Structural Timber Magazine - Autumn 2021 (Issue 28)

AUTUMN 2021 | £4.95

STRUCTURAL TIMBER The latest in structural timber building design and technologies STRUCTURALTIMBERMAGAZINE.CO.UK

XILONOR

NEW FACTORY TRANSFORMING CLT PRODUCTION

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Structural Timber Awards 2021 This year’s top projects including the judges ‘winner of winners’ at Stratford Pavilion

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COP26

The UN’s climate change conference rolls into Glasgow with timber playing a key part in proceedings

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The Future of Forestry

BSW Group CEO Tony Hackney on reducing climate impact and the three pillars of sustainability

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY

SUSTAINABILITY

INTERVIEWS

NEWS

ANALYSIS

CASE STUDIES

WELCOME Welcome to the final issue of Structural Timber Magazine for 2021. It has been a year of recovery and realignment after the slowing of the pandemic, the tightening of supply chains and various material shortages.

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As this issue went to press, the UK was about to host the COP26 summit in Glasgow and inside we have picked out a few timberrelated attractions that are available to visit in person or to view in a distanced, low carbon, virtual way.

FRONT COVER: Xilonor PRINTED ON: PEFC 16-33-576 paper stock

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In a wider sense what the outcomes of COP26 will be is anyone’s guess, as international politicking and economics, rub shoulders with climate activism and genuinely inspirational work being done by industry to make the world a better place to live in. It seems the 2015 Paris Agreement and its targets to reduce climate damage and limit global warming this century to 1.5°C are nowhere near being achieved.

TM

THE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS

©Radar Communications Ltd. RELATED EVENTS: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events www.timbertalks.co.uk www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk www.offsite-expo.co.uk DISCLAIMER: The content of Structural Timber Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising, or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication and do not endorse any advertising or products available from external sources. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers.

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Here in the UK – for all the talk of heat pumps, electric vehicles and reduction in fossil fuel power generation – it can’t paper over the huge cracks in ‘green delivery’ and the government’s muddled policies on zero carbon. Ironically, the scrapping of the Zero Carbon Hub by David Cameron’s administration is even more shameful now than it was in 2015. Things change, but one thing is for certain, the wider use and specification of legal and certified timber is

a sure-fire way to provide a healthier and more naturally sustainable built environment.

If anyone knows about running a sustainable business, it’s Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW Group. Prior to the headline grabbing acquisition of BSW Group by Binderholz, he took a bit of time out to discuss pushing industry boundaries and what he considers the three pillars of ‘sustainability’ – a word fast becoming overused and on the verge of losing a true definition.

Finally, many thanks to everyone that attended the Structural Timber Awards in Birmingham in October. We have a quick reminder of the winners inside, plus a look at the project that the collective judges decided was the ‘winner of winners’.

The Stratford Pavilion used engineered timber, offsite manufacture techniques and passive design strategies, to secure carbon reduction targets and show designers they can hit those 2030-50 targets sooner than they think.

As ever, many thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters.

Gary Ramsay | Consultant Editor E: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk

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CONTENTS

THISISSUE...

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P30 CREATING A PEACEFUL SPACE The Green at St Richard’s Hospice has been designed to provide a central courtyard at the heart of the hospice, where people can meet each other to relax and includes a superb grid shell roof structure.

COVER STORY - XILONOR From the forests of Galicia in North-western Spain comes Xilonor, the fruit of a five-year development by timber solutions manufacturer Finsa. This state-of the-art facility transforms locally sourced wood into premium quality CLT – arriving via a direct shipping route to the UK.

P34 STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2021 See this year’s winners plus a more in-depth look at the ‘winner of winners’ at the Stratford Pavilion sitting at the heart of London’s 22-acre International Quarter development.

P40 OUR FUTURE ENVIRONMENT: SECURING GLOBAL CHANGE Held in Glasgow, COP26 is the UN’s climate change conference and will make the UK a global focus of all things related to climate action. The road to secure net zero carbon targets will see timber play a huge part.

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A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: the STA responds to the Government’s net zero strategy, Binderholz acquire BSW Timber, Stewart Milne Group looks to sell its market leading timber systems business and Urban Splash unveil a new housing option.

Among the highlights at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 was the award-winning Florence Nightingale Garden, including a timber pergola built by ConstruktCLT and used PEFC-certified CLT from leading French timber supplier Piveteaubois.

UK INDUSTRY NEWS

P44 NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW AGE David Hopkins, Chief Executive of Timber Development UK, says the housing supply chain must turn its attentions to the climate benefits of wood.

TIMBER TONIC AT RHS CHELSEA

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Little Kelham maximises the benefits of structural timber technology to bring former mill buildings back to life and deliver houses, apartments, shops, cafes and social spaces.

P48 RECOVERY MODE

VOX POPS

Our regular column collects some views and opinion from a range of industry insiders, covering a few topical issues affecting the timber sector and the wider construction world. We hear from Andrew Carpenter, Andrew Duggan, Dean Foskett, Sam Hart, Jon Lane and Rupert Scott.

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P46 BIG IMPACT FOR LITTLE KELHAM

David Oldfield, President of the British Woodworking Federation and Director at Arnold Laver & Co, outlines the importance of supporting the joinery sector as it recovers post-pandemic.

P50 THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY BSW Group is the largest integrated forestry business in the UK spanning nurseries, forestry, and primary processing with seven UK sawmills. Group CEO, Tony Hackney, discusses pushing boundaries and the three pillars of sustainability.

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COVER STORY XILONOR

NEW FACTORY TRANSFORMING CLT PRODUCTION At the heart of the factory lies a multiAxis hydraulic press, with a maximum force exceeding any conventional CLT plant allowing for the possibility of future diversification. Lateral pistons direct pressure to all four edges, eliminating gaps, enhancing the structural integrity of the panels, and increasing airtightness. This also improves the visual characteristics of the finished CLT.

01 From the green forests of Galicia in North-western Spain comes Xilonor, the fruit of a five-year development by timber solutions manufacturer Finsa. This state-of theart facility transforms locally sourced wood into premium quality cross laminated timber (CLT) – arriving via a direct shipping route to the UK.

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With a range of innovative materials already developed for timber construction, 2018 saw the company strengthen its commitment to the sector with a multi-million-euro investment to commission the first CLT factory in the region. To hit the ground running, Xilonor collaborated with manufacturers to design a production line specifically adapted to the characteristics of local Radiata and Pinaster Pine. The vast bank of experience within the Finsa Group acquired over decades of timber processing also proved an invaluable resource, and this partnership led to the creation of a truly unique manufacturing plant.

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Digitally controlled temperature and humidity ensures all timber is maintained at an optimum 12% moisture content from storage through to production. Lamellas are classified with ultrasonic scanners to separate raw stock before being fed into the finger jointer where full-length strips are formed. From here, the panel layers are assembled and pass through to the automated glue line. Once pressed, master panels are cut, routed, and drilled on a giant CNC bed to create the various parts of the project as specified by the customer. This includes wall, floor, and roof elements, as well as any stairs or other components as required, produced with high precision meaning quick and simple onsite assembly.

With the first panels successfully produced earlier this year, production capacity is ramping up and on track for a maximum annual volume of 30,000m3 within the first twelve months.

Plans to expand the line will allow a further 16,000m3 to be produced in year two for a total production of 46,000m3 of CLT per annum.

COVER STORY XILONOR

04 Situated amidst an abundance of Radiata and Pinaster Pine forests, the Xilonor factory is strategically placed to transport CLT by vessel directly into the port of Birkenhead, where timber materials have been distributed nationwide for over 30 years courtesy of Finsa UK.

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TALLA FIODHA As featured on this issue’s front cover, a superb self-build project by architect Frances Strachan-Friar and husband Chris, used CLT manufactured and supplied

by Xilonor and designed and installed by Glulam Solutions. Using CLT to create a modern, sustainable family home, Talla Fiodha was designed to create a variety of spaces that represent the flow of the couple’s daily life.

Making the most of the structural capacities of this material allows the creation of diverse spaces that link together with various visual grade CLT elements: the entrance sits beneath a low flat roof canopy positioned between two pitched roof volumes. Once inside, a bespoke floating staircase, made using the same CLT with concealed-fixings, sits in a double-height space to the left of the entrance, where an eaves skylight illuminates the space to highlight the grain of the exposed timber.

Further within, the open plan kitchen and dining space forms the primary focal point, where CLT allows for a high vaulted ceiling which rests upon the large, laminated timber ridge. East-west oriented rooflights and full-length windows add an abundance of light which moves through the space during the day, emphasising seasonal changes of the sun. Elsewhere throughout the house, selected walls and ceilings feature exposed CLT, with tactile surfaces giving a sense of warmth to the principal south-facing rooms. Moving upstairs, the master bedroom has a freestanding CLT panel at the top of the bed, forming separate sleeping and dressing areas whilst maintaining an open plan feel.

Designing with CLT, in contrast with traditional style builds, allowed the couple to design in more detail at an earlier stage, minimising onsite alterations. This in turn meant a smoother and shorter construction phase allowing progress of the build to be significantly accelerated. While this is not the first material in the minds of many, it is increasingly acknowledged as an excellent alternative for a world in need of sustainable and rapid methods of construction with minimal waste. The resulting buildings are among the safest, healthiest, and most beautiful of any construction type.

Looking ahead, Xilonor foresees a hugely exciting entry into the world of mass timber during a time of unprecedented change. With demand for CLT growing, the new manufacturer has received a very warm welcome throughout the industry, and the coming months will see much more from the company as it looks to establish itself as an industry leader in both service and quality.

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The Xilonor team is composed of a dynamic group of individuals with a variety of backgrounds in timber engineering, construction, and architecture. Sen Perez, based in Birkenhead at the UK office, has been working with architects, engineers, and installers across the UK to introduce the company. With a background in the timber industry, he provides a direct link between the Xilonor factory in Spain and the UK market.

“I’ve worked with offsite developers, architects and engineers for some time now, sharing knowledge, and bringing timber solutions to a range of clients across the UK,” says Sen. “My role at Xilonor is to help companies and individuals understand exactly what can be achieved with CLT, and to form the bridge between the factory and our UK partners to ensure projects are delivered as expected.

“This is an exciting time to be entering the mass timber world, and with the first UK build already installed in Scotland, I look forward to seeing many more projects come to life. I’m excited to work with a material that builds upon, and enhances, the natural properties of timber and is so widely appreciated by all who experience it.”

For more information visit: www.finsa.com www.xilonor.es/#home

IMAGES: 01-04. Xilonor’s new state-of the-art facility is ramping up production capacity and is on track for a maximum annual volume of 30,000m3 within the first twelve months.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS STA RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT NET ZERO STRATEGY

NEW EUROPEAN FUND TO SCALE UP TIMBER CONSTRUCTION

A network of pioneering developers, designers, investors and insurers have launched a multi-million euro fund to scale up timber construction on the eve of COP26.

The Structural Timber Association (STA) has welcomed the Government’s Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener, which places a firm emphasis on reducing the embodied carbon of buildings by adopting more sustainable materials, such as timber.

Andrew Orriss, Chief Operating Office of the STA, commented: “This is an excellent step forward in policy, which we support wholeheartedly. It’s encouraging to see that the Government has listened to the many industry voices that have been calling for regulatory guidance on embodied carbon and that the strategy intends to improve carbon reporting and explore maximum limits on future new builds. With the construction industry contributing 39% of global carbon emissions – and with embodied carbon accounting for 11% of that total – it’s clear that reducing the carbon footprint of the materials we use will have a significant impact.

“Recognising the enormous potential for carbon sequestration that timber offers, it’s heartening to see that the Net Zero Strategy also includes a commitment to developing a policy roadmap for increasing the use of timber in construction. We welcome the proposed cross-government and industry working group, which will be tasked with increasing public demand for sustainably sourced timber and encouraging research into overcoming the barriers to timber uptake.

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“Naturally, as the STA we believe that timber is an excellent building material when used in an appropriate context and our objective is – of course – to promote its many benefits. However, we firmly believe that this should be achieved by providing fact-based, unbiased information that supports informed specification choices.

