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Combilift’s
To
Welcome to the first issue of Structural Timber Magazine of 2025. The year has started with plenty of fresh activity surrounding timber in construction and new publications extolling its structural and wellbeing benefits and providing confidence on where your wood originates.
t was encouraging for everyone working in the UK timber sector to see the Timber in Construction Roadmap given the green light to proceed recently. Environment Minister Mary Creagh MP confirmed the government will ‘recommit’ to the Roadmap’s strategic aims to get Britain building using sustainable and low carbon building materials. The ambition to build 1.5 million sustainable and affordable homes, boost the circular economy and drive further investment into domestic timber and woodprocessing supply chains are all part of Labour’s wider Plan for Change.
‘Aim high’ as the old saying goes. You can read more inside on Roadmap announcements and the way forward from the STA’s Andrew Carpenter – whom as we went to press announced that he will be stepping down from his role as CEO after 14 years. A true champion of timber, Andrew will still be staying in the industry and devoting time to delivering the Roadmap. “The industry is entering a pivotal moment, with a renewed focus on timber in construction,” he said. “I now need to work with my timber industry partners
Gary Ramsay | Consultant Editor
to understand how best I can add value in delivering the Roadmap and driving it into the UK construction sector.”
Elsewhere this issue we report on two pieces of far-reaching research into timber. Led by architects dRMM ‘Measuring Mass Timber’ lays out clearly how mass timber buildings can support low carbon construction but also how its biophilic properties can help people feel more connected to nature and provide healthier spaces for us all. And of course, all timber comes from a forest
Responsible sourcing, ethical forestry practices and clear sustainable supply chains are at the core of IMPACTT. This two-year initiative sought to bring greater transparency to timber supply chains with one of its aims to introduce ‘journey’ QR codes for timber buildings – much more on all this inside, plus a look inside the newly opened ‘Work in Progress’ pavilion for the Robotics Living Lab at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Thanks to all our contributors, advertisers, and supporters for their help this issue, it is always genuinely appreciated.
Email: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk
We are always looking for the latest industry news, people appointments and project case studies using all types of timber systems and products. For use both in print and online please send them to me at the contact email above.
Front cover: Leitz Tooling
Print
For more information on the STRUCTURAL TIMBER CONFERENCE, contact Emily Dyer on 01743 290025 or emily.dyer@radar-media.co.uk
01.10.2025
NCC, BIRMINGHAM
Following a year of remarkable achievements and innovations, the conference promises to showcase the benefits and explore the possibilities of timber construction. With influential speakers and engaging discussions, the STRUCTURAL TIMBER CONFERENCE 2025 will address the challenges, present solutions and analyse successes, that help drive the industry forward.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Tickets include access to the Conference, Exhibition and lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
ENTER THE AWARDS
The STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS entry platform is open - start getting your entries ready!
ENTRY DEADLINE FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025
For more information on the STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS, contact Ellie Guest on 01743 290005 or ellie.guest@radar-media.co.uk
Featuring compelling examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, the STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS will also be taking place on the evening of 01 October 2025 at the National Conference Centre, following on from the Conference. Heading into the eleventh year, the Awards will celebrate outstanding projects, inspiring individuals and the coming together of an industry.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The sponsorship packages are already selling fast –limited opportunities remaining for 2025!
For more information contact Megan Mooney on megan.mooney@radar-media.co.uk or 01743 290021
Cover: LEITZ TOOLING
As precision-engineered timber elements are needed in higher quantities and qualities than ever before, Leitz Tooling’s CNC manufacturing solutions are bringing high-performance precision machining results to help deliver countless projects specifying structural timber.
26 Timber Roadmap Gets Green Light
The recent ministerial approval of the Timber in Construction Roadmap is hugely encouraging and a positive step in building our future sustainably, says STA CEO, Andrew Carpenter.
30 Innovate and Thrive: Unlocking Greener Potential
Trevor Richards, Operations Director at Cogent Consulting, explores how innovation in construction can unlock new levels of positivity, productivity and growth with timber and circularity in mind.
32 The Hidden Threat
Timber provides countless structural solutions, but one significant emerging risk is moisture and water damage. Phil O’Leary, Director at Filros Timber Consultancy, highlights some areas of concern.
