The engineered timber industry has been founded on the principles of advancing sustainable building technology. Led by innovators such as B&K Structures, the use of timber technology in UK construction has undergone a renaissance in recent years which has greatly increased the use of ground-breaking products such as cross laminated timber (CLT). Here Managing Director of B&K Structures, Andy Goodwin discusses the proposed building restrictions and the unintended consequences. Leading architects such as Foster and Partners and Waugh Thistleton have realised exceptional award-winning buildings, creating a new legacy in outstanding timber architecture but we are now at a point in time where the proposed building regulations could restrict the use of a material which has the potential to help in the battle against climate change. Existing buildings and new construction accounts for nearly 40% of our national carbon dioxide emissions. CLT is now widely acknowledged as having a vital role to play in reducing CO2 emissions and crucial to reaching net-zero carbon targets. Somehow CLT, as a robust, fast, clean and sustainable construction method, has been put into the same category as dangerous highly combustible cladding systems. Many of us involved in the industry are baffled how we arrived at this place. A blanket ban that is not based on building physics or scientific fact, is seen as a quick fix but the unintended consequences will be far reaching. Every building material in some way is susceptible to fire whether it melts, warps or explodes but it is knowing how it performs that is crucial. Tests prove CLT has fire resistance of 90 – 120 minutes and greater than that if additional coatings are applied. The UK Government is currently seeking views on the ban of the use of combustible materials in external walls of buildings, with any changes affecting all new residential buildings with floor levels above 11m (circa 4 storeys). This proposal comes despite a significant amount of UK innovation in the use of engineered timber systems such as glue laminated timber and cross laminated timber. Together with sustainability, safety is of paramount importance to the team at B&K Structures and we have found a way to ensure our structures are both safe and sustainable using a hybrid approach. We support stronger measures regarding the safety of building, but the current proposal could impact the ability to construct with timber as a primary structural material. Alongside ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network), we are calling for responses to the consultation to help oppose this new legislation from affecting construction innovation. www.architectscan.org/safe-timber About B&K Structures Through careful design detailing and value engineering, B&K Structures is able to offer the best possible offsite manufactured construction solutions, ensuring a smooth integration for follow-on trades – delivering award-winning, environmentally and sustainable projects on time and to budget. B&K Structures has worked with some of the UK’s most renowned clients to develop outstanding buildings with sustainable credentials. For more information on their product portfolio and full range of services go to www.bkstructures.co.uk

Engineers at the University of Liverpool, alongside industrial partners, have designed and built an adhesive free timber office building at Ness Gardens on the Wirral in order to evaluate a more environmentally friendly construction method. The key idea behind the new `green’ office structure is to use timber to connect timber, and to use timber to reinforce timber. Timber is one of the very few industrial materials that can be 100% sustainable. Engineers designed and constructed a large section of the office space using adhesive free laminated timber (AFLT) beams and adhesive free cross laminated timber (AFCLT) panels, and densified wooden dowels and plates are used to connect beams with columns rather than metallic fasteners. The dowels and plates are made using softwood from sustainably-harvested timber and compressed using a heated hydraulic press to reduce thickness whilst making it denser and stronger than common hardwood. The `green’ office, which is part of an EU-funded INTERREG research project, will allow researchers to evaluate the performance of adhesive free engineered wood products and compressed wood fasteners in a real life environment over the next five to ten years, and compare it to conventional methods that use adhesives and metal.  Located at Ness Gardens on the Wirral, the 35m2 office structure will provide a functional workspace for researchers from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Integrative Biology using the Brian Moss Aquatic Facility, one of Europe’s largest, most technologically advanced facilities for investigating environmental impacts on freshwaters. Liverpool engineer, Dr Zhongwei Guan, an international timber engineering and composite expert, who is leading project, said: “This is an exciting real world project. The structure we have designed and built is arguably the first building in the world to be constructed using this compressed wood technology! “It showcases a more environmentally friendly method of connecting wood and joining structures using compressed wood dowels and fasteners without the use of adhesives or metal products. “The prototype has been developed as part of our INTERREG EU research project to design, demonstrate and take forward new adhesive free engineered wood products for use in the construction industry.” Dr Stewart Plaistow, Senior lecturer in Evolutionary Biology in the Institute of Integrative Biology, said:  “I am delighted that this new facility which will support research projects investigating the effects of climate change on shallow fresh waters. “The new space will allow researchers to process samples on site, enhancing the mesocosm facilities capabilities even further. It’s been a real pleasure seeing “green” research projects from different faculties working together.” The office was designed and built by researchers from the University of Liverpool’s School of Engineering, together with FRCS of the University, a design engineer and contractor, and local businesses, SticX Ltd and Cunliffe’s Architects.