There is no one-size-fits all solution and we recognise that there is space within the market for all construction materials – indeed, we would welcome engagement on increasing the delivery of hybrid constructions. We believe this is the most pragmatic way of achieving the overall goal of significant carbon reduction.

“To that end, we’re working closely with industry stakeholders to forge stronger links and provide stability for those working in timber construction and have produced a series of guides and a white paper, to provide a better understanding of the use of timber in construction from a risk management perspective. Our online library contains a wealth of documents, with information on all aspects of timber construction, from Building Regulations to best practice principles. It is a valuable resource which can assist those specifying structural timber for projects or provide technical support during installation onsite.” www.structuraltimber.co.uk

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Engineers Arup, modular housebuilder BoKlok, Lendlease and sustainable architects Bennetts Associates are among the backers of Built by Nature, set up by the Laudes Foundation.

Built by Nature chair Donald Brenninkmeijer said: “With building space expected to double globally before 2050, we must reimagine the way we build, from a carbon-intensive industry to one that helps remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it adds. Accelerating the timber building transformation, in a way that works in unison with nature, is critical to address the built environment’s carbon footprint.”

The fund offers grants of between €50,000 to €250,000 for pioneering projects addressing barriers to building with timber. These could include innovations in timber buildings, feasibility tests for large-city scale projects new business models and data collection schemes.

A multi-storey pre-warrantied residential building showcasing engineered timber

by UK architects Waugh Thistleton in collaboration with University College London fire engineers is one of the first projects to win funding. Waugh Thistleton Architects founder and director Andrew Waugh said: “Construction needs radical change. The way we build now is directly responsible for millions of tons of carbon emissions. We need to re-focus our efforts onto using bio-based building materials - ones that we don’t scrape from the surface of our planet.” www.laudesfoundation.org

UK INDUSTRY NEWS BSW TIMBER ACQUIRED BY BINDERHOLZ Aidan Robson, Founding Partner of Endless LLP, said: “We are proud of what we have achieved at BSW in such a short period of time and have enjoyed working with the BSW team. We are delighted to be selling the business to such a good home in Binderholz, who have such a strong track record of growth and a market leading reputation. We feel this acquisition is hugely positive for BSW employees, its customers and the whole supply chain.”

Established in 1950 and headquartered in Fügen, in Tyrol, Binderholz has 13 further sites and employs 3,000 people across five sites in Austria (Fügen, Jenbach, St. Georgen, Hallein and Unternberg), five sites in Germany (Kösching, Burgbernheim, Oberrot, Baruth and Wolfegg), two sites in Finland (Lieksa und Nurmes), and two sites in the USA (Live Oak in Florida and Enfield, in North Carolina). Binderholz has a turnover of €1.4billion and produces over 5.5 million m3 per year of sawn products.

BSW Timber has been acquired by Austrian timber heavyweight Binderholz.

The deal is subject to normal closing conditions and approval from the Austrian Competition Commission and UK Financial Conduct Authority.

The BSW Group has six main operating divisions – tree nurseries, forestry management, tree harvesting, sawmilling, biomass energy, and timber processing and distribution – operating as BSW Timber, BSW Energy, Tilhill, Dick Brothers, Alvic Plastics, Maelor Forest Nurseries, BSW Timber Solutions and Bayram Timber. BSW Group is the largest timber and forestry business in the UK, with combined turnover of over £650million and capacity to produce over 1.2 million cubic metres of sawn timber per year. The sawmilling business operates at seven sites across the UK and one in Latvia.

Under the leadership of CEO Tony Hackney, BSW will integrate with Binderholz. “Our management teams across the business

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units remain and the whole team will be supported by the Binder family and senior management,” said Tony. “The longestablished name of BSW will remain, and business will be as normal, with much greater opportunity to supply a wider basket of products. We will be enhancing our capabilities to further expand our capacity and grow further in supply to all sectors. We are all excited and thoroughly committed to support the business through a transitionary period under new ownership and have demonstrated our ability to do this. I am very grateful to our previous owners Endless LLP and the whole team for the support they have given us all at BSW.” Following the acquisition, Binderholz and BSW plan to undertake a significant capital investment program in the sites to increase capacity and broaden the capabilities of the business. “The acquisition of BSW will strengthen Binderholz’s capabilities and further broaden BSW’s product offering and service to customers,” added Reinhard Binder, Chairman of the Binderholz group of companies.

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“We are very pleased to be strengthening our position in the value-added timber market by becoming part of the Binderholz family. The opportunity to enhance our supply chain and additionally widen our product offering is exciting. This represents another major milestone in the growth of BSW and we are looking forward to drawing on the expertise and knowledge of the Binderholz team. I would also like to thank the Endless LLP team for their huge support over the last few years.”

Endless LLP and BSW were advised by MCF (Corporate Finance), Walker Morris (Legal, PWC (Financial and Tax), Deloitte (Pensions), Wills Towers Watson (Insurance) and Propaganda (Brand). Binderholz were advised by Alvarez and Marsal (Financial, Tax and Pensions), Flick Gocke Schaumberg (Legal) and MacFarlanes (Legal).

Pictured: Front – Alan Milne, Hans Binder, Tony Hackney, Reinhard Binder.

Back – Aidan Robson, Gebhard Duenser, Matteo Binder, Ludwig Foildl, Ian Henderson, Gavin Adkins. www.bsw.co.uk www.binderholz.com

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS SMARTPLY OSB FACILITY UPGRADE ON SCHEDULE DESPITE COVID

One year after a transformative €44.4million investment, the upgrade of MEDITE SMARTPLY’s OSB factory in County Waterford is on schedule—despite the anticipated setbacks of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BM TRADA APPOINTS CHAIN OF CUSTODY TECHNICAL MANAGER

The investment was procured to upgrade the drying factory, which had been in continuous operation since 1996, and is now on its way to delivering a world class drying, energy and screen system that will enhance resource efficiency and asset reliability. It will also greatly increase factory capacity.

The first announcement of the investment came at a critical time for MEDITE SMARTPLY, part of Coillte, Ireland’s largest commercial forestry and land solutions company, as it looked to scale up production levels to meet the continual strong demand for its products. This demand has not diminished throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, leading progress on factory improvements to be driven at full speed. The improved output, as a result of the project, will increase product availability even further, enabling the company to support existing customer positions and to develop new market sectors and opportunities as part of the company’s strategy and growth plan.

Ewan has worked in certification on both the client management and auditing sides for more than 12 years, bringing a wealth of experience to the role. He joins BM TRADA from the Soil Association, where he has worked for eight years as senior certification manager. Prior to that, he worked as certification manager for the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), in Brisbane, Australia.

His new role sees Ewan returning to the business, as he formerly worked as a timber technical consultant for TRADA, before moving to Brisbane. As Chain of Custody Technical Manager, Ewan is responsible for taking the technical lead for the chain of custody schemes and providing support and leadership to the certification business on technical matters relating to chain of custody certification and associated requirements.

BM TRADA, part of the Element Group, has announced the appointment of Ewan Brown as chain of custody technical manager.

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Rob Veitch, EVP Fire and Building Products at Element said: “The supply chain can be a real threat to sustainability if it is not properly managed. Chain of custody delivers reassurance to end users and

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“We are delighted that our work on this has progressed so well so far,” said Chris King, Managing Director at MEDITE SMARTPLY. “It is a credit to our invaluable team that everyone has pulled together so efficiently amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, to ensure we maintained our schedule. Every day we get closer to delivering our ‘best in class’ timber panel products to even more customers, while providing a welcome economic boost to the Waterford region too.

We produce a valued and unique product sustainably and to the highest quality, and we’re extremely excited to be able to increase its availability to our international customer base.”

This was the second significant investment to be made in SMARTPLY in the last five years, with an injection of €59million into the company taking place in 2016. Initial forecasting showed project completion in Q2 of 2022 for which the outlook remains positive. https://mdfosb.com/en

enhances business reputation; as well as proving compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and ensuring a sustainable supply chain, which protects people and the planet.

“It is crucial that we have the best engaged experts on our teams, and it is a pleasure to welcome Ewan back to the business in this new role. His extensive experience in timber and certification, both in the UK and internationally, will make him a real asset to BM TRADA.” BM TRADA is a leading international certification body and has extensive experience in the sustainability sector.

BM TRADA provides certification to all the major management systems standards, as well as chain of custody and sustainable supply chain certification, product and service certification, and UKCA marking. www.bmtrada.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS FUTURE TIMBER LEADER REWARDED AT UK KTP AWARDS 2021

A product design and manufacturing engineer, currently working with Wales’ largest offsite timber frame manufacturer – SO Modular – has been named one of eight future leaders at the prestigious Innovate UK KTP Awards 2021.

For almost three years, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate Verity Moorhouse, has been working with South

Wales offsite manufacturer SO Modular, to enhance the business operations using sustainable offsite manufacturing methods.

Verity’s time at SO Modular has seen her leading on key projects designed to improve the design, manufacture and installation processes for timber frame prefabricated ‘modular’ buildings used to build modern high-performing residential dwellings.

SO Modular Company Director, Charlotte Hale, said: “Proud is an understatement of Verity’s achievements with SO Modular, we cannot thank her enough for what she has done in the way of injecting innovation throughout our company. Its most definitely embedded a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that will continue to flourish within our company.”

On hearing of her win, Verity (pictured) said: “It feels amazing to be recognised as a future leader. It’s not something I ever imagined I’d achieve so early on in my career. It’s been a real team effort to get me here and I am eternally grateful to colleagues at SO Modular, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the Knowledge Transfer support network and advisers.”

The Welsh Government backed Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Cardiff Metropolitan University and Sevenoaks Modular tasked academics and house builders with improving the design, manufacture and installation processes for timber frame prefabricated ‘modular’ buildings.

To date the research has improved operational output and seen benefits with sister company Hale Construction of £40million+, to deliver two innovative housing projects in Swansea and Port Talbot. Funded through Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation and the Welsh Government, the team are pioneering the expansion and transition of prefabricated homebuilding in Wales into near-to-zero operational energy and near-to-zero embodied carbon, perfecting sustainable modular construction in the housebuilding sector. www.cardiffmet.ac.uk www.somodular.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS STEWART MILNE LOOKS TO SELL TIMBER BUSINESS

Stewart Milne Group is selling its market leading timber systems business to focus on investing in the growth of Stewart Milne Homes across Scotland and North West England.

The independent housebuilder and manufacturer of timber frame for offsite construction is capitalising on Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ (SMTS) position as the recognised UK market leader by putting the business up for sale at a time when the market is set to grow exponentially.

Demand for timber frame has been rising rapidly and its use is anticipated to double in the next five years to meet government housing targets. As housebuilders tackle the dual challenge of achieving net-zero carbon targets and dealing with acute skills shortages, they are increasingly turning to modern methods of construction using renewable sources.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems has experienced “stellar” growth in the last five years with a current order book of close to £300million. This growth is attributed to a combination of technical and manufacturing excellence with strong customer relationships with the UK’s leading housebuilders, including Barratt,

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Taylor Wimpey and CALA. The £100million turnover business, which employs 400 people, has become the undisputed market leader with around 20% of market share.

Alex Goodfellow, Stewart Milne Group Managing Director – Strategic Development, who is leading the sale process, said: “With the scale of the opportunity in the growing timber frame market, SMTS presents a highly compelling investment proposition. We anticipate attracting a high level of interest from potential buyers who will invest in order to capitalise on that opportunity.”

Stewart Milne Group has been investing in SMTS’ product and manufacturing innovation and capacity at its factories in Aberdeen and Witney to keep up with the extremely strong demand. Increased volumes have led to the creation of a third production facility in central Scotland.

Stewart Milne Group’s CEO, Stuart MacGregor, added: “To keep pace with demand, it’s clear that further investment in production capacity in both Scotland and England will be required. As a privately run, independent company, we need to prioritise where we invest in the future.

Since reopening last summer, after the initial COVID lockdown, we’ve seen record

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levels of activity in the UK housing sector.

The strength of our business with its award-winning developments, new homes range and record sales has enabled us to capitalise on these favourable market conditions and positioned us superbly for future growth.”

The buoyancy of the current homes market, however, does mean that land prices in Scotland and North West England are increasing rapidly says MacGregor.