36 Creating Mass Timber Confidence
Industry News
A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: Environment Minister Mary Creagh confirms Timber in Construction Roadmap progress, DTE achieves CCPI Mark for its roof trusses and joists and SIP Build UK announce a new strategic partnership to grow and expand the use of SIP technology.
40 Building, Living and Working Well
New research has revealed that mass timber buildings produce on average 50% less carbon than industry equivalents and leave users with a consistent sense of comfort and relaxation.
46 Generation Next
Professor Robert Hairstans is a familiar face to many in timber circles. We caught up with him at the Skylon Campus, to talk about timber, education and promoting more offsite manufacture.
5o Prepare for IMPACTT
The key findings from the IMPACTT project were recently unveiled showing how digital technology can help bring greater clarity to timber supply chains and responsible sourcing.
56 Timber Fashion Statement how important timber is in decarbonising the built environment and how
Beyond the Build
Leitz Tooling’s offsite CNC manufacturing solutions, are bringing high-performance precision machining results to countless projects specifying structural timber.
As the UK strives towards net zero, structural timber is growing in popularity thanks to its environmental benefits and natural aesthetics. With this rise in popularity, precision-engineered timber elements like cross laminated timber (CLT), glulam beams, and timber frames are needed in higher quantities and qualities than ever before. As global technology leader for precision timber tooling systems, Leitz Tooling has the high-performance solutions required to ensure the growth and success of structural timber projects.
The shift towards offsite manufacturing in structural timber construction is driven by an unwavering demand for precision. In an era where building tolerances are becoming increasingly stringent, and the complexity of timber structures grows, traditional methods simply cannot deliver the required accuracy and repeatability. This is where the synergy between offsite CNC machining and high-performance tooling becomes paramount. For structural elements like CLT and glulam beams, even the slightest deviation can compromise structural integrity and lead to costly rework and project delays. CNC technology, when paired with advanced tooling solutions from Leitz, ensure that every cut, every joint, and every dimension is executed with meticulous accuracy.
Total accuracy
High-quality saw blades are crucial for accurate sizing of CLT and glulam beams. Whether used for sawing, sizing or slotting: saw blades must maintain their accuracy to ensure smoothy integration of offsite manufactured components. Leitz manufactures a range of sawblades –all for specific materials and applications.
The Katana saw blade for CNC is ideal for offsite structural timber machining. Manufactured using high-grade carbide from our own factory,
Manufactured using high-grade carbide, the Katana has been engineered for excellent cutting results and longer performance time.
High quality saw blades are crucial for accurate sizing of mass timber
the Katana has been engineered for excellent cutting results and longer performance times due to less vibration and the optimised tungsten carbide quality. This translates to finish cut quality sawing that eliminated the need to rework. The Katana saw blade also reduces noise by -8 dB (A), and vibrations too, resulting in vastly improved tool life compared to standard circular saw blades. The Katana can also be sharpened up to 10 times, ensuring it provides a highly sustainable cutting solution that created short production times through high feed rates and cutting speeds.
“I’ve dealt with Leitz for 20yrs+ and the reasons are very simple. Their products are great quality… the helical planing blocks have been a game changer for my business in saving time and money. Why would I go anywhere else?”
Adrian
Sams, Via Google
Downtime in offsite CNC construction is another bottleneck that can slow down production and lead to increased cycle times and project costs.
The HeliCut Monoblock is another sustainable and innovative solution, engineered to reduce machining time, improve finish quality and support easy on-site assembly of solid wood components. A finalist in the Structural Timber Awards, this new CNC tool design can be used for various applications such as drilling holes, pockets, tenons and rebates accurately and in perfect quality. This eliminates time-consuming tool changes and expensive downtime. The HeliCut utilises a
Mass timber creates visually stunning buildings and need high performance tools to create them
The HeliCut Monoblock CNC tool can be used for various applications such as drilling holes, pockets, tenons and rebates accurately and in perfect quality
shear cut angle to ensure tear free milling in solid timber, combined with a 25% reduction in power consumption – this tool lowers manufacturing costs by reducing rework, downtime and power costs. Finally, thanks to its use of high-grade materials, the HeliCut achieved exceptional tool life – with easy in-house replacements thanks to the replaceable carbide inserts.