Looking For Timber Flooring In Perth – Here Are Your Options Are you searching for timber flooring in Perth? Are you aware of the various options available today? Do you want a long-lasting timber floor? Here is everything you need to know about choosing the right timber flooring in Perth. Timber floors have that natural timeless elegance that isn’t matched by any other flooring material. Timber floors can be extremely durable when maintained properly and can last generations. You also have a wide range of species available for flooring such as Spotted Gum, Black Butt, Jarrah, American oak or Bamboo among others. Types of Timber Flooring 1. Solid Timber Flooring Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options for builders and families in Perth. It offers a durable surface and brings a level of sophistication and natural warmth to a home. Some of the common species of hardwood include Rose Gum, Red Mahogany, Iron Bark, Brush Box, Blue Gum, Spotted Gum and various others. It offers excellent value and is environmentally sustainable. Your solid timber floor can be resurfaced and polished many times to maintain that classic look. It’s also available in a wide range of styles, colours and species. 2. Engineered Flooring It’s a solid alternative to hardwood floors. It is generally recommended for areas where solid hardwoods can’t be used. It is made from multiple sheets of wood bonded together to create a single board. Engineered floors offer excellent resistance to shrinkage and expansion as well as temperature and moisture variations. These can be glued or floated. 3. Bamboo Flooring Bamboo flooring has the advantage of being harder than most Australian woods. It is an excellent choice for families who are environmentally conscious as it is sustainable, durable and brings that unique elegance to a home. 4. Laminated Flooring Laminate floors provide the class and texture of wood at an affordable price. These boards are made from high density fibre with a high quality timber image at the top. There is a protective layer that provides scratch and stain resistance. Laminate floors are a popular choice if you want a low maintenance floor. It doesn’t need any polishing, varnishing or sanding. It is also resistant to stains, discolouration, scratches and fading and you can install it over almost any flat surface. Choosing the Right Timber Flooring in Perth Now that you are aware of different options of timber flooring, here’s a list of important parameters to consider in order to choose the right timber floor for your home or business establishment in Perth. Durability Consider the amount of foot traffic a particular area in your home is likely to receive to choose the right timber floor for that particular area. For example, areas around the kitchen, main hallway and front door experience a lot of foot traffic and you would want a board capable of withstanding such high foot traffic in the long term. Sunlight Exposure and Humidity If a particular area of your home is exposed to sun for extended periods of time, you would want a timber floor that is resistant to shrinkage or discolouration. Standard timber floors shrink and lose colour when consistently exposed to sunlight. Similarly, humidity levels in particular areas of your home will also affect the durability of timber flooring. Discuss these things with your installer before choosing a particular board for these areas. Supplier and Installer Choose an experienced and reputed supplier and installer for your timber floor. Make sure they have the necessary experience to advise you on choosing the right flooring type. Keep in mind that timber floors can be installed in a variety of ways such as floated installation, plank on ply installation or direct installation. The choice of installation method will depend on the choice of board as well as conditions in your home. An experienced contractor will help you choose the right flooring type and installation method to ensure a long-lasting timber floor. Conclusion Overall, there are a number of options for timber flooring. Carefully consider the pros and cons of different options for different areas of your home, and choose an experienced installer to get a long-lasting and perfectly installed timber floor.