“We have therefore chosen to divest our successful timber systems business to increase investment in additional sites for Stewart Milne Homes. Using our considerable land buying experience to take advantage of the development opportunities, we will invest in land in the short term and concentrate on growing our homes business in the longer term.”

Once a sale has completed, Stewart Milne Group will be primarily focused on investing in the growth of its homes business in Scotland and North West England, reinforcing its reputation as one of the country’s leading independent housebuilders. www.stewartmilnetimbersystems.com

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS MORE HOMEGROWN TIMBER REDUCES SUPPLY RISK

Forestry and Land Scotland says that the UK as a whole – which currently imports 80% of its annual timber requirement – is far too vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market.

But it also says that Scotland is well placed to mitigate that risk by stepping up its commercial forestry sector.

Homegrown grown timber makes up only around 33% of the UK market and while we are largely self-sufficient in fencing, there is significant, unmet

NEW TIMBER LEAD FOR SIG SIG UK, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of specialist building materials, has announced the appointment of Andy Sawers to lead its timber category.

An important strategic hire for the business, Andy joins SIG as Category Director for Timber, a role which will see him take charge of the development of timber sales in key markets.

With extensive experience across the timber industry, Andy joins SIG UK from Södra Wood Ltd, where he served as Procurement Manager. Prior to this, Andy worked in a variety of procurement, sales, product development and marketing roles at some of the foremost names in timber importing and distribution, including James Latham,

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domestic demand for more structural timber and pallet wood. Mick Bottomley, FLS Head of Marketing and Sales, said: “Scottishbased timber manufacturers could potentially triple production to meet current and anticipated future demand and produce a greater share of the remaining 67% of the market, which is currently imported, predominantly from Scandinavia, Latvia and Germany. There is also significant potential to expand Scotland’s one fifth of forested land area so that we can be more selfreliant in our requirements for timber.”

Sawmills in Scotland and UK produce high quantities of pallet and fencing products but mainly produce construction timber – kiln dried carcassing that is used for roof battens, floor joists and studwork for partitioned walls. Already this year prices have risen 30%, as housebuilders and related industries struggle to secure supplies due to a huge increase in building activity, post lockdown. This is even noticeable in the DIY stores when trying to get timber for home projects.

Pointing out that the timber market is set to become increasingly competitive in years to come – and with long lead time of 25-40 years in productive forestry - Mick Bottomley suggested that the opportunity

needs to be seized now: “Transport and energy costs will increase, emerging economies around the world will demand more timber and timber producing countries may be required to use more of their own timber at home as they seek to meet stricter climate protocols and net zero targets.

“Sweden is recording the lowest stock levels in 20 years and this trend is likely to be further exacerbated as current issues like wildfires, tree diseases and pests, exert additional worldwide pressures on the supply of timber.

The UK can attempt to compete for diminishing supplies on the world market against growing economies such as China and India or do something to mitigate its exposure to these forces, by planting more commercial forestry now so that we are more self-sufficient in the future.”

FLS’ sustainable management of existing productive forests aims to bring three million tonnes of timber to market every year. www.forestryandland.gov.scot

Wolseley UK and Saint Gobain. As part of his new role, Andy will be responsible for liaising with SIG UK’s 150+ strong branch network, working in close partnership with them to consolidate and strengthen the timber offering to their customer-base.

Speaking of his appointment, Andy Williamson, Commercial Director at SIG UK commented: “We have long recognised the importance of further strengthening our Timber offering and Andy’s appointment will play a key role in achieving this. With a wealth of experience gleaned from working with some of the leading names in global Timber, Andy is excellently placed to ensure our offering is truly sector leading.”

Andy added: “It’s a real honour to join a business as influential and well renowned as SIG UK, I am excited to be joining at the start of a significant new chapter for the business. From analysing customer’s buying habits nationwide to ensuring distribution

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routes are working as hard as possible for branches, I’m looking forward to getting under the skin of SIG’s timber category and ensuring our customers have access to the best possible range and service of timber and panel products.” www.sigplc.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS APPG LOOK TO NET ZERO TARGETS Following its inaugural meeting, the newly formed All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries is calling on the Government to move more quickly to meet carbon reduction targets – arguing that scaling up the existing timber sector could achieve these goals immediately.

The APPG is urging policy makers to adopt the recommendations laid out in the Net Zero Now campaign launched earlier this year by the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), which acts as Secretariat to the APPG. The campaign argues that focusing on 2050 is a missed opportunity, when increasing the timber industries’ output could allow the Government to deliver on its economic, employment, housing, and climate targets without delay.

Embodied carbon emissions account for up to 75% of a building’s total emissions over its lifespan, but timber products have the

lowest embodied carbon of any mainstream building material. For every cubic metre of timber used in construction, 0.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been absorbed and will be stored for the lifetime of the product.

By embracing the use of timber frame to deliver the 270,000 homes required in England, the Climate Change Committee suggests that 3 million metric tonnes of CO2e could be absorbed and stored in our built environment per year. This is the equivalent of taking 648,131 cars off the road.

David Warburton, Conservative MP for Somerton and Frome, and chair of the APPG, commented: “We will be taking a strong message to COP26 about the need to reduce carbon without delay – after all, why wait for the future when scaling-up the use of timber offers an easily-implemented solution that can deliver results now?

“Throughout COP26, we will be championing the policy recommendations of Net Zero Now, which include: increasing the use of wood in construction; adopting the CLC’s National Retrofit Strategy to improve existing housing stock; following

the advice of the Hackitt Review to create higher performing, safer buildings; bringing embodied carbon into the UK building regulations; providing tax incentives to encourage the use of MMC and creating a preference for low-carbon sustainable construction in Government procurement.”

For more information and to view the full recommendations in the Net Zero Now policy briefing visit: www.cti-timber.org/campaigns/net-zero-now

UK INDUSTRY NEWS SOFTWOOD SUPPLY FINALLY CATCHING CONSTRUCTION DEMAND

More than seven million m3 of timber and panel products were imported by the UK between January and July 2021, according to the latest Timber Trade Federation (TTF) Market Statement.

structural softwood imports it is highly likely the UK is at a point where there is sufficient volume of wood at UK ports and in the UK timber supply chain to satisfy construction demand.

This is nearly two million m3 above the same period in 2020, and half a million m3 above 2019 levels - the UKs last ‘regular year’ before COVID-19 – which is about an 8% increase. These record-breaking volumes of imports reflect high demand for timber products with a strong RM&I sector and a resurgent private housing market having kept supply on allocation.

“With Q3 now behind us, which we viewed as a real pressure point this year between supply and demand for timber products, we expect that over the coming months we will find there is greater stability within the UK market. However we are not yet out the woods as any return to ‘regular’ patterns within the UK market will be difficult amidst the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers, and in fuel and labour, which are likely to continue to impact the market in the coming months.

Timber prices, and structural softwood in particular, experienced rapid increases over the course of 2021. These latest TTF statistics show the average price of sawn and planed softwood in May, June and July rose by 55%, 65% and 88% respectively over their corresponding months in 2020.

Nick Boulton, TTF Head of Technical and Trade, said: “After a year of record production and nine months of near record

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“These shortages are of high concern to the timber supply chain as while there may now be enough timber in the UK to meet demand it does little good to anyone when there are no means to transport stock from ports to warehouses or customers. The challenges posed by these shortages are being felt right across the UK economy, and as discussed in our Market Statement, you

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can view their impact in the latest statistics coming out from the construction sector with growth shown to be tailing off in June and July.

“Despite these challenges, we are confident the timber supply chain can continue to rise to meet the growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon construction materials we are seeing in the market – as it has done so for the past 20 months. The UK timber supply chain has proven to be remarkedly resilient amidst an ongoing series of intense global and local pressures which have rippled out since the pandemic, as evidenced through the impressive import volumes reached in 2021.

“As a low-carbon, and crucially - amidst a looming global energy crisis – low-energy construction material, timber is likely to grow as the material of choice among climate conscious architects, engineers, developers and planners in the UK.” www.ttf.co.uk

BUILDING PRODUCTS ONE MANCHESTER SETS HIGH STANDARDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY Construction membranes from Glidevale Protect have been installed throughout a flagship low carbon newbuild development for social housing provider, One Manchester, helping meet stringent airtightness and energy efficiency targets.

Situated at Blackrock Street in Manchester, sustainability is at the heart of the development’s future proofed design. Scheduled for completion later in 2021, the development comprises 22 properties, incorporating two, three and four-bedroom houses, with two dwellings achieving net zero carbon status, making them the first social homes in the UK to achieve this landmark, with all other plots being built to strict Passivhaus standards.

The homes were built offsite using a timber frame panelised system from Kingspan Timber Solutions and constructed onsite by John Southworth Builders Limited, with design expertise provided by GWP Architecture and Eco-Res Limited.

The low emissivity Protect Thermo Extreme reflective membrane has been used on all external walls to deliver enhanced thermal performance, creating a radiant barrier to help improve energy retention, alongside the TF200 Extreme breather membrane installed on spandrel panels, offering the required protection from water ingress and the control of condensation risk. On internal walls, the Protect BarriAir air and vapour control membrane was used on all properties, ensuring airtightness results were under the required Passivhaus threshold of 0.6 ACH @ 50Pa. Victoria Young, Regeneration Manager of One Manchester commented: “This low carbon scheme helps One Manchester to be at the forefront of sustainability, whilst meeting

01 the demands of Passivhaus design principles. By using a fabric first approach, we combined Glidevale Protect’s high performance, reflective membrane for external walls with an internal airtightness and vapour control layer. This helped to improve thermal efficiency and ensure low U-values, thereby contributing to a low ecological footprint on each home.”

For more information visi:t www.glidevaleprotect.com, email info@glidevaleprotect.com or call +44 (0)161 905 5700, quoting ‘Blackrock Street.’

IMAGES: 01. The Protect Thermo Extreme insulating membrane was one of three Glidevale Protect construction products used in the low carbon scheme

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS JAMES LATHAM STRENGTHEN POSITION IN NORTHERN IRELAND Timber and materials supplier James Latham has strengthened its position in Northern Ireland with the acquisition of IJK Timber Group Ltd. Offering a comprehensive range of panel products, softwoods and hardwoods from two established sites, IJK is a division of Sarcon (No155) Limited and trades as IJK Timber and Northern Hardwood.

Whilst the companies have now become part of the Latham Group, they will continue to trade in the same way with no disruption to regular service. Former owners and Directors of the company Graham Knox and Peter Elwood will

TIME FOR TIMBER MANIFESTO LAUNCHED To avert the worst effects of climate change, the global forest and timber industries are calling on politicians to urgently support the scaling up of the use of wood in a new manifesto. The manifesto, ‘Growing our low-carbon future: Time for Timber’, sets out the case for how we can make greater use of wood to transform our built environment, which currently is responsible for approximately 40% of global energy related CO2 emissions.

Achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 requires construction to rapidly decarbonise whilst still meeting the needs of a growing urban population, the increasing demand for new buildings, and the urgent requirement to renovate existing buildings.

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continue to run the business as part of the Latham management team. This is a strategic acquisition for James Latham to strengthen its business footing in the region and provides the platform along with an experienced team to provide an excellent ex-stock service for both existing and new customers from stocks held in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the acquisition, Nick Latham, Chairman of James Latham, said: “We are delighted to have acquired IJK which will allow us to increase our panel product and timber offering in Northern Ireland. We see a great opportunity to further grow and develop our products in the region, which will complement our Abbey Woods business in the Republic of Ireland and the business we do into Ireland from our Leeds depot. We have known the IJK directors, Graham Knox and Peter Elwood, for many years, and are excited to be working with them and the whole IJK team and welcome them to the Latham family.”

Trading as IJK the company has built up a successful business and enviable reputation, providing customers with a wide variety of premium brand panel and timber products from its base in Northern Ireland.

It is Latham’s’ intention to continue to develop this range of products to reflect customers growing expectations and invest in facilities and services as we have in other parts of the Business to attract a wider range of Timber and Panel customers across the whole of Ireland. www.lathamtimber.co.uk

Wood is the only sustainable structural material which can enable a substantial decarbonisation of the built environment based on existing business models and proven technology: providing vast carbon sinks in our rural areas and carbon stores in our cities. The five recommendations included in the report seek to rapidly scale up the global forestry and timber industries and enhance the ability of the supply chain to minimise CO2 emissions across the lifecycle of any wood product: • Embed mandatory lifecycle assessments and embodied carbon thresholds within local and national building plans.

