Norbord now holds a net carbon negative status across all its products and operations, locking up more CO2 than it emits. Leading the way in tackling the issue of climate change, the company’s four European sites and three product ranges sequester a total of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon annually.
Södra, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of sustainable timber, has launched a landmark immersive experience that transports viewers to its world-leading Swedish forestry operation. Using the latest 360ᴼ video technology, Södra’s video takes users to the forest – just a small section in its network totalling over two million
The NHBC has presented Pasquill with a Pride in the Job award in recognition of their role supplying timber trusses to a development in Devon. For 40 years, Pride in the Job has celebrated the housebuilding industry and worked to build confidence in new homes. The competition focuses on exceptional
Marine plywood is made with waterproof glue and has excellent quality. However, this type of plywood is not decay-resistant because it is not chemically treated. It is also a common choice for boat parts and constructing boats. It is used for outdoor furniture because of its durability, especially when it
The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even
Unfortunately, no current conversation about timber is complete without comment on the government’s catch-all ban on combustible materials. At the end of 2018, as part of fire safety improvement measures intended to prevent another blaze like that seen at Grenfell Tower, the then Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, introduced new legislation
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
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
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.
Published late last year, the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis, was encouraging, but now is the time to take real action, says Jeremy English, Director at Södra Wood Ltd, STA board member and previous chairman
Norbord now holds a net carbon negative status across all its products and operations, locking up more CO2 than it emits. Leading the way in tackling the issue of climate change, the company’s four European sites and three product ranges sequester a total of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon annually. While carbon neutrality means that an activity releases net zero carbon emissions into the atmosphere, carbon negativity signifies that an activity goes beyond achieving net zero carbon emissions. This creates an environmental benefit by not releasing carbon dioxide that would ordinarily be released into the atmosphere. As timber is the main component of Norbord’s products, carbon is sequestered and locked up for the life of the board. The confirmation of Norbord’s carbon negative status comes after more than a year of analysis and independent verification, although it’s evident that many Norbord products have been carbon negative for significantly longer. All Norbord products have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These independently verified and registered documents communicate transparent and comparable information about the product’s life cycle environmental impact. The life cycle analysis accounts for all stages from forest to merchant, including harvesting, production, sales and logistics. Steve Roebuck, Director, EHS, Norbord Europe believes “carbon dioxide emissions are one of the most significant drivers of climate change and there is an urgent need for products and businesses to achieve carbon neutrality in order to meet the UK’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2050. Norbord’s carbon negative status means we’ve not only already achieved this goal but have gone significantly further, clearly demonstrating our determination to be a market leader in sustainable, climate-friendly products”. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit www.norbord.co.uk/carbon-negative/
Södra, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of sustainable timber, has launched a landmark immersive experience that transports viewers to its world-leading Swedish forestry operation. Using the latest 360ᴼ video technology, Södra’s video takes users to the forest – just a small section in its network totalling over two million acres – and the ‘Södra neighbourhood’. The virtual reality neighbourhood offers a glimpse of how wood-based products can facilitate a more sustainable way of life. In the forest, users can meet a forest inspector and a family of forest-owners. Södra is run by more than 42,000 forest owners in southern Sweden – many of whom have inherited forests passed on through several generations. As well as narration at each stage, users are able to click, drag and control their own perspective for a truly immersive experience. As they look around, knowledge bubbles appear, allowing users to view information, videos and fun facts relevant to what they’re seeing. For those in the UK’s timber and merchants’ industries this video offers a unique chance to discover the potential of wood-based products and experience Södra’s Swedish operation as close to first-hand as possible, without getting on a plane. Södra Sales Director, Nigel Buckley-Ryan, explains the motivation behind the experience: “We wanted to bring to life wood’s almost endless number of uses. Of course, we’re confident that high-quality, sustainable timber will continue to transform the UK construction industry in the coming years. But some of the perhaps less-obvious by-products of wood as a raw material are fascinating – from biomethanol and tall oil, both renewable fuels, to lyocell and viscose for textiles for clothing, bed linen and soft furnishings (to name just a few).” Nigel continues: “We’re incredibly proud of our Swedish operation and passionate about how sustainably-managed forests can facilitate a truly sustainable future. This video allows us to share this passion with our UK audience – some of whom may not have been aware of the possibilities wood can offer or ever had the opportunity to see what a world-leading forestry operation looks like. People can now experience that from the comfort of their own homes.” Södra’s immersive 360ᴼ experience is available to view at www.sodraexperience.com For more information, visit www.sodra.com/en-gb/gb/
The NHBC has presented Pasquill with a Pride in the Job award in recognition of their role supplying timber trusses to a development in Devon. For 40 years, Pride in the Job has celebrated the housebuilding industry and worked to build confidence in new homes. The competition focuses on exceptional site managers, along with the suppliers and contractors who support them in the goal of creating high quality homes. Pasquill, the UK’s leading supplier of timber roof trusses, was acknowledged for supporting Baker Estates with its Hayne Lane development in Honiton. The collection of two, three-and four-bedroom homes, garages and flats were supplied with trusses and spandrel panels via Pasquill’s Bodmin site. The trusses for the houses are a mix of standard trusses with some raised tie trusses. Chris Powell, Sales Director at Pasquill, said: “These days a little bit of good news goes a long way. This is a terrific achievement, so I’d like to say thank you to all my colleagues who were involved on this project – from administrator to delivery driver. “Building quality homes is the goal, and it takes a team of experts to achieve this. We’re proud to have played our part and are delighted to be recognised alongside our fellow suppliers.” For more information, please visit www.pasquill.co.uk
