UK INDUSTRY NEWS Sterling OSB Helps Garden Designer Scoop RHS Award
Norbord’s Sterling OSB played a leading role in the construction of a prizewinning display by Welsh garden designer, Robert Hughes at this year’s RHS Flower Show in Bute Park, Cardiff.
Robert, who specialises in garden design for domestic customers as well as a growing list of commercial clients, designed the garden along with the unique garden office which was central to his display. Inspired by modern architecture such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Falling Water’, Robert’s design created a bold and simple contemporary space to provide inspiration, relaxation and the luxury of working from home on sunny days. Dubbed the “office box”, the centrepiece of the display was a timber, open-air office shelter complete with a green roof, designed as a place to sit, relax or work. The garden and the office box were designed for quick construction and rapid removal after the show; the whole structure was installed and dismantled after less than two weeks.
“We needed a cost-effective, strong material to build with, and Norbord’s Sterling OSB offered the perfect solution. The office box included a sedum ‘green’ roof so the Sterling OSB had to carry a reasonable load. It’s easy to work with, it’s strong, light and durable. It’s ideal for something like a flat roof deck structure,” says Robert. The Cardiff branch of builders’ merchant, Jewson, sponsored the display and supplied the Sterling OSB free of charge. It was used to build the base of the garden’s raised patio structure as well as wall panels and flat-roof decking for the Office Box itself. The Office Box design certainly had its admirers, not only among visitors, but also among the RHS Flower Show judges who awarded Robert the coveted RHS Silver-Gilt Medal for his display. SOURCE: www.norbord.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF TTF Appoints David Hopkins as New Director The Timber Trade Federation recently announced the appointment of David Hopkins as its new Director. Known primarily as the face of Wood for Good, he will now take a position on the Board of Wood for Good as he moves into his new role at TTF. He replaces outgoing Chief Executive David Lennan who stepped down from the post on December 31st 2015. London Housing Must Improve Building more homes are the business community’s top priorities for London’s next Mayor, according to the CBI/CBRE London Business Survey. Nearly two thirds (59%) said building more quality and affordable housing was vital, whilst two fifths (41%) said more effective and strategic planning decisions needed to be taken.
Oregon Timber Frame Gains Award Oregon Timber Frame has also been named Subcontractor of the Year 2015 in this year’s Housebuilder Awards. Entrants from across the UK had to demonstrate their excellence in areas including health and safety, quality, timeliness, value for money, training, communication and sustainability. Teretron 2016 for Eurocode 5 The Rope Effect Ltd has announced the release of Teretron 2016, the new version of the software application for Structural Timber Design to Eurocode 5. In version 2016, Teretron facilitates the design of timber-to-timber and steel-to-timber connections, including moment-resisting connections, with all Eurocode 5-supported fasteners in the entire range of typical fastener arrangements.
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New TRADA Publications Available Two new industry documents are available that concentrate on the benefits of using timber in construction. Cross-laminated timber: An introduction introduces and summarises the nature, benefits and potential uses of CLT. Hybrid Structures looks at examples of mixed material construction (timber and steel) and explores the effectiveness of the buildings created as a solution. Howarth Hit Recycling Milestone Howarth Timber’s Scunthorpe branch has set a benchmark for sustainability after a waste management overhaul led to over 96% of waste being diverted away from landfill. The firm worked with waste management specialists Go Green over the last 12 months to assess existing processes and identify ways to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.