• Increase the use of wood within new build and renovation.

• Drive the growth of the bio-based circular economy through sustainable public procurement.

• Facilitate resource efficient use of wood and wood recycling, especially collection and sorting in municipalities, and develop measures to gain access to postconsumer wood, an invaluable secondary raw material resource.

• Increase training to upskill workers and create new jobs to boost the development of a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.

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Speaking at the launch of Time for Timber, Andrew Waugh (pictured) of Waugh Thistleton Architects said: “Wood and wood-based materials offer solutions based on existing business models and proven technology. This is ‘carbon capture and storage’ in action now – with no further research or technological breakthroughs needed.

Sequestration in the forest and storage in the wood is a win-win, as at the same time as we capture and store, we are also substituting for fossil fuel-based materials.” www.worldofwoodfestival.org/timefortimber

UK INDUSTRY NEWS BRAND-NEW TYPOLOGY

BY URBAN SPLASH ARRIVES IN MERSEYSIDE Urban Splash has created its first Row House homes – a new typology designed by architect shedkm. The designs for the first Row House homes were unveiled at the start of the year.

A prototype was developed using modern methods of construction (MMC) in the House by Urban Splash factory in Alfreton, East Midlands, before being delivered to the East Float area of the Northbank neighbourhood – a community that is being developed in partnership with Peel L&P at Wirral Waters in Merseyside.

Chris Shaw, Delivery Director at House by Urban Splash and explained: “Row House is the third residential typology in our awardwinning portfolio and comes from our experience in recent years in using MMC to

studi o l i m e architects Our Bristol based studio team is experienced in efficiently delivering exciting design solutions.

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If you are starting to think about your next building project then we would love to speak with you.

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create hundreds of sustainable, brilliantlydesigned homes across the country. To date, we have completed our three storey Town House homes and Mansion House apartments in places like Manchester, Birmingham, Salford and North Shields; it’s a pleasure to now bring more of our pioneering architecture to a new area of the country.”

The brightly coloured Row House will feature a distinct red cladding: they are a tribute to the Victorian mews and will be available in three sizes – a two-bedroom, two-storey home, a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half storey home, with the luxury of a roof terrace, and the largest, a four-bedroom, three-storey home.

Residents will also benefit from private terraces as well as spacious communal gardens for their use.

Hazel Rounding of Liverpool-based shedkm – also designers of the Town House and Mansion House products – added: “Row House is a pioneering new design for homeowners, featuring our most innovative thinking around modular layouts, with efficient internal space and open-up features that offer additional outdoor living space – a concept that will suit the needs of modern buyers spending more time at home. We are delighted to see them become a reality at the Wirral.” www.urbansplash.co.uk

ENGINEERED TIMBER

TIMBER TONIC AT RHS CHELSEA

Among the highlights at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 was the award-winning Florence Nightingale Garden. This included a superb timber pergola built by ConstruktCLT and used PEFC-certified Douglas Fir cross laminated timber (CLT) from leading French timber supplier Piveteaubois.

Sponsored by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and created by designer Robert Myers, The Florence Nightingale Garden was built by award-winning landscape company Bowles & Wyer and designed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.

“With sustainability at the forefront of everyone’s minds, constructing the pergola from CLT offered an

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eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials and helped to reduce our carbon footprint, which is particularly important at Chelsea, where the gardens are often transitory,” says Dan Riddlestone, Managing Director, Bowles and Wyer. “It’s the first time we had worked with CLT and, as far as we know, the first time it has been featured on this scale at RHS Chelsea, so it was important to find the right people to work with us. We chose to

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work with CLT expert, Jim Johnstone of ConstruktCLT. “Whilst the pergola was constructed in advance offsite, it was expertly assembled together by the team at Chelsea in just a matter of days and became a real talking point of the garden.”

“Once we had met Robert Myers and his team,” says Jim Johnstone, Director, ConstruktCLT. “We realised that this project would test the material,

ENGINEERED TIMBER

02 our supply chain and design and engineering capabilities. We wanted to work with companies that we felt would be able to offer solutions to problems that were unusual and who would relish the challenge. As CLT is not usually considered for external use, our first consideration was choosing a CLT suitable for an extended outside lifespan.”

The solution was a sap-free Douglas Fir supplied by Piveteaubois. “After discussing several options, including the use of treated Pine, sapwood free Douglas Fir proved to be the ideal solution,” says Elisabeth Piveteau-Boley, Director UK & Ireland at Piveteaubois.

“Its natural Use Class 3.2 durability is perfect for exterior use and its heartwood has a beautiful colour. This was a wonderful opportunity to show the benefits of Douglas Fir as a CLT or glulam construction option.”

The timber is also PEFC-certified, as making sure the wood was sustainable and responsibly sourced was a hugely important part of the project. “To see such a high profile and successful use of PEFC-certified CLT is really exciting,” says Alun Watkins, Executive Director of PEFC UK. “RHS Chelsea has proved to be a real showcase for timber and PEFC-certified material for several years now.”

Structural engineer Toby Allen from Studio Allen modelled the loads and advised on the feasibility of the pergola. With the CLT choice made and 3D modelling in process, it was necessary to arrange for the cutting and machining of the component pieces.

At this point, ConstruktCLT turned to

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03 Constructional Timber to take delivery of the full Douglas Fir CLT panels and turn them into the unique profiles that make up the curved ribs of the structure.

Due to the complex geometry of the frame and each component being unique, accuracy of the machining was of paramount importance.

ConstruktCLT provided Constructional Timber with the individual timber profiles in CAD format which were painstakingly turned into 1:1 unique templates. These templates were fixed to the CLT with spray adhesive before the CLT was cut to the required shapes using a combination of circular saws and jig saws. The profiles were then precision cut and drilled at the necessary diameter and centres to allow the erectors to assemble the profiles into the structural frame. Finally, the profiles were given a light sand, labelled and packaged ready for delivery.

“To ensure the profiles were machined accurately, a lot of time was spent in the prefabrication phase making sure the 1:1 templates were produced accurately and all the holes were set out in the correct positions,” says Will Daws, Project Manager, Constructional Timber.

“It was great to be involved in the scheme. The time spent ensuring the elements were machined to the highest standard has really paid off as the frame looks fantastic. Everyone involved can be very proud.”

Whilst the individual components were being cut, ConstruktCLT and Studio Allen were busy developing the connection details and working out how to divide the full structure into sections, that could be assembled offsite and

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04 then delivered on standard lorries to be erected at RHS Chelsea.

“It was a very high-pressure experience delivering a garden for a show such as RHS Chelsea,” adds Jim Johnstone.

“There were two days in an 18-day programme to build the pergola.

Deliveries were carried out on the Friday and Saturday with Sunday seeing the installation of the structure. This was an anxious two days, as up to this time, everything was theoretical as the pergola had never been erected before.”

With expert planning, design, manufacturing and construction, the pergola was erected on time and the Florence Nightingale Garden featured widely across the media and was awarded a prestigious Show Garden Silver Medal. After the show closed, the Garden was dismantled and will be transported in Spring 2022 to a permanent home at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, where it will be part of the restorative garden for the recuperation of patients. www.construktclt.com www.piveteaubois.com/en/ www.constructionaltimber.com www.bowleswyer.co.uk IMAGES: 01-04. The Florence Nightingale Garden showed off the best of sap free Douglas Fir CLT and was featured widely across the media including the BBC television coverage. Courtesy Richard Bloom

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VOX POPS Our regular column explores some views and opinion from industry insiders, covering a few topical issues affecting the timber sector in a challenging business and construction environment.

Andrew Carpenter

Andrew Duggan

Chief Executive, Structural Timber Association

Managing Director Offsite Manufacture, Castleoak

www.structuraltimber.co.uk

www.castleoak.co.uk

Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

AC: The fact that timber is now the building material of choice when it comes to the net zero agenda is now well documented and widely accepted. However, there are still objections often put forward around the fire safety agenda and price. Therefore, it is important the timber sector continues to provide fact and evidence to substantiate its stance that timber is safe, especially when it comes to fire, and provide the cost benefits of timber frame construction especially around speed of build.

The sector may also wish to adopt a public PR campaign, whereby the net zero credentials are made more widely known, to create ‘pull’ from the paying public which in turn will accelerate the decision to use timber frame when it comes to private developers.

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

AC: Work on CLT is not done and whilst it’s very popular in specifier/design circles there are many negative perceptions around fire safety and durability which are causing concern. In the first instance it is imperative we continue to address these perceptions and then to infiltrate various sectors for which CLT may be a solution. An example of this is the NHS New Hospital Build Programme, where in the South, NHS Trusts have decided they wish to consider CLT on net zero grounds.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

AC: A government position on the use of timber in construction has been made by France or nearer to home by the Welsh Government – when it comes to affordable homes. Recent announcements by the Greater London Authority (GLA) banning the use of timber in their affordable housing programme is completely at odds with the desire for London to be net zero.

Inconsistencies such as these serve no more than to confuse the market. Evidence-based decision making, not political ones would be an excellent starting point.

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Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

AD: It’s a double-edged sword. There is a market for timber framed homes, but this needs to grow exponentially outside of government funded schemes. We need to educate investors and developers about the benefits of timber and factory-manufactured homes, for example, the cost and time benefits of increased programme certainty. At the same time, the cost of timber is currently a huge challenge for the industry and is a barrier to market growth. We need to look outside the UK to improve our connections with the global wood economy and trade relations with the likes of the US, Scandinavia, and Germany, not to mention reducing Brexit-inflicted administration and import red tape. But we also need to look within our own borders and plant more of our own trees and incentivise the use of UK wood for elements where the wood is of an appropriate quality.

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

AD: The next shift is to develop panelised timber systems that incorporate broader offsite-manufactured components. For example, internal wall components such as plasterboard and external finishes such as completed brickwork. Manufacturing advanced timber systems in quality-controlled factory environments will help to further overcome challenges, such as labour shortages, and further improve quality of work. There is also an opportunity to explore volumetric manufacturing using timber as the primary material. This will be right for some projects which require a standard design, but I expect there will always be a preference for more flexible panel solutions.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

AD: Given the sustainable properties of timber and lower embodied carbon offsite manufacturing processes, a commitment by Government to support the timber manufacturing sector is an obvious next step. This could be influenced through the planning system, through funding mechanisms and incentives or, as previously mentioned, by improving our ties with the global wood economy.

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VOX POPS

Dean Foskett

Sam Hart

Associate Director, Saunders Architects

Head of MMC Programmes, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre

www.saundersarchitects.com

www.cs-ic.org

Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

DF: The key thing with the timber industry in this country is getting access to raw materials. There is never a question of using it as the benefits are huge, the challenge is sourcing it and the carbon involved in transporting it from other countries.

We need more suppliers in the UK and investment in the production and more innovation to encourage homegrown timber.

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

DF: Again, we are often challenged when using CLT as it has a particularly long lead time and therefore puts people off using it. On a recent project in Cambridge, we were faced with how to use non-engineered timber and material locally sourced. We perhaps should be looking at a more modular system using engineered timber. It would be interesting to look at a smaller structural cassette type system and the opportunities around this as load bearing structures.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

DF: As architects and designers, we are trying hard to push the sustainability agenda with innovative ideas and solutions but there needs to be more of this from our developers and clients. More government policy that puts pressure on and forces people to implement sustainable initiatives. We also need more government funded case studies which can help clients understand the benefits. It is about designing with timber in mind from the outset.

FOR MORE ON COP26 GO TO PAGE 40.

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Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

SH: We talk a lot about more use of sustainable materials, but there is a risk of legislation moving in the other direction.

While new frameworks are designed to encourage greater use of MMC, there are others that could potentially ban the use of timber in buildings over a certain height. In Scotland, over 85% of newbuild homes are made from timber, with a much smaller proportion in England. The issue is that England also represents around 85% of new homes being built. We need to do more to encourage the use of timber in newbuild homes in England.