Price considerations
Rising prices of raw materials are bringing the topic of resource efficiency for wood construction companies more and more into focus. The extra-long HS-twist drills offers a solution in this area that is especially suited for Hundegger machines.
The new range of XL boring bits has been specially designed to meet the requirements and materials used in wood construction and enables users to save noticeably more time when boring deep holes, with a 50% increase to positional accuracy on exit cuts. In addition, the tool life is up to 10 times longer than commercially available drills, which also reduces production costs. Leitz also offers Marathon coating – a high-performance coating that enables tools to cut at faster speeds and typically increases tool life by 30%.
Leitz Tooling is more than just a supplier for CNC tools and their servicing. Working closely with companies of all sizes throughout their 145+ years history, Leitz has developed a massive knowledge base for process optimisation, tooling, machinery and woodworking. With eight service centres nationwide, Leitz Tooling offers free technical support to all their UK customers – including site visits, health and safety checks, and bespoke tool designs for specific customers and/or applications. Leitz have also developed their ‘Xpert’ app where you can find tool parameters and use the machining calculator to drive maximum output for your tooling.
If you’re looking to improve your manufacturing efficiency, reduce costly downtime and rework or streamline your manufacturing processes to increase productivity, contact: contact-uk@leitz.org www.leitz.org or shop.leitz.org
CLT Toolbox Offers Fresh Digital Design Options
Australian-based startup CLT Toolbox has now launched in Europe and is available for UK users and seeks to accelerate the growing shift to specifying mass timber buildings. CLT Toolbox offers a design software platform that provides structural engineers with tools to design complex timber structures and includes a range of supply chain functionalities, enabling users to source materials and components efficiently and more sustainably.
Founded by Adam Jones, Ringo Thomas Ikhsan Agustian and Lelissie Bedada, it aims to remove the hurdles for structural engineers to become timber specialists and accelerate the transition to more sustainable
building materials to decarbonise the construction industry. Based in Melbourne, the team is dedicated to developing software infrastructure that simplifies and enhances the design of mass timber buildings. The company has forged partnerships with leading European suppliers, including KLH, Eurotec, Rothoblaas, Spax, Sihga, XLAM Dolomiti, and Södra, as part of its initial launch.
“Our software is tailor-made for the unique demands of timber design,” says CEO Adam Jones. “From mass timber connections and advanced screw design to supplier-specific European Technical Assessments (ETAs), fire design, and complex calculations like beam penetrations, we’re setting a new standard for timber engineering software.”
As engineers adapt to the upcoming updates in the Eurocode, traditional software solutions and spreadsheets are struggling to keep pace. CLT Toolbox addresses this challenge by incorporating the New Eurocode requirements from day one, empowering engineers with unparalleled precision and efficiency. “I saw immense potential in CLT Toolbox from the early announcements on and wanted to join the project,” said Jörn Rüschenschmidt, Global Sales Manager for screw supplier Eurotec. “A software making mass timber accessible to the ‘masses’, was a gamechanger. Now with the availability in Europe and the UK projects can be accelerated in a collaborative manner involving designers, engineers and suppliers. I love the ease of use and the overall accessibility of the platform and the knowledge behind structural timber engineering.”
In addition to its technical capabilities, CLT Toolbox features built-in educational tools to address the significant variability in structural engineering expertise across Europe and the UK. These tools ‘democratise mass timber design’ making it accessible to engineers of all experience levels.
In 2024 alone, the team conducted over 200 meetings with European engineers to fine-tune the platform to meet regional needs. The company has also secured €1.5million in funding from Australian venture capital firms, fuelling its growth and development for global expansion. “We’ve built a team of 44 and worked tirelessly to develop industry-leading software tailored for the European market,” said Adam Jones. “Our monthly release cycles allow us to quickly adapt and deliver the features engineers need most. The future of our industry is incredibly exciting, and we’re thrilled to play a pivotal role in it.”
https://clttoolbox.com
TRANSFORMING CONSTRUCTION
The UK’s only Industrialised Construction Conference and Exhibition is driving an industry-wide shift towards a more advanced approach to construction.
