Is it time for timber in UK building to go mainstream?

In September, Timber Improvement UK turned the biggest timber provide chain physique within the UK following the merger of the Timber Commerce Federation and TRADA, bringing collectively greater than 1,500 companies. As TDUK seems forward to the way forward for the timber commerce sector, TDUK chief government Dave Hopkins asks whether or not timber in UK building has a bigger function to play

Timber is considered a sustainable resource in UK construction- particularly within the constructed surroundings. In contrast to different supplies, timber is renewable and usually produces much less carbon throughout manufacturing than different assets comparable to metal and concrete.

The UK built environment is responsible for approximately 25% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. With a legally binding goal to succeed in internet zero by the yr 2050, the federal government has additionally dedicated to reaching 68% reductions in carbon emissions by 2030.

We now discover ourselves at a novel second in time with initiatives in areas comparable to sustainability and lowering embodied and whole-life carbon excessive on the agenda. That is forcing the trade right into a interval of unprecedented self-reflection because it reconsiders the kind of supplies used and the way in which buildings are constructed.

Advantages of timber in UK building

Timber, particularly trendy engineered timber comparable to cross-laminated timber, brings a number of benefits, together with being properly suited to prefabrication and meeting offsite in manufacturing facility situations preferrred for Modern Methods of Construction. Additionally it is considerably lighter than concrete and metal making it simpler to work with and extra environment friendly to move.

You may already see this in operation as we speak by way of the trussed rafters, that are seen on constructing websites all around the UK.

Trussed rafters are manufactured offsite and transported to web site, this not solely eliminates the issue of storage however builders can add the trussed rafters straight on to the constructing – saving the time required to assemble and minimising the necessity for on-site corrections.

With the event of versatile engineered timbers, this precept can now be utilized to many extra building actions, together with frames, high-rise and modular building merchandise.

On the identical time, wooden is a pure materials, aesthetically pleasing whereas offering consolation throughout seasonal adjustments due to its biophilic properties. The usage of timber has additionally been confirmed to spice up productiveness and wellbeing, whereas being well-suited to developments round sustainability.

Boundaries to mainstream adoption of timber building

In England, wooden tends to play an even bigger half in inside design, from wood furnishings to fixtures and fittings. It’s heading in a great path; nevertheless, there are apparent obstacles to wider adoption comparable to an absence of incentives to be used of timber for large-scale building, laws which favour concrete and metal and, most vital of all, a abilities hole for using timber.

If timber was to play an even bigger function in UK building, additionally it is vital to contemplate the present state of the trade. The fragmented nature of the timber provide chain is a key difficulty that the formation of Timber Improvement UK will start to handle to assist it compete with metal and concrete.

The UK will even want to make sure there’s a regular provide of sustainable sources of timber when demand will increase – and that the logistics are in place to make sure a internet zero provide chain.

Upskilling for timber building

Maybe the most important hurdle surrounding the use of timber in the UK is training.

With metal and concrete firmly embedded in UK building, it is very important guarantee engineers, architects and specifiers have a powerful understanding relating to using timber, comparable to easy methods to construct with it, its properties and the way it pertains to current Constructing Laws.

Timber Improvement UK is working with Edinburgh Napier College and NMITE to supply in depth assets to designers and the trade at massive, however it’s clear to us {that a} vital cultural shift might want to happen within the UK if timber is to grow to be a first-choice constructing materials.

New developments in timber building

Suggestions on how timber can assist a internet zero trade had been talked about within the Building to Net Zero: Costing Carbon in Construction by the Environmental Audit Committee. The report included suggestions on mandating whole-life carbon assessments, which might give automated incentives to the development trade to start out selecting lower-carbon supplies and to undertake strategies of building to which timber is properly suited.

Additionally it is vital to contemplate the developments we’re seeing outdoors of the UK. We’re seeing cities such as Amsterdam and Toronto putting in plans to build entire neighbourhoods from wood and we could start to see this development going mainstream within the subsequent few years.

Taken collectively we see a once-in-a-lifetime alternative for utilising timber in UK building to grow to be a mainstream possibility. By forming the biggest commerce affiliation for the timber trade, Timber Improvement UK is ready the place we will unite the sector to make this occur.