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

SH: The next shift will come from new iterations of timber elements. In our Transforming Timber project, which includes a two-storey demonstrator home made from engineered Scottish-grown timber that will be on display at our Innovation Factory during COP26, we are using timber nails in the nail laminated timber roof panels, for instance. It means that not a single element of the panels used for the modular unit’s walls, flooring, or roofing is manufactured using metal components.

The industry is also looking at producing hybridised systems that will compete with steel and concrete while delivering lower embodied carbon buildings.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

SH: We would like to see the sector make a commitment to reducing the use of high embodied carbon materials in buildings. This isn’t currently required to be taken into account when a building is being planned and designed, so we need to introduce some sort of system that recognises and addresses this. What form it takes is open to debate. In any case, there is undoubtedly a requirement to measure, report, and reduce the carbon emitted during the entire process of producing buildings, starting with the materials and how they are brought to site. Ultimately, we’d like to see the built environment and construction sector treating COP26 as a springboard and catalyst for change. November’s event is only the start of a 25–30-year journey.

VOX POPS

Jon Lane

Rupert Scott

Commercial Director, Taylor Lane Timber Frame

Membership and Marketing Manager, TRADA

www.taylor-lane.co.uk

www.trada.co.uk

Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

Q: The recent APPG report ‘How the Timber Industries Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis’ continued to press the case for more timber homes. What can the timber sector do more to improve the adoption of more timber living?

RS: We gain unique insight into the reality of timber frame onsite through providing frameCHECK, one of our longestablished specialist inspection services that ensures buildings are constructed in accordance with the specification and best practice guidance. The most successful builds we see often involve partnerships, where the same project and design teams consistently work with one another. This team co-ordination is great for success: they can learn from and adapt to their mistakes, and apply them together on their next project, while introducing fewer variables (in the form of other professionals and tradesmen, with varying expertise and experience) into the process. It’s a great opportunity.

JL: Having just experienced (and still experiencing) the uncertainty caused by the fragility of the timber supply chain, I would like to see this strengthened to increase confidence in our ability to supply and deliver timber frame homes. As an industry, I wish to see the insistence of all timber frame companies providing, and adhering to, a roadmap to net zero, and for this to be enforced and audited for timber frame companies to achieve and maintain an STA Gold Assure certification. The importance of achieving a net zero future has never been so great and increasing awareness of just how well-placed timber frame is to assist in this can have only a positive effect on the adoption of more timber living.

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

Q: The widespread understanding and use of engineered timber in recent years has made CLT a ubiquitous design option. Where is the next shift in timber technology coming from and what will it look like?

RS: Tempting as it is to mention something more innovative or timely, I personally believe that the next shift in timber technology will be an increased focus on the use of glulam.

From reviewing timber industry documents from previous decades, I know that many things come and go in a circular fashion, e.g. timber flooring. I believe that the potential of glulam has never been fully realised. It grew in popularity greatly during the 1950s, but for whatever reason it lost momentum. It’s now gaining traction again, helped in part by the changes to fire regulations which are requiring people to rethink structural timber solutions.

JL: It’s very difficult to predict where the next big change will be, but with the shift towards a more sustainable future and the journey to net zero ahead of us these are changing and exciting times indeed.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

JL: I would like to see the Government enforcing housing developers to show that all their sites are net zero from the middle of the decade, with certification as evidence that each house they are building is not contributing to carbon emissions.

And then, by the end of the decade, I would like to see mandatory documentation as proof that each house built will have a net zero contribution during the lifespan of the building.

Q: COP26 – these events focus global attention on the complex issues surrounding material use and a net zero future. What outcomes or decisions would you like to see from the Glasgow event?

RS: I can see the logic in fighting to make sure that timber is sensibly handled by any policy-making decisions. However, I remain a strong proponent of the principle that in the long-term it is far better to invest in making timber the best overall solution irrespective of whatever policies are decided. Because that is how clients, with advice from their designers, decide which materials to select. I do believe that all materials including timber should be handled fairly, appropriately and with integrity.

But, regardless, a reputation for being the best solution won’t change even when the policy does.

GET INVOLVED Do you have an industry issue you want to get off your chest?

If you want to be part of a future Vox Pops panel or have any suggestions for questions and topics drop us a message at: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk

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HEALTHCARE

CREATING A PEACEFUL SPACE

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The Green has been designed to provide as much natural light as possible to assist in making the area a vibrant and upbeat one. The cluster columns used are around 5m tall and are connected using four glulam columns using both carpentry and mechanical fixings. The ‘concealed’ joints in the connections were all fabricated using galvanised mild steel and preassembled prior to delivery.

This decreased the installation time and minimised any potential misalignment during erection. The roof’s coffered timber frame pattern was carefully transposed onto the internal floor finishes below, where interlocking timber planks are arranged in a matching pattern to create a visually coherent interior.

The Green at St Richard’s Hospice has been designed to provide a central courtyard at the heart of the hospice where patients, carers and their families can meet each other and relax, and sports a superb gridshell roof structure.

Through years of planning the main aim of this project was to create a hub for families to meet with their loved ones.

The Green is surrounded by state-ofthe-art living therapy rooms which provide patients and their families all the support they need. Working together with Speller Metcalfe and Associated Architects, Constructional Timber was tasked with the manufacture and supply of this amazing structure.

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With the hospice being a quiet and sensitive area, the choice to construct this building out of timber meant that this could be prefabricated offsite prior to installation. Therefore, minimising disruption for the patients and their families. One reason behind the project was to promote sustainability, all the timber used in this project was 100% PEFC-certified. The environmental benefits were important to the client and the aesthetics of the material helped in visualising their eco-friendly approach. This in combination with the natural light opens the space and creates a bright and vivid environment.

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The grid shell glulam structure utilises natural light where possible which assists in bringing out the natural colours in the timber. While drastically reducing energy costs as there is less need for artificial lighting. The client chose glulam as the energy required from to produce it is a fraction of the cost in comparison to steel or concrete.

This goes the same for the carbon footprint/impact left by the structure, the customer requested the use of carbon neutral building products which were portrayed in this scenic structure.

The structural timber solution used for this project is not only a highly sustainable material, but it has enabled a distinctive and inspiring environment to be created, in an economically viable manner. The brief demanded a space that was appropriate for the sensitive nature of the hospice’s work, therefore there was a focus on creating ‘gentle architecture’ with minimal architectural noise. In addition to its visual quality, the use of timber has enabled this to be achieved due to its versatility, properties as a construction material and sustainability credentials. The build also saw the glulam finished with a coat of Osmo 420 UV protection to provide enhanced resistance to weathering during the installation process.

Noise reduction, underfloor heating and filtered air-handling ventilation all help to maintain a quiet, clean and sterile environment. The new building is extremely well insulated, to reduce both heat loss, carbon emissions and running costs, and to help maintain a comfortable temperature for all. St Richard’s Hospice Chief Executive, June Patel said: “There is a tranquillity and beauty in the design which has an instant impact on people the moment they step into the building.

Understanding the needs of our patients was integral to the design – resulting in unseen but vitally important elements such as using low or zero volatile organic compounds throughout the specification.” www.constructionaltimber.com

IMAGES: 01-03. The glulam gridshell roof creates a bright,

natural and relaxing open space.

Courtesy Constructional Timber

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FIRE PROTECTION

BARRIER FOR A FIRE SOLUTION? FIERFLY™ ATHENA 60:60 is an intelligent two-layer solution that provides 60 minutes Integrity and 60 minutes Insulation from both sides, compartmentalising areas to provide improved fire protection.

ATHENA 60:60 is specifically tested and independently certified for use on timber, meeting BS476 Parts 20&22 and BS476 Parts 6&7 for propagation and surface flame spread. The system exceeds requirements of Building Regulations Part B and is independently certified – IFCC 1578.

Manufactured using layers of woven and non-woven glass fibre specially treated with a proprietary coating to greatly increase fire resistance, combined with aluminium foil, ATHENA 60:60 is only 10mm thick and 2.4kg/m2, as well as being non-toxic and inert.

The unique construction of FIREFLY ATHENA 60:60 also brings big installer benefits – offering a system that is flexible and easier to fit in complex areas such as roof voids, but it also makes getting product into spacerestricted areas much easier than with some rigid board or heavier, wirereinforced options.

01 An increasing client focus on fire protection and a growing demand for a fire barrier solution that’s certified for use on timber has been addressed head-on by British manufacturer TBA FIREFLY™, with a new product addition to its specialist range of flexible fire barriers.

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The independently certified 60-minute performance has been achieved by fitting FIREFLY™ barrier either side of the timber, utilising a 100mm void to help enhance fire protection. This is supported with the use of other FIREFLY™ ancillary products such as Penowrap, which is used to additionally wrap timber at critical points.

Providing a system-based solution has been central to Firefly’s approach, covering all elements used within the installation process such as the high temperature adhesive, stainless steel staples and galvanised angles.

FIRE PROTECTION

02 The fire protection solution may be unique but is has been achieved by a mix of newly developed barriers, as well as utilising the fixing materials and methods already familiar to specialist installers. TBA estimate that as well as being more installer-friendly, the ATHENA system can achieve savings of around 30% compared to a triple-layer system that may have been used.

FIREFLY™ flexible fire barriers are used extensively in newbuild, refurbishment and retrofit applications. With the clarity of independent certification for use on timber, FIREFLY is also seeing great interest for ATHENA 60:60 in sectors such as care homes, social housing, and student accommodation, where the flexible system is used to compartmentalise roof voids and lofts.

As well as a general increase in professional and client awareness of using higher standards of fire protection in these applications, there is also a noticeable trend of inspectors, assessors and local authorities rigorously addressing the fire protection needs in these buildings, with a barrier system certified for use with timber being an expectation.

Product performance, meeting British Standards and third-party certification are of course all critical in fire protection, but so too is the standard of installation. Passive fire protection products such as flexible barriers are not checked regularly in the same way as active protection, so getting it right from the start is even more critical.

This reinforces the approach taken by FIREFLY™ in building a solution on the platform of known and commonly used installation methods and materials, but also the importance of the provision of installer training.

FIREFLY™ provides practical installer training courses at its Rochdale manufacturing HQ and in Northampton, as well as onsite training. Indeed, in 2021 the company passed the milestone of providing training to over 1,000 fire protection installers and has now broadened the offer to include training for assessors to enable them to help maintain the highest standards onsite.

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03 www.tbafirefly.com

IMAGES: 01. FIREFLY™ ATHENA is fitted either side of the timber

which ensures 60 minutes Integrity and Insulation

from both sides 02. The ATHENA barrier material is wrapped back over

the galvanised angles to protect the fixings as well as

the timber underneath 03. Close-up view of the layers of specially coated woven

and nonwoven glass fibre and aluminium foil layers

which make up ATHENA

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STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2021

THE BEST OF 2021

Winner of Winners: Arup for IQL Pavilion, London.

Sponsored by: West Fraser. Hosted by: Mark Durden-Smith.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic over the last 18 months, the Structural Timber Awards still managed to reward innovation and excellence across a range of sectors. As the industry got together for a wellearned night out, who were this year’s winners?

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Featuring compelling examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, the Structural Timber Awards this year was a celebration of outstanding projects and inspiring individuals but also the coming together of an industry after months in isolation.

over 60 companies shortlisted, giving the Structural Timber Award judges had an unenviable task. The big winner on the night was Arup for International Quarter, London (IQL) picking up the trophy for Engineer of the Year and the coveted Winner of Winners award – you can see more on this project overleaf.

The abundance of exceptional projects surpassed all expectations at the ceremony held on 6 October at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham. Hosted by Mark Durden-Smith, who ensured that the celebrations were not only inspirational but also highly entertaining, the 16 categories saw nearly 250 entrants and

The judge’s decision was unequivocal, and their commendations for the International Quarter ranged from: “excellent delivery from first principles to supply chain management to the realisation a great design” and “a creative addition to the local community that showcases the potential for wood in novel applications”.

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STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2021

CUT ABOVE THE REST

01 International Quarter London (IQL) in Stratford is a joint venture between Lendlease and London Continental Railways (LCR), with The Pavilion at the heart of the 22acre development. It was recently crowned ‘winner of winners’ at the 2021 Structural Timber Awards.