Construction Carbon and CIBSE
Environmental Skills Collaboration
Construction Carbon, a leading carbon verification company, in collaboration with CIBSE, have announced the development of the Lifecycle Carbon Assessor Practitioner Training programme. This course is aimed at standardising assessments within the construction industry and will be available from May 2025. Its development has been supported by Amazon.
This ground-breaking initiative comes in response to the increasing requirement for skilled professionals capable of consistently assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of construction projects throughout their lifecycle. It will consist of a series of online modules followed by an examination, after which a formal certificate will be granted to those who successfully complete the formal evaluation element of the course. The programme has been designed by experts in the field and aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively evaluate and report on the whole life carbon impact of buildings.
The Life Cycle Assessor (LCA) training is in two parts, the foundation level is free and is available for anyone interested in buildings lifecycle assessment with over 500 students having completed the training. The CIBSE Lifecycle Carbon Assessor Practitioner Training programme was announced at the Futurebuild Conference on the 5 March, with over 180 applicants pre-enrolled.
Gilbert Lennox-King, CEO of Construction Carbon stated: “At Construction Carbon, we
are committed to driving positive change in the built environment. This partnership with CIBSE Training, supported by several partners including Amazon and the Laudes Foundation, represents a significant step forward in our mission to simplify decarbonisation within the construction industry. By empowering professionals with the skills to assess lifecycle impacts in a consistent way, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future.”
CIBSE, known for its expertise in building services engineering and professional development, will play a crucial role in delivering the training programme. Simon Parker, Managing Director of CIBSE Services, emphasised the importance of equipping industry professionals with the necessary skills to address sustainability challenges, stating: “As the demand for sustainable buildings continues to grow, it is essential that professionals possess the expertise to evaluate and improve environmental performance. Building on CIBSE’s other work on the embodied carbon in building services such as TM 65 and TM65.3, this programme will provide participants with the knowledge needed to excel in this crucial aspect of modern construction.”
As co-founder of The Climate Pledge, Amazon has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the CIBSE website for more information and to secure their place in this programme.
www.cibse.org/training
www.constructioncarbon.com
NEWS IN BRIEF
Solar Future for Deeside Timberframe
Deeside Timberframe has taken a significant step towards achieving its net zero goals with the installation of a solar panel system at its Throsk manufacturing facility. The solar installation consists of a 107kW system comprising 213 solar panels and two inverters. The energy produced will supply 40% of the total electricity demand at the site.
Muir Timber Systems Completes Delivery of Timber Kits
Muir Timber Systems has completed the delivery of timber kits for 24 affordable homes in the village of Plean, Stirling, including two wheelchair-accessible bungalows on behalf of Stirling Council. The project marks the latest milestone in the partnership between Muir Timber Systems and Glasgow-based homebuilder Carmichael Homes as part of an ongoing £420,000 contract.
New Facility for James Donaldson Timber
James Donaldson Timber has taken over a leasehold on a new 110,000sq ft purpose-built manufacturing facility in Chorley. The flagship site at Botany Bay Business Park will more than double current production capacity and improve operational efficiencies. The facility has scope for 24-hour operations if required, future-proofing the site to allow for market growth and diversification.
Business Management Students Visit West Fraser Plant
West Fraser Europe welcomed higher business management students from Culloden Academy to visit its plant and learn how the company provides career opportunities and pathways as a key employer for the local community. Twenty-eight students joined West Fraser staff for an in-depth look at their day-to-day roles at the manufacturing facility.
SAM Mouldings Announces Landmark Investment
SAM Mouldings, the UK and Ireland’s leading manufacturer of MDF mouldings, has announced a £20million investment in its 35th year of business in addition to the £7million SAM already invested during 2023/24. £10 million of this investment will be spent on installing new state of the art bespoke machinery which will allow SAM to double its current output.
NorDan Sales Booming
NorDan UK has announced another record year with a turnover of £96.9million in 2024. Craig Greenwood, who took over as Managing Director at the start of last year said the results put the business on track to hit its growth objective of £100million this year. NorDan UK is the country’s leading manufacturer of aluminium-clad timber windows and doors.
Lowfield Timber Frames Invest in Hundegger Robotics
Following the unfortunate fire in 2024, the team at Lowfield Timber Frames rallied to minimise the disruption and are now bigger and better than ever.