Marine plywood is made with waterproof glue and has excellent quality. However, this type of plywood is not decay-resistant because it is not chemically treated. It is also a common choice for boat parts and constructing boats. It is used for outdoor furniture because of its durability, especially when it gets a solid protective finish. What Is Marine Plywood? Almost all marine plywood is made from peeling a massive sheet of veneer from a spinning log – imagine a tissue paper coming off its roll. There are two species of plants used for marine-grade plywood: Douglas-fir and western larch. All plies shouldn’t have knotholes but may have knots. Marine plywood come in different grades: Cases of Use Marine plywood is preferred in the construction of boats and docks thanks to its waterproof nature. It is proven to perform longer in wet and humid conditions. It can also resist fungal attack and delamination. It can also be used for kitchen and bathroom walls. These two areas in the house are prone to moisture; that’s why you need waterproof plywood. Using marine plywood for your kitchen floor will prevent it from deforming and rotting. Woodworkers also love using marine plywood in making outdoor furniture such as: What makes it Special? Marine plywood is super strong because: Whether you are planning to DIY or work with a professional, you need to use high quality materials for your home construction/renovation. Luckily, Sheet Materials Wholesale got your backing. Here you will get quality class 3 plywood at the most competitive prices.
The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even that reduced height may be questionable. The consultation findings are due to be reported later this year. The ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation proposed reforms to England’s current building safety regulations following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Initially, it was to examine the prohibition of using combustible cladding systems. However, a series of timber building fires has resulted in calls to ban the use of combustible materials for muti-storey building structures. These fires include low-rise multi-storey buildings. Last September, a major fire reduced a four-storey timber-framed block of flats at Worcester Park in South-West London to ashes. In August, a three-storey timber-framed retirement development collapsed after a devastating fire. Meanwhile last November following a fire at a student accommodation block in Bolton, the Fire Protection Association called for a complete ban of the use combustible materials for all buildings regardless of their height. “Timber is not a suitable construction material for either high-rise or low-rise multi-storey buildings. Unlike reinforced concrete which provides up to 6 hours of inherent fire resistance and structural integrity, timber frame offers just 30 minutes,” said Steve Elliott, Chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement. Elliott also questioned the use of cross laminated timber which is being forwarded as a structural frame option because it chars rather burns and has higher strength than timber frame. He said: “Cross laminated timber is being touted as a structural option for multi-storey construction as a layer of charring is thought to prevent the structural component from burning. However, charring is burning and will have a significant impact on structural integrity. To say that charring is not burning is being disingenuous.” He concluded: “There is too much real-time evidence of the unsuitability of timber for multi-storey construction. Building for a safer future must recognise the simple fact: timber burns.”
Unfortunately, no current conversation about timber is complete without comment on the government’s catch-all ban on combustible materials. At the end of 2018, as part of fire safety improvement measures intended to prevent another blaze like that seen at Grenfell Tower, the then Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, introduced new legislation banning combustible materials on new high-rise homes above 18m. In late 2019, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick called for the height threshold for combustible materials to be lowered to “at least 11m” (or typically anything less than three storeys in height). The second reading for the Fire Safety Bill – with the lowered threshold included – took place on 29 April. A date for the committee stage is yet to be announced and the consultation deadline has been pushed back to 25 May 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis. Architects, builders, suppliers of structural timber and many others passionate about the good that wood can do for this country, are now rightly concerned about what the future holds for multi-storey timber buildings. All while many other countries are passing legislation to promote the use of more timber products in construction. While there’s no question that the Fire Safety Bill is intended to enhance occupant safety, we mustn’t lose sight of timber’s inherent qualities as a building material; benefits that have made it an increasingly popular choice for structural components. It’s easy to transport and modify, it minimises noise pollution on site and it’s highly cost-efficient to produce and use. We as an industry are calling for an objective investigation; one led by facts and science rather than emotion. To quash the use of wood in structures over 11m would be to fly in the face of the sustainable evolution that the construction industry and, more importantly, the nation so desperately needs. Indeed, in its November 2019 report, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the timber industries said: “Without using safe structural timber we cannot meet these targets [the government’s net zero carbon commitment] and we will fail to address the construction industry’s contribution to climate change.” A more sustainable, decarbonised economy can allow the planet to repair itself. The building materials we choose can be a key contributor to this. To choose timber is to choose a building material that would not adversely impact or inconvenience the way we live our lives; a material that can help build a more sustainable future. Responsibly managed forests have always been the earth’s air cleaners and will continue to be so forever. And a by-product of responsibly managed forests? High-quality, sustainable timber; timber that has already taken from the air and locked away decades’ worth of harmful CO2. Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thistleton Architects – one of the UK’s leading proponents of timber construction – summed it up brilliantly earlier this year: “The reality is the evidence says we’ve got 12 years left to sort out climate change – we’ve got to start changing the way we do things. And we’ve got to keep pushing the message about the safety of CLT. It’s not only quicker to put up; it’s safer, healthier, lighter and locks away carbon.”