London’s Stratford has seen massive development over the last 10 years, with the Elizabeth Park inthe west and Stratford City with International Quarter to the east. Located between these two parts is the largest new footbridge constructed for the London Olympics in 2012.

At the eastern side, where the bridge meets International Quarter, is a large new public space and the location of the Stratford Pavilion. The Pavilion

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will house a visitor centre with a café, restaurants over two floors and a public rooftop terrace with amazing views over the bridge towards the park and London Stadium. The building will act like an amphitheatre towards Endeavour Square, extending the public realm from the square to the roof, generating numerous lookout points and sitting places.

The extremely lightweight timber structure sits on top of a DLR tunnel, with no allowances for much additional weight or foundations. The building structure is made from cross laminated timber (CLT) panels and glulam beams so that only shallow concrete foundations were needed.

The structure is based on a radial grid of prefabricated elements. Hardwood decking on the floor and laser-cut timber fins on the soffit define the surfaces, in contrast to the surrounding glass and metal façades.

The exposed timber and beautiful spaces created by the architecture, also benefit from generous headroom

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and glazing to give views across the Olympic Park and Endeavour Square.

These will create amazing, relaxing and healthy spaces to meet and to eat.

The structural design was optimised in sympathy with the folds in the CLT to create depth and stiffness for large perimeter cantilevers. Footfall dynamics drives the design of most timber floors, so structural engineer Arup employed its innovative analytical approach, derived from onsite testing of previous timber floors.

They also simulated the floor performance on a shake table for the client to appreciate how the floor would respond. The Arup approach to footfall design is now being incorporated into the new revision of the timber Eurocode.

The radial beam geometry provides stiff primary beams perpendicular to all the terraces to maximise stiffness. This triangular geometry is cleverly resolved in the centre of the building with a hexagonal beam geometry in which each adjacent beam is supported

STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2021

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03 PROJECT TEAM Client: Lendlease and London Continental Railways Main contractor: Lendlease Architect: ACME Structural and civil engineer: Arup Services engineer: Norman Disney & Young

04 on its neighbour in the backspans of the cantilevers, thereby creating a reciprocal frame. The reciprocal hexagon avoids the need for chunky steel moment connections, which are subject to relaxing under long-term creep.

Using a timber superstructure resulted in a 31% reduction on overall embodied carbon of the structure and a 56% reduction in the embodied carbon of the superstructure (ignoring sequestration benefits), compared to an efficient concrete alternative. The carbon stored in the superstructure frame is more than the embodied carbon of the structure (considering A1-A5 stage of LCA with and without sequestration). The superstructure embodied carbon is in line with RIBA 2030 targets for embodied carbon, even when ignoring the sequestration, showing that timber is a key component in helping the UK construction industry to achieve its carbon reduction targets and showing that designers do not need to wait until 2030 to make these improvements.

Timber frame contractor: B&K Structures Timber fins: Blumer Lehmann

Passive design strategies include shading from generous terrace balconies and timber fins. The glazing is also limited on the west façade, which is the longest façade, the directly southfacing façade is limited in length by the triangular geometry of the building, which helps to limit direct solar gains.

Direct gains are further limited by the saw-tooth glazing profile, so no glazing points directly south. Solid facade areas are made with insulated CLT walls, which provide excellent thermal insulation and airtightness behind the insulation. The upper roof above the roof terrace has PV panels to further reduce the net-carbon in the building.

Significant areas of the roof are planted, the soil will also limit heat losses through the roof, effectively improving the insulation.

offsite fabricated kit of glulam and CLT components. The striking architecture was achievable with glue-laminating timber into the required shapes and CNC cutting of CLT panels to fit the ‘stingray’ geometry of the frame below.

The building has achieved BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A rating, demonstrating highest impressively low energy in use with connection to district heating network. The project shows the efficiency benefits of district heating systems for developments like Stratford City and IQL. The Pavilion also shows that smaller projects with smaller budgets can still achieve the highest performance aspirations.

The building showcases construction benefits of timber including speed of construction, in a constrained site compound, quietly proceeding adjacent to occupied buildings and a busy thoroughfare, with minimal site traffic, staff and disturbance, using an

IMAGES: 01-04. The Pavilion is an eye-catching timber addition to London’s Stratford and sits atop a Docklands Light Railway tunnel.

Courtesy ACME/Arup/Lendlease

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For more information visit: www.arup.com

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STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS 2021 THE 2021 STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARD WINNERS ARE...

Social Housing Project of the Year TopHat - White Road

Project of the Year Maccreanor Lavington Architects - The New Refectory, Ibstock Place

Solid Wood Project of the Year Maccreanor Lavington Architects The New Refectory, Ibstock Place

Architect of the Year Mæ - Sands End Arts & Community Centre Engineer of the Year Arup - IQL Pavilion, London

Private Housing Project of the Year Innovaré Systems - Little Kelham

Client of the Year University of Warwick - Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB)

Timber Frame Project of the Year Greencore Construction - Springfield Meadows Winner of Winners Arup - IQL Pavilion, London

Custom & Self Build Project of the Year Greencore Construction - Springfield Meadows

Education Project of the Year Hewitt Studios - The Brunel Centre

HIGHLY COMMENDED Social Housing Project of the Year Strata Homes - Chesterfield Development Installer of the Year Eurban - The New Library at Magdalene College

Engineer of the Year Ramboll - Cyber Quarter

Pioneer Award Arup AND Heyne Tillett Steel

Healthcare Project of the Year Constructional Timber - The Green at St Richard’s Hospice

Product Innovation Award Hewitt Studios - K:Port Electric Vehicle Charging Station Low Energy Project of the Year Hewitt Studios - The Brunel Centre

Commercial Project of the Year Heyne Tillett Steel - 16 Chart Street

Commercial Project of the Year Associated Architects - Cyber Quarter

Retail & Leisure Project of the Year Arup - Ebury Edge Low Energy Project of the Year SNUG Homes - Forest Road SNUG Home

SIPs Project of the Year Innovaré Systems - Little Kelham

Education Project of the Year Eurban, Stora Enso, n’H International, Niall McLaughlin Architects, Smith & Wallwork and Cocksedge Building Contractors - The New Library at Magdalene College

2022 STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS There has already been a large amount of attention focused on next year’s Awards, which will be returning in October 2022. The Awards once again will reward excellence, celebrate expertise in timber technology and the ways it contributes to an attractive, energy efficient and importantly – a low carbon, sustainable built environment.

For the hundreds of construction professionals who have attended the Structural Timber Awards, there is no need to explain the promotional opportunities that go hand in hand with this event. The awards provide one of the most effective platforms to promote brands or companies alongside the best of the best.

For details on sponsorship packages and promotional opportunities – or to register interest to enter your project, please contact Amy Pryce: amy.pryce@radar-communications.co.uk

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THE POWER OF FASTENING

COP26

OUR FUTURE ENVIRONMENT: SECURING GLOBAL CHANGE Being held in Glasgow, 31 October – 12 November, COP26 is the UN’s climate change conference and will make the UK a global focus of all things related to climate action. The road to secure net zero carbon targets will see timber play a huge part.

The built environment has a central role to play in supporting the world’s transition to a net zero carbon economy.

Globally, buildings consume over a third of energy produced, and are responsible for 40% of global energyrelated carbon emissions. Following on from COP25 in Paris in 2015, almost 200 countries are being asked to produce

INTERNATIONAL TIMBER SHOWCASE

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is set to put the built environment at the heart of addressing climate change by hosting an international showcase that will run alongside COP26. Through an extensive programme of activity at its Innovation Factory in Hamilton, CSIC will demonstrate the low and zero-carbon alternatives available to the construction sector and the emerging opportunities to build more sustainably.

Over the two-week period, the Innovation Factory will host some of the UK’s most innovative prototypes and exhibits that could pave the way for a more sustainable built environment. CSIC is welcoming visitors to come along and learn more. Stephen Good,

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an update on their plans to cut carbon emissions.

Conference of Parties (COP) is the 26th gathering of the 197 member nations of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The summit brings together these member nations to discuss the broad goals of the UNFCCC including securing global netzero, keeping global warming to a 1.5 degrees level, and protecting natural habitats and communities against the effects of climate change.

Out of the 186 countries that have submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 136 countries mention buildings, 53 countries mention building energy efficiency, and 38 specifically call

CEO of CSIC, says: “Climate change is at the top of the global agenda and, with COP26 arriving in Glasgow, the eyes of the world will turn to what Scotland is doing to achieve net zero. The construction sector shapes the built environment around us and must decarbonise at pace. COP26 can be the catalyst for change.

We need to start looking at sustainable alternatives to today’s solutions, and how emerging innovation can be adopted at scale.

“The idea behind the two-week built environment showcase – BE@COP26 – is to highlight the progress already being made towards a zero-carbon future, with leading demonstrators and exhibits to inspire and educate people on the opportunities and possibilities to do things differently.”

Among the range of exhibits are the UK’s first two-storey modular home manufactured from homegrown cross laminated timber as part of the wider Transforming Timber initiative.

The success of the demonstrator project and prototype unit – which is being built with a mix of cross laminated timber, glue laminated timber and nail laminated timber components could lead to the development of the UK’s first mass-manufacturing facility for homegrown

STRUCTURALTIMBERMAGAZINE.CO.UK

out building energy codes. Most countries do not include full building decarbonisation targets and certain areas such as building materials are under addressed.

“By using more timber in construction, we can capture carbon and reduce CO2 emissions, helping to reduce the impact of climate change,” says Sarah Virgo, Campaign Manager at Wood for Good.

“COP26 provides the ideal opportunity for architects, specifiers and policymakers alike to learn from best practice in timber construction throughout the UK and across the globe.”

If you are in Scotland during COP26 – or increasingly wish to take part virtually – there is plenty on offer. Here are a few timber-related picks to keep you busy. You can find out about the event in full at: https://ukcop26.org

natural resources. The two-storey, two-bedroom timber demonstrator home will feature as part of the After the Pandemic showcase which is set to take shape on the banks of the River Clyde – close to the main COP26 venues – and will be displayed throughout the month of November.

As well as guided tours around the Innovation Factory and demonstrators, visitors from the built environment and beyond are invited to attend two key conferences taking place during the fortnight: From Forest Floor to Built Environment, celebrating the growing importance of using timber in low carbon construction and BE the Solution, which will explore the sustainable materials, processes and skills that can be adopted by the industry now and mainstreamed.

“CSIC already acts as a catalyst, bringing the built environment ecosystem together to inspire collaboration, and our role during COP26 is no different,” adds Stephen Good. “We see our role as providing a focal point to inspire action and drive change across the industry, public and private sector clients and entire supply chains”. www.be-at-cop26.org www.transformingtimber.co.uk

COP26 THE COP26 HOUSE The COP26 House will showcase what is achievable with today’s materials and technologies and is a zero carbon, timber frame building built by Beyond Zero Homes.

Sustainable wood-based panel manufacturer, MEDITE SMARTPLY is playing a vital role in the build. The project will showcase low carbon, circular solutions in building and living during COP26, demonstrating how the climate emergency can be met with products and building strategies that are already in existence.

Chris King, Managing Director at MEDITE SMARTPLY, commented on the project: “Actions speak louder than words. This building encapsulates MEDITE SMARTPLY’s commitment to building a more sustainable future. “We in the construction industry have not only the opportunity but the responsibility to put theories into action and show the world how we can build and live sustainably, using wood and ecologically responsible solutions.”

The members of Beyond Zero Homes are united by a common goal that goes beyond zero carbon: to demonstrate how beautiful, affordable, healthy homes can be developed with minimal impact on the environment throughout their lifecycle, to help us meet our climate commitments.

BUILD BETTER NOW

The one-bedroom house has been specifically designed to use homegrown C16 Spruce to avoid the need for imported timber, lending itself perfectly to the specification of SMARTPLY OSB, sustainably produced in Ireland and already stored across the UK. The build features the integration of SMARTPLY PROPASSIV, a structural OSB panel with integrated vapour control and air barrier properties for use as structural sheathing in timber frame structures.

Additionally, the build is incorporating SMARTPLY ULTIMA for the internal flooring and underside boarding, while SMARTPLY STRONGDECK is being used for the internal mezzanine level flooring.