The replacement building has been re-planned, and all the machines are up and running more efficiently than ever. By making better use of the space, Lowfield’s now have room to further their capabilities and have ordered their third state-of-the-art CNC controlled Hundegger – the first ROBOT-Compact 650 to be ordered into the UK, arriving in April 2025. Despite the name, the ROBOT-Compact is anything but small. The ROBOT-Compact can handle timber with a cross-section of up to 300x650mm and 12m in length.
“As we look to reduce the amount of embodied carbon associated within our buildings, the ROBOT-Compact will allow us to move away from our reliance on steelwork and consider sustainable timber solutions,” says Darren Jarman from Lowfield Timber Frames. Efficiency is achieved through the proven use of the 6-axis robot unit with an automated tool changer, meaning bigger and better opportunities on the horizon for larger construction projects, but with even better accuracy than before.
Chris Osborne from Hundegger added: “Lowfield Timber Frames are a long-time customer of Hundegger. They have two existing machines – a Speedcut and Turbo drive saw. For the increasing number of structural timber projects, the flexibility and capabilities for the ROBOT Compact to process engineered timbers is a logical addition to Lowfield’s new factory.”
This investment not only represents a recovery from the setback but also positions Lowfield Timber Frames at the forefront of sustainable timber construction technology.
www.hundegger.com
HOW YOU BENEFIT:
For cross-sections from 20 x 60 mm to 300 x 650 mm
With patented and proven ROBOT-unit for all-round 6-axis machining
Tool changer for up to 28 different tools
Small installation dimensions without structural changes on your hall floor, from 17.5 m x 5.8 m with 8 m wood length
Precision and performance sensibly combined
Your perfect partner for processing of buildings in timber!
hundegger.com Hundegger UK Ltd.
Lowfield Timber Frames will use the first ROBOT-Compact 650 to be ordered into the UK, arriving in April 2025
Government Commits to Increase the Use of Timber in Construction
Ambitious new plans to increase the use of timber in construction were announced by Environment Minister Mary Creagh CBE MP at the Timber in Construction Summit in London in February, saying: “This Government is getting Britain building. Our Plan for Change will build 1.5 million homes this Parliament. Timber will play a vital role benefitting development and nature.” The new Timber in Construction (TiC) Roadmap is being introduced to help get Britain building using timber – creating economic growth, rural jobs and helping meet housebuilding targets in a sustainable way.
David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK, said: “The Government’s commitment to the Timber in Construction Roadmap is a real boost
to the low-carbon construction sector. We have a great opportunity to increase our housing stock while growing our forests and reducing our emissions output. As a biobased industrial supply chain, the timber sector can play a unique role in the low-carbon economy – sequestering emissions in the forest and storing them in our buildings. With a rough value of £10billion to the UK, this growth in timber construction can also play a vital role in the Government’s wider growth agenda.”
The TiC Roadmap was first published at the end of 2023. This new and improved version goes even further, highlighting the Government’s ambition to boost the domestic timber industry and kickstart the construction sector without compromising on quality, safety or carbon
emissions. It also demonstrates how the use of timber in construction fits with the government’s own growth agenda, by encouraging the use of sustainable, low carbon building materials and ensuring carbon emissions are considering during the design, construction and use of buildings.
Alex Goodfellow, Chair of the Confederation of Timber Industries, and CEO of Donaldson Offsite, represented the timber industry when he said: “The Minister’s support for the Timber in Construction Roadmap shows the Government’s firm commitment to a growth agenda: growth for forestry, for housing, for low-carbon skills and for the economy. The timber supply chain is a major economic player in the UK, connecting rural and urban environments.
“Timber frame construction is a well-proven technology and business model for delivering houses rapidly and sustainably while improving quality. By accelerating this growth, we can build more low-carbon housing today while providing a market pull for expanding forests. As a supply chain we will support the Government to deliver
on all the goals in the Roadmap and help build a more sustainable future.”
Using timber in construction is one of the best ways to reduce emissions from buildings. Around 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the built environment, and larger buildings can store up to 400% more carbon when built
out of engineered timber products compared to building with concrete. However, 80% of the timber the UK currently uses is imported. Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford, said: “To reach net zero, we must increase timber production from homegrown trees and use that timber in our buildings to sequester carbon. The Timber in Construction Roadmap will propel forestry production in England to ensure timber security, reduce our dependence on imports, and address the nature crisis by boosting biodiversity, improving water quality, and providing more green spaces for people.”
