will have significant benefits.
Establishing Timber As Part Of Modern Methods Of Construction
The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) principle has been adopted as a way to increase the speed at which high-quality, sustainable new homes can be constructed, and mass timber fits perfectly into this concept.
Timber is perfect for prefabrication, and has been used in this house-building role for hundreds of years. Setting up a timber frame home often takes days or weeks compared to the months it can take to build using concrete or bricks.
A major reform in MMC policies would put timber construction at the centre of construction.
Establishing Timber At The Centre Of A Circular Economy
One of the reasons for the high carbon cost of the construction sector is the significant levels of waste caused by materials such as concrete.
Once concrete buildings have been demolished, only some of the debris can be reused and reformulated, typically as part of a sub-base for asphalt roads. This means that when a building is demolished, so much of it ends up in landfills with the polluting potential that implies.
By contrast, timber has much more scope to be reused once a building needs to be taken down, and the modular nature of timber construction allows for a more systemic dismantling and reuse of components rather than a more straightforward demolition.
Boosting The Green Timber Economy
A rising tide lifts all ships, and the boost in demand for timber and timber construction will necessitate that more skilled people will be required throughout the supply chain.
Whilst this primarily includes skilled woodworkers and people trained to build sustainable, high-quality timber buildings, it also includes jobs in forestry and wood processing as well.
This will help not only to boost overall supplies, which benefits every supplier given the surge in demand but also secure vital building materials now and in the future.
Promoting Innovation In The Use Of Timber Construction
The capabilities of timber frame construction are astonishing and not currently completely known, with timber-framed skyscrapers increasing in size seemingly with each passing year.
Outside of pushing timber to its limits, there is a distinct push to create timber products that are high-performance, competitive in cost to more polluting alternative materials, and efficient to manufacture and assemble.
The biophilic benefits of timber construction, something that has become discussed as a potential long-term cure to sick building syndrome, are also key factors that are set to be examined and expanded upon as well as part of the roadmap’s key themes.