The construction is based on a 1.2m grid, allowing it to be easily panelised and prefabricated, or even self-built onsite by two people, driving potential emissions from construction down even further. The

A Virtual Pavilion aims to showcase the relationship between the built environment and climate change, both as a part of the problem and the solution.

It will comprise an exhibition of global exemplar projects and places, within a bespoke virtual reality (VR) space, as well as a major series of events and downloadable content – to include keynotes, panel discussions and more.

To enable maximum participation from around the world, Build Better Now at the Built Environment Virtual Pavilion at COP26 will be hosted online and will be free to access to all.

Build Better Now is a collaborative project coowned by over 100 partner organisations from across the built environment sector, for which the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) is acting as a secretariat. This coalition has come together to ensure that the sector’s key role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies is brought to the forefront – in the run-up to, during and far beyond COP26.

Alongside the exhibition, Build Better Now will host an events series comprising a programme of tours and talks, keynotes, panel discussions and other downloadable content, to educate and inspire the built environment industry and public to act now to identify and deliver climate solutions at scale.

In recognition of the importance of the built environment sector in tackling climate change, the UN’s Climate Conference COP26 will feature a dedicated Built Environment Day as part of its presidency programme. Climate change has never been higher on the global public agenda and Build

design has been adapted from one of Roderick James Architect’s signature designs, the barn house. While the house has been designed with small scale, rural self-build developments in mind, the potential for it to become the future of sustainable residential building is real, as it can be adapted to larger scale developments and offsite prefabrication.

After COP26, the house will be dismantled into the original 1.2m wide panels and transported in its entirety from Glasgow to its new home near Aviemore. There it will be one of a development of 12 affordable timber houses

by Roderick James Architects. www.beyondzerohomes.co.uk https://mdfosb.com/en

Better Now has been curated to give the sector a strong voice within this internationally significant event.

“The world is ready to tackle climate change and the built environment has a crucial part to play,” says Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive, UKGBC. “We know why we must accelerate climate action and Build Better Now shows how we can get there.

Everyone on the planet has a stake in our buildings and cities. I invite everyone to take inspiration from Build Better Now as a global showcase of pioneering solutions to climate change and hope that it supports the industry to create more sustainable buildings, places and cities of the future.”

Make Architects has designed a 360° installation that will act as a centrepiece within the exhibition.

‘The Fountain of Circular Recovery’ highlights opportunities for recovery, reuse and recycling in the built environment.

The COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion has been designed and developed by the Visualisation and VR team at AECOM in collaboration with exhibition designers Install Archive. www.buildbetternow.co

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COP26 #BUILDINGTOCOP26

Following the sobering message from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, a coalition led by C40, the Global Alliance for Building and Construction (GlobalABC), The Resilience Shift, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) announced #BuildingToCOP26 — a partnership to promote radical collaboration for climate action ahead of the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26.

The #BuildingToCOP26 Coalition — a group of business and government networks focused on sustainability in the built environment — are coming together for the first time to spotlight the built environment’s potential in accelerating climate action. Working with the UN High Level Climate Champions, the COP26 Presidency and the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Coalition’s efforts will culminate on 11 November at the COP26 Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day, which will rally awareness, action and collaboration among all stakeholders in the built environment.

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions and 50% of all extracted materials. By 2050, 1.6 billion urban dwellers will be regularly exposed to extremely high temperatures and over 800 million people living in more than 570 cities will be vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal flooding. By 2050, the world’s building stock will double and almost 70% of the global population is projected to live in urban areas.

By 2060, global material use is expected to more than double and a third of this rise is attributable to materials used in the building and construction system.

The built environment’s demand on natural resources accelerates climate change, and inefficient, unhealthy buildings negatively impact human health and wellbeing. However, efficient buildings are one of the biggest investment opportunities worth an estimated $24.7 trillion by 2030. Despite this, under $3 of every $100 spent on new construction goes to efficient buildings.

To limit warming to no more than 1.5oC as set out in the Paris Agreement, the Coalition calls for emissions from building projects globally to be halved by 2030, and to reach net zero life-cycle emissions for all buildings by no later than 2050.

To meet these decarbonisation targets and establish the built environment as a major solution provider to the climate crisis, the Coalition is promoting radical collaboration across the built environment system and spotlighting frontrunner action, solutions and policy pathways across business, cities and governments. www.buildingtocop.org

DRMM TIMBER BEACON dRMM has designed a reusable timber pavilion for COP26. Timber Beacon is dRMM’s response to the collective brief of a unique global timber industry collaboration. The 25+ strong alliance of innovators in engineered mass timber and wood-based products, global forest growth and development, is led by the UK TTF and CEI-Bois – the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries.

“As world leaders discuss our global responsibilities and collective response to climate change during COP26, our message for the future will be powerfully three dimensional: in wood there is hope,” said dRMM founding director, Prof Alex de Rijke. “Timber Beacon is a wayfinding object and storytelling device showcasing timber’s ability to outperform other building materials in terms of carbon, strength, and beauty.” Timber Beacon was selected by the British Government and is now awaiting confirmation of its awarded space to exhibit at the COP26 Glasgow site for the duration of the talks.

solutions; global forests and wood products are essential to averting catastrophic climate change, and increasing the use of timber products is an easy way to help decarbonise construction, renovation, and the wider built environment.

Paul Brannen, Director of Public Affairs at CEI-Bois, said: “The global timber and global forest sectors see COP26 as the unmissable opportunity for policy makers to put into action what we already know about nature-based

“Wood both stores carbon and substitutes for carbon intensive alternatives. We are also focused on globally recognised good governance as the key to growing forests around the world.”

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The ambition is to erect the Timber Beacon at COP26 in Glasgow, then take it on to London for the World of Wood Festival immediately after.

Later plans include taking the Timber Beacon to the EU Parliament to continue advocating for policy change which acknowledge wood’s undisputed credentials as the only regenerative material that can deliver large scale construction. www.ttf.co.uk www.drmm.co.uk

COP26 WORLD OF WOOD FESTIVAL

Exciting digital features of the WOW Festival include a mobile augmented reality app, which will be launched for the start of the festival. The London opening of the WOW Festival in the Building Centre will also be your first chance to get a physical copy of the two manifestos being launched at COP26 including:

Set to highlight the role of timber in creating a low-carbon future during COP26 and beyond, the six-week celebration of global timber and global forests takes place from 25 October to 3 December 2021 at the Building Centre, London and virtually around the world.

During this festival attendees will learn how global forests and the wood products cycle is helping to avert climate change, decarbonise construction, and support social, environmental, and economic growth through governance in developing countries. This will be supported by a series of online, physical and hybrid events which will include keynote speeches, debates, webinars, and report launches calling for policy change, broadcast from the Building Centre around the world.

Growing Our Low-Carbon Future: Time for Timber – focuses on European and North American forestry and timber industries, and how we can use wood to transform our built environment into a form of carbon capture and storage.

Global Forests Need Global Governance – sets out a new vision for tropical forests, outlaying how we can embed the principles of sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity, and uplift indigenous and forest-based communities.

Speaking about the event, TTF chief executive David Hopkins said: “The World of Wood Festival will provide a bridge for the world to find out more about the role of timber in reducing carbon emissions, and preserving and growing global forests, as well as the two manifestos being launched by the global industry within COP26.”

The World of Wood was devised and co-ordinated by the UK Timber Trade Federation and CEI-Bois, representing European woodworking industries; the team has created an alliance of over 40 separate associations, organisations, businesses, and campaigns representing global forest growth and development, engineered mass timber and wood-based products from Indonesia to Ghana, Australia, North America, and China. The initiative is supported by UK Aid, under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) programme.

Sampsa Auvinen, Chair of CEI-Bois, added: “Wood is the only sustainable structural material that grows worldwide which can enable a substantial decarbonisation of the built environment based on existing business models and proven technology; providing vast carbon sinks in our rural areas and carbon stores in our cities.”

The Growing Our Low-Carbon Future manifesto is available online at: www.woodforgood/cop26 www.worldofwoodfestival.org

FIRE PROTECTION & RISK MITIGATION SHEATHING BOARD 60 -120min UKAS fire resistance testing 4 reinforcing layers for higher strength Weather resistant during construction Low moisture movement & very stable

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TIMBER SUPPLY fibre insulation producers and timberframe housing providers. Using such materials to insulate housing stock, old and new, brings a double benefit, locking away CO2 in the insulation itself, as well as through the thermal value of its installation.

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW AGE

01

03 David Hopkins, Chief Executive of Timber Development UK, says the housing supply chain must turn its attentions to the climate benefits of wood.

The new president of RIBA, Simon Alford, said in a recent blog that he wanted the body to become “the Institute of Ideas” in our post-COVID-19, post-Grenfell and climate changeinfluenced world. Whilst innovation may not be the first thing one might associate with the wood trade, a change in perception of the climate benefits offered by timber will surely drive further ideas to increase the volume of carbon capture and storage of wood in housing.

The UK’s Climate Change Committee has already identified using more wood in construction as one of the simplest, most effective mechanisms for capturing CO2. Storing CO2 in wood

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02 fibre, where it remains for the useful lifetime of the timber in a building, and then recycled through the circular economy into other timber products, or eventually reclaimed for energy, wood should be the developer’s first choice.

This goes not simply for building fabric, but for all other feasible building components, from windows and doors through to flooring, stairs, cabinetry and kitchens.

The timber industry needs to more actively challenge the wider construction sector to adopt as much wood as possible in their specifications, everywhere from housing to fit-out. This is something that, as we change our identity to bring in TRADA members and become Timber Development UK, we have front and central of our agenda. We have already re-formed the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries and are working to engage a greater range of stakeholders throughout the specification chain with wood’s benefits.

Particular product groups are likely to be key to progressing the climate change debate in housing. Britain is reputed to have some of the leakiest, coldest homes in Europe. The wider housebuilding sector often associates ‘insulation’ with products such as mineral wool. Yet the many local authority climate change officers, tasked with reducing emissions locally, may be willing to hear new ideas from wood

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The forward development pipeline for housebuilding remails strong, looking ahead into 2022, according to industry analysts. Some, though, are predicting that growth in 2022 will be perhaps less rapid than demonstrated by 2021’s rebound, following the pandemic. We are still encouraging timber buyers to keep closely in touch with timber suppliers, as the supply situation across the whole basket of timber products is likely to remain tight at least until the end of spring 2022. Planning will thus be to your continuing advantage.

Commentators also believe that, following cost increases that have been well beyond the bounds of normality during the pandemic, there is likely to be a correction in the marketplace at some point during 2022. However, with construction demand continuing apace, both at home and globally, and particularly as timber’s climate change benefits to housing become more evident post-COP26, when that correction will happen is still the subject of debate.

As an organisation, we too need new ideas for the timber age. As we welcome in former TRADA members into Timber Development UK, we are also altering our organisation’s structure. There is a much greater emphasis on timber’s benefits to economic, environmental and social sustainability, and our new Sustainability Director, Charles Law, is masterminding our approach to questions such as timber’s role in the circular economy.

Rest assured our new and expanding organisation will ensure that the business climate is as good as it can be for the timber supply chain. www.ttf.co.uk IMAGES: 01-02. Better insulation of the UK’s homes is central to

low carbon targets 03. James Jones & Sons funded the acquisition

of the UK’s first subsidy-free windfarm, located

in Inverclyde. The site consists of eight wind

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MARKET DEVELOPMENT

ADVANCING TIMBER: A JOB HALF DONE

01 Having recently won its third successive Structural Timber Award for Commercial Building of the Year, along with the Pioneer of the Year award, Andy Heyne, Director of Heyne Tillett Steel, reflects on the industries collective progress to minimising our impact on climate change.

I’ll begin this with a bold assumption – everybody reading this already knows that the best way the construction industry can minimise its impact on climate change is through increasing the use of structural timber. But is progress on track? Over the last 4-5 years designers have kept their end of the bargain, filling the knowledge gaps and in the process developing innovative solutions to various technical challenges.

For example, we have a much greater and more respectful understanding of fire behaviour in mass timber buildings, generated in part through several largescale tests, although these are typically carried out independently by clients who are protective of their intellectual property rights and sadly almost never shared for the collective good. We now understand that the guidance within

02

03 Approved Document B of the Building Regulations is too simplistic and not applicable to these complex structures.

And we also have a new breed of specialist structural fire engineers who have emerged to help us design safer buildings that are optimised through a more forensic approach.

