The government will start work to create a data risk register on massive timber buildings, as part of a package to ease insurers’ fears about the material’s use in construction.
In its Timber in Construction roadmap, launched yesterday (December 11), the government set out proposals to mitigate the safety risks of massive engineered timber, paving the way for its greater use in construction.
It said it would work with industry, academia and the Building Safety Regulator to produce evidence on the safety and durability of engineered solid timber, with a view to expanding its use beyond buildings in little height for the next five years. He also stated that he will work to create a better dialogue between insurers and promoters.
The roadmap said: “The concerns of the insurer and warranty provider go beyond the life safety objectives considered in the building regulations and relate to the wider impact of the use of timber engineered mass or volumetric wood systems on the potential for property damage and restoration time. business function after an insurable event.”
He said the key risks that need to be mitigated go beyond fire safety and extend to the potential impacts of water damage and the durability and repairability of engineered solid wood products.
“This means that clear evidence of the longevity of the timber system without the need for frequent repairs or replacements must be provided,” he said.
David Hopkins, chief executive of Timber Development UK, said Construction news last year than the perceived fire risk was the ‘biggest frustration’ holding back the building with wood.
Responding to the new roadmap, he said: “It is great to see the Government making a strong commitment to expanding low-carbon timber construction in this policy document.
“By expanding low-carbon timber construction, particularly in the housing sector, we can decarbonise our built environment while building efficient and high-quality buildings.”
The report, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, sets out plans to tackle common barriers to building with timber, including the limited supply of domestic timber, skills shortages and uncertainty from insurers.
Among the government’s other proposals is a review of its timber procurement policy; a rationalization of new forestry proposals; tree breeding programs to diversify the species used in construction; and the creation of a forum between industry and government aimed at meeting the demand for skilled labour.
Structural Timber Association Chief Executive Andrew Carpenter said: “The increased use of structural timber presents an opportunity for the transition to a more sustainable and carbon efficient construction method.
“As the only truly renewable and sustainable building resource, and with low carbon built-in, wood is an effective solution to achieve net zero and meet the requirements of the Houses of the Future standard, so we Pleased to see the government prioritizing its use.”
The roadmap was developed in collaboration with the Timber in Construction Working Group, made up of representatives from government, industry and academia.
Using wood in construction can reduce a building’s embodied emissions by 20 to 60 percent, according to a report cited in the roadmap.
Just 9 per cent of new-build homes in England were built with timber frames in 2019, compared to 92 per cent in Scotland.
The government has already committed to 16.5% forest and tree cover in England by 2050. The UK is currently the world’s third largest importer of timber and timber products.
Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Investing in timber is investing in growth and standard. The built environment is responsible for a large proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, and the use of locally grown timber in construction is key to reducing emissions.
“Promoting the use of wood as a building material is a key part of the government’s Net Zero strategy. It will innovate the economy, play a role in creating green jobs and also help achieve our tree planting goals.”