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.
Published late last year, the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis, was encouraging, but now is the time to take real action, says Jeremy English, Director at Södra Wood Ltd, STA board member and previous chairman of the Truss Rafter Association. Södra Wood Ltd is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of sustainable structural timber and engineered wood products. The inconvenient truth The facts are by now well-known. The Government needs to build 300,000 new homes in England per year while achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. Construction 2025, a joint government and industry strategy, has also outlined targets for the UK construction sector, including halving construction-related emissions and project delivery times, and reducing construction costs by a third, by 2025. These are all ambitious goals and ones that put the industry – in its current state – in a difficult predicament given its reliance on concrete, “the most destructive material on Earth,” according to The Guardian last year. The solution: timber In stark contrast, according to the APPG’s report, if 270,000 of these new homes were to be built by the timber industry, three million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be absorbed and stored each year and build times would be 30 per cent quicker. The report goes on to argue that using timber in construction is central to meeting emissions targets and urges the government to implement the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee by increasing the use of timber in construction. Sustainability credentials aside, the human cost of the housing crisis absolutely cannot be ignored. As the report notes, “the housing crisis in the UK has a fundamental and negative effect on our quality of life. A lack of affordable housing is consistently linked to poverty, poor mental and physical health.” Timber can and should undoubtedly play a central role in solving this profound problem. Success in creating a flourishing housing industry, and in turn, a flourishing timber industry, would be felt right across the country. So, what action can be taken? Embrace offsite timber frame construction Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the UK building industry moved towards industrialised forms of building, and in the early ‘80s prefabricated housing became dominated by timber frame systems. Timber framed dwellings steadily grew to around 30 per cent of the new build market until negative media coverage and the public’s continued general suspicion of modern construction methods contributed to a significant downturn in production. Until recently, this stigma has remained, although in Scotland, incidentally, where timber frame was and still is well-respected, production was hardly affected at all and to this day timber frame accounts for 75 per cent of all new houses in Scotland. Shifting mentalities Quite rightly, we’re now seeing a shift in mentality throughout the rest of the UK, especially given timber frame’s ability to facilitate affordable homes. It’s a method that combines speed, quality and efficiency; all of which contribute to affordable, low carbon, efficient homes. Today’s offsite timber frame homes – thanks largely to technological advances – are also high-quality. Offsite construction’s controlled approach to planning and constructing buildings significantly minimises any room for error, and gives opportunity for new eco-friendly process planning, designing and installing within a much-reduced time frame and budget. The factory setting allows better quality control of materials, chain production setups and easier implementation of processes and manufacturing methods. Research published by WRAP also demonstrates that the use of timber frame construction components can reduce the amount of waste generated on site by up to 40 per cent. Currently, timber frame construction accounts for just 15 per cent of UK housing output, according to the NHBC. Benefits outlined above, coupled with the fact that government housing targets simply cannot be met through traditional methods alone, makes me confident that this figure will increase exponentially in the years to come. The government’s ban on combustible materials No current conversation about timber is complete without comment on the government’s catch-all ban on combustible materials. At the end of 2018, as part of fire safety improvement measures intended to prevent another tragic blaze like that seen at Grenfell Tower, the then Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, introduced new legislation banning combustible materials on new high-rise homes above 18m. The government is now considering lowering the height threshold for combustible materials to “at least 11m,” according to current Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick. Architects, builders and suppliers of timber and engineered timber products are now looking at what the future holds for mass timber builds following this catch-all ban and, in particular, the specification and use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a strong, lightweight structural component for multi-floor structures. While there’s no question that these restrictions are intended to enhance occupant safety, we mustn’t lose sight of CLT’s inherent benefits; benefits that have made it an increasingly popular choice for structural components since its introduction into the UK in 2004. It’s easy to transport and modify, it minimises noise pollution on site and it’s highly cost-efficient to produce and use. Structural timber and CLT products also have very predictable charring rates. When exposed to fire, the load-bearing core of a beam or truss will remain intact while the char layer remains to protect it. The char forms an insulation layer preventing an excessive rise in temperature within the unburnt core. The core continues to function, providing a predictable period of fire resistance. I’ll conclude with a quote from Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thisleton Architects, one of the UK’s leading proponents of timber construction: “The reality is the evidence says we’ve got 12 years left to sort out climate change – we’ve got to start changing the way we do things. And we’ve got to keep pushing the message about the safety of CLT. It’s not only quicker to put up; it’s safer, healthier, lighter and locks away carbon.” Presently, the Structural Timber Association, amongst others, is currently augmenting its already extensive