As structural engineers we have taken the mantle of timber champions, stretching beyond our core discipline to nurture an enhanced appreciation of other specialisms. More than any other, engineered timber buildings require a holistic approach, and with our increased knowledge and portfolio of completed projects, we now understand what works best in terms of aesthetics, acoustics and servicing strategy.

As a result, we have pre-prepared responses to most challenges, allowing us to quickly squash any unfounded negativity or risk aversion before it can gain traction.

So why do I feel we have a such a long way to go and what can we do about it?

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One of the biggest logjams right now is insurance. Because decent historic claims-data relating to engineered timber buildings doesn’t exist, insurers err on the side of caution and increase premiums excessively, or more worryingly even regularly refuse to offer any cover. Certainly, the construction industry could do more to demonstrate the additional level of design and construction scrutiny that goes into a timber structure, which means in many respects these buildings are less risky, but when we do the prevailing response is frustratingly still negative.

Then there is the lack of fire test data in the public domain that specifically relates to cross-laminated timber, whether in support of auto-extinction analysis, or perhaps to provide certification of various products, such as fire rated walls or service penetrations.

Surely it is in all our interests and transcends competitive rivalries.

A recent UN report suggests current net zero pledges will fail to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C this century.

And based on my experience at present, I’m not sure we will even hit these targets without more affirmative action including:

• Make carbon targets mandatory

on new development and shift the emphasis from operational to embodied carbon • Invest in large-scale fire testing, to build confidence in timber as a primary structural material and provide evidence to justify removal of the blanket ban on combustibles in taller residential buildings • If insurers continue to maintain their reluctance, Government must intervene to make insurance accessible.

If the Government is serious about achieving their zero carbon targets, they need to review the evidence on structural timber and make decisions based on facts, not misconceptions or politicking – and today, not tomorrow! www.hts.uk.com

IMAGES: 01-03. More data and the greater understanding

of timber’s behaviour will help accelerate its wider specification

STRUCTURALTIMBERMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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HOUSING to this challenge, and it also allowed for economic repetition of elements to control costs, with different panel sizes, shapes and widths to create truly bespoke finishes. The use of BIM Level 2, 3D modelling, and component scheduling, enabled the design to be ‘virtually’ tested prior to construction and adjustments to the layout to be made allowing M&E routes to be planned prior to production.

BIG IMPACT FOR FOR LITTLE KELHAM

01

03 Completed over five years involving a combination of restoration works and newbuild homes, Little Kelham maximises the benefits of structural timber technology to bring former mill buildings back to life and deliver houses, apartments, shops, cafes and social spaces.

Little Kelham, Sheffield was once an industrial heartland renowned for steelmaking. This project involved a combination of restoration works to bring former mill buildings back to life and new construction to deliver homes and leisure spaces. The unique design reconciles the character of the former factories and the style of the new buildings which reflect its industrial heritage.

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02 Little Kelham has been created to act as a catalyst for change and a model for developing sustainable homes. Its design has won multiple awards and has helped transform the wider area from post-industrial decline into one of the most desirable places to live in the UK. Timber technology was specified to reduce embodied carbon throughout the build process to meet strict sustainability standards. An offsite manufactured structural insulated panel (SIP) solution was chosen to realise the environmental vision for attaining the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Innovaré’s BBA Approved i-SIP system achieved the challenging design brief to deliver 153 exceptionally sustainable and energy efficient homes in line with Passivhaus guidelines. Because the i-SIP System achieves excellent levels of thermal insulation and the factory-fitted triple glazing window systems fit tightly into the panel, enhanced airtightness was achieved which will reduce heating requirements and in-use carbon emissions for the lifetime of the homes.

The Innovaré site team were able to install the structure for a dwelling in just one week and the installation of the structural i-SIP System for eight phases took just 67 weeks to complete.

To maintain the industrial heritage, the three-storey townhouses incorporate a complex ‘saw tooth roof’ complete with a specialist standing seam finish.

The design and manufacturing flexibility of the i-SIP System was ideally suited

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The BBA Approved i-SIP System with triple glazed windows was selected as the main fabric for the townhouses and apartments. This combination allows energy efficient temperature regulation and fresh air all year round, resulting in low heating requirements and healthier, more sustainable living environments. Innovaré’s design team provided specialist knowledge on how to configure the i-SIP System to perform within Passivhaus guidelines. Shifting the loading into the floor zone and onto internal walls offered greater flexibility over the area and positioning of windows to optimise daylight and thermal comfort. i-SIP is a large format panelised system made from an insulating layer sandwiched between two timber sheets, this advanced technology achieved the challenging design brief to deliver the 153 homes. The i-SIP System also allows flexibility over the exterior finish.

In this case brick and a white render were selected. The Innovaré site team were able to create the structure for a dwelling a week, making it easy to programme for follow-on trades efficiently. The complete installation of the structural i-SIP System for the eight phases took just 67 weeks. Speed and predictability of build were also critical factors to simplify the scheduling for follow-on trades and accelerate the handover of completed dwellings. Little Kelham has been named in the Sunday Times’ ‘Best Places to Live in the UK’ guide and was also crowned residential winner of the RICS Yorkshire & Humber Awards. www.innovaresystems.co.uk

IMAGES: 01-03. Sheffield’s Little Kelham has been transformed into

a vibrant place to live and work. Courtesy Innovaré Systems

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SECTOR SKILLS Training and investment in the development of our workforce should be a priority as we recover from the pandemic. Our Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum) initiative enables us to collaborate with members to tackle the skills and training shortage and increase the provision of quality training for the whole sector.

RECOVERY MODE

01 David Oldfield, President of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and Director at Arnold Laver & Co, outlines the importance of supporting the joinery sector as it recovers postpandemic.

Since taking on the BWF presidency in July 2021, I have been reflecting on the challenges the industry has faced during the pandemic and due to the changes brought about through Brexit.

It’s been a difficult time for many of our members but continuing to help them navigate these challenges is a key focus of my role.

I believe there are three areas that will continue to be fundamental to the growth and future success of our sector – supporting BWF member business growth: attracting the next generation of talent into our sector and developing the talent within the profession and ensuring that sustainable construction doesn’t slip down the agenda throughout the pandemic recovery.

The future of our sector is dependent on several factors which impact on growth, including the supply chain challenges we’ve faced over the past

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Understandably, businesses have been focusing on navigating large scale issues such as Brexit, supply chain issues and recovering from the pandemic, and in the midst of these challenges it would be easy for sustainability to slip down the agenda.

02 months. I’ve seen first-hand the pressure this has placed on our members and sector. At the BWF we’re working alongside our industry partners to address challenges across the entire construction industry.

Another key change for our members will be the introduction of UKCA Marking to replace CE Marking.

Although the deadline for the introduction of UKCA Marking has been postponed until 1 January 2023, the coming year will be vital for our sector in preparing for this change.

We also welcome the changes which will be brought about by the Building Safety Bill – we’re closely monitoring the development of the legislation and will continue to represent our members’ views through Government working groups and key industry bodies, such as the Construction Products Association.

For our sector, attracting the next generation of talent and continuing the professional development of those within our profession will be crucial to recovery post-pandemic, especially in the wake of Brexit and its impact on skills availability. The Government has made new funding available to support economic recovery through initiatives such as the National Skills Fund initiative, which will be of support to our members as they return to full, or in some cases increased, manufacturing capacity.

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As BWF President and an advocate for sustainable products, I believe we must keep sustainability at the top of the agenda. Now is the time to make the benefits of timber as a sustainable building material known to both the construction industry and the general public. With the UK hosting COP26, we should use this historic event and the upcoming Environment Bill as an opportunity to drive forward the use of timber, and to support the Government’s 2050 target for net zero carbon emissions through the use of sustainable building materials.

At the BWF, our successful schemes such as the Stair Scheme and Fire Door Alliance, as well as our activity to support the windows and doors market, continue to promote the benefits of timber and champion the Construction Leadership Council’s plan and change programme (ConstructZero) for net zero carbon emissions.

I believe that celebrating the success of our sector and recognising our achievements is hugely important, particularly in these challenging times.

I’m excited to become immersed in all aspects of the BWF and look forward to representing and supporting all our members as they grow and develop at such a pivotal time for our sector. www.bwf.org.uk

IMAGES: 01. David Oldfield, President of the British Woodworking Federation 02. A new generation of industry entrants are seeking

rewarding sustainable careers

CLADDING THAT MAKES A STATEMENT

Photography © Karl Harrison Landscapes

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LAST WORD

THE FUTURER OF FORESTRY truly sustainable, zero-carbon buildings can also be beautiful, comfortable to live in and low-cost to build. It’s just one of the solutions to the climate emergency that’s already available, in theory.

01 BSW Group is the largest integrated forestry business in the UK spanning nurseries, forestry, and primary processing with seven UK sawmills. Group CEO, Tony Hackney, discusses pushing boundaries and the three pillars of sustainability.

‘Sustainability’ has fast become one of the most used buzzwords across several industries – and forestry is no exception.

While constant use of the word can render it meaningless, and ironically unsustainable, it’s encouraging to see more businesses committing to producing timber in a way that minimises environmental impact.

When carefully managed, timber is a naturally renewable material. It’s also incredibly versatile and a crucial part of the UK’s manufacturing and construction industries. In fact, recent years have seen a marked resurgence in the use of timber frames in UK housing.

The ‘COP26 House’, developed by BSW Group and Roderick James Architects using a timber frame, demonstrates how

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I use the term ‘in theory’ because forests and woodlands currently cover approximately 13% of the UK’s total land area, lagging behind the EU average of 37%. Consequently, twothirds (67%) of the timber consumed in the UK is imported, contributing to harmful greenhouse gases and global climate change. This begs the question: how can we reduce our country’s dependence on timber imports? The answer relies on the UK producing more homegrown timber, supporting the growth of the British timber industry, and having a positive impact on sustainability.

For forestry businesses to be sustainable, they must operate in harmony with their surroundings. They must ensure society’s demand doesn’t compromise the resource for current and future generations. And they must do so holistically, delivering social, environmental, and economic benefits – the three pillars of sustainability. So, why is it important to take sustainable forestry seriously? Simply put, we cannot survive on this planet without forests. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we need as humans in return.

Increased woodland cover offers a retreat for wildlife and ecosystems, including plants, insects, and small mammals, which we all have a responsibility to protect. Well-managed forests also provide much-needed space for human recreation and physical activity, with wooded walks and bridleways boosting health and wellbeing. Plus, research shows that trees reduce flood risk through slowing, storing, and filtering water, which we will come to rely on more unless we tackle the climate crisis head-on.

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BSW Group, the UK’s largest forestry business, believes it’s the role of businesses like us to push the boundaries and set the standards when it comes to operating sustainably. We’ve been busy evolving with the world around us, and it’s great to see lots more companies doing the same to reduce their carbon footprints. But the work of lowering emissions, reducing waste, and improving the process of reducing, reusing, and recycling raw materials can’t just be a box-ticking exercise tacked onto the job description of department heads.

If you’re serious about improving your company’s sustainability – and capturing all the associated benefits – you need to get serious about your willingness to change and adapt. Ask yourself, can this be done more sustainably? This means relentlessly innovating and taking advantage of new technology.

For example, here at BSW Group, we previously upgraded our mechanical handling vehicles to models with Tier IV diesel engines, which reduced harmful emissions by 85%. Going one step further, we’ve recently taken the decision to switch to Tier V powerplant, producing zero emissions and helping to eliminate the fine soot particles that cause air pollution and have negative health effects. Efficiency is also a key part of this journey. Of course, machinery is needed for the manufacturing of timber, but the industry needs to work on operating machines in an energy-saving manner and explore more renewable energy sources.

As an industry and as individuals, it is important that we are neither naïve nor complacent about our responsibility to reduce the negative impact on our planet. The great strides that have been made in recent years show that the job, whilst difficult, is not impossible.

With co-operation, innovation, and a willingness to adapt, we can all do our bit to ensure that our hard work benefits future generations. www.bsw.co.uk

IMAGES: 01. Tony Hackney, CEO, BSW Group