Key updates to the Roadmap place greater acknowledgement on the importance of reuse and species diversification, as well as revealing powerful actions to create a low-waste circular construction sector and drive further investment into domestic timber and wood-processing supply chains. These include:
Demand – Government will explore the use of Government Buying Standards to encourage the adoption of sustainable, low carbon building materials.
Safety – Government will work with industry, academia and the Building Safety Regulator to research outstanding safety, durability, and competency questions towards closing the evidence and competence gaps of engineered mass timber over the next five years.
Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, added: “Confor welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to working with partners, including the timber industry, to deliver the important ambitions of the Timber in Construction Roadmap. In light of domestic timber security, we particularly welcome the Roadmap’s focus on increasing productive forestry and on promoting the use of homegrown wood-based construction products. Both of these actions will make an important contribution to achieving the UK’s net zero target and economic growth.”
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association also added: “This is a substantial step forward and we are extremely pleased to see the Government underlining its commitment to meeting these ambitious house building targets. Increasing the use of structural timber and offsite manufacturing is one of the most effective ways of ensuring the rapid and high-quality delivery of these vitally needed homes, while also meeting urgent decarbonisation obligations.”
You can read more about the Roadmap announcement from the STA’s Andrew Carpenter on p24.
www.timberdevelopment.co.uk
www.structuraltimber.co.uk www.confor.org.uk
David Hopkins, CEO, Timber Development UK
Image: Courtesy BSW Group
LSI Advances Building Performance Measurements
The Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) – part of Leeds Beckett University – is launching two new test cells to baseline the real-world thermal performance of UK homes and further advance its innovation in energy efficiency testing.
The launch of the two test cells at Citu’s Climate Innovation District in Leeds, is part of a wider project by LSI to gather real-world thermal performance data on British house types to allow the evaluation of the effectiveness of newbuild homes and innovative retrofit solutions. For the first time, developers will be required to test and verify the thermal performance of new homes after construction, ensuring they perform as designed.
The test cells will function as laboratories, enabling the development of more reliable methods for measuring building performance. By improving measurement techniques, housebuilders, landlords, and homebuyers can gain greater confidence that their properties perform as expected and meet modern energy efficiency
standards. The LSI’s research will provide data to improve tools that will help the industry meet its ambitious newbuild and retrofit targets, and help the industry move away from relying exclusively on models to predict hypothetical improvements.
This is also critical as the UK government is accelerating efforts to retrofit existing homes to meet net-zero targets. To support this, new “pay-by-performance” mechanisms have been introduced in initiatives like the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). These programs emphasize the need for accurate measurement tools that can verify real energy savings before and after retrofits.
Professor David Glew, Director of the Leeds Sustainability Institute at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We’re partnering with developer Citu to establish these two test cell sites in Leeds to help define a pathway for housebuilders to integrate measurements into their everyday construction processes and meet upcoming net zero regulations. The coming
shift in focus within the building regulations towards measured data is a step change for the industry, and we are doing this research to improve and validate the tools industry needs to ensure they will comply with the requirements.
“It is essential for all parts of the construction industry, from housebuilders, landlords and energy companies to green tech and finance innovators, to know the real performance of their energy efficient products and homes. Without reliable tools and methods to test and baseline performance, we won’t have the certainty we need to support the net zero transition of our housing stock. The benefits of our research will be transformative, from ensuring that the sector meets its legal responsibilities to hitting energy saving targets and even helping new tech on its journey to adoption.”
Citu are an award-winning timber-based homes provider using a BOPAS accredited offsite manufacturing process. Sam Whiteley, Production Manager at Citu, added: “Citu and the Climate Innovation District are driven by creating sustainable urban
communities and exploring and incorporating homes built with sustainable materials and innovative technologies. So, working with LSI on these two new test cells helps to not only demonstrate our existing credentials but will allow us to continue innovate and drive performance standards in sustainable homebuilding. We’re incredibly proud to be part of this wider programme as we all work towards a Net Zero future.”
The Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) at Leeds Beckett University has been a leader in measuring the thermal performance of buildings for over 30 years. Its development of the Coheating Test has set the benchmark for assessing how residential constructions retain heat. This method is recognised as the gold standard for building fabric testing in the UK and has recently been codified into a European standard and incorporated into UK Government research projects.
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Edgeborough School Unveils Cutting-
Edge Sustainable Sports Facilities
Edgeborough School has raised the bar for pupil facilities with the grand unveiling of its brand-new, state-of-the-art changing block—an ecoconscious, architecturally stunning addition designed to elevate both sports and wellbeing.
Crafted by the award-winning timber-based modular designers TG Escapes, this forward-thinking facility blends innovative modular construction with biophilic design principles—ensuring not just functionality, but a space that enhances mental well-being and fosters a deeper connection with nature. Built in just five months, the new development features
two spacious changing rooms, each accommodating up to 54 pupils aged 9-13, complete with showers, toilets, and essential storage spaces. A large, sleek canopy seamlessly connects the new building to the existing sports hall, offering covered access in all weather conditions.
Western red cedar cladding was also used throughout the building, while biophilic design elements— such as three large roof lights in the canopy—were incorporated to maximise natural light, creating a bright and inviting space for all to enjoy. This milestone investment underscores Edgeborough School’s commitment to sustainability and excellence—delivering an inspiring
environment where pupils can thrive, both on and off the field. The bespoke building has been meticulously designed to achieve net-zero in operation.
Mr. Daniel Cox, Edgeborough School’s Headmaster, said: “We’re delighted to unveil this new changing room block, which will have a real impact on our pupils’ sporting experiences. It’s a space that blends modern design with sustainability and accessibility, and it’s part of our commitment to ensuring Edgeborough pupils have the best resources available.”
Tom Hillier, Project Manager at TG Escapes said: “It has been a pleasure working with Edgeborough School on this
project. Our goal is always to create environments where students and staff can thrive, and this has been achieved through thoughtful sustainable design and material choices. This new development provides a functional, high-quality space that will benefit pupils for years to come.”
TG Escapes predominantly focus on the education sector. They use a method of modular construction that creates a costeffective permanent structure faster, with less disruption than traditional construction, ensuring educational continuity for staff and students.
https://tgescapes.co.uk
EGGER Protect Get more from your structural floor
The industry’s first and only P5 grade structural flooring with third-party certification for weather resistance of up to 100 days. Engineered to endure the most challenging site conditions, EGGER Protect is low-slip, moisture resistant and hard-wearing. Part of the EGGER Advanced Structural Flooring System, it can be fitted in light rain and provides a safe working platform even in wet conditions.
The construction of three new homes in a single day at the Three Oaks development on the Isle of Wight has demonstrated the potential of modern methods of construction (MMC) and underlined the impressive capability of the local workforce to address housing needs on the island.
The feat was the centrepiece of an event organised by Sovereign Network Group and construction partner Captiva Homes, who are building the 145 affordable homes at the Three Oaks development in Newport. This project is significant as it represents the Island’s largest affordable housing development in several years.
Isle of Wight-based Gibbs Timber Frame completed the erection a collection of three homes in a single working day. Each home at Three Oaks will be built to SNG’s market-leading framework, the Homes and Place Standard. The homes at Three Oaks are some of the first in a new portfolio of standard house and apartment types that have delivered greater than 75% carbon reduction, meeting the forthcoming requirements of the Future Homes Standard.
Three Oaks is a priority project in the council’s strategy to address local housing requirements on the Island, where there has been a 60% increase in demand for temporary accommodation over the past two years in the face of declining rental housing stock. The development will be split between 87 homes available for social rent and 58 for Shared Ownership.
Cllr Phil Jordan, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council commented: “Delivering affordable housing for the Isle of Wight is a major priority for the council. To do so at scale will require ingenuity and close collaboration, and this open day has been an excellent demonstration of both of those qualities.”
Attendees observed the staged assembly process: beginning with ground floor panels being lifted into place in the morning, followed by firstfloor cassettes, and culminating with the roofing structure in the afternoon, all helped along by favourable weather for the time of year. The precision and close collaboration between teams showed how efficiently MMC can be applied in residential construction and showcased the local
construction expertise on the Island. Joe Marshall, Regional Managing Director at SNG said: “The pace of construction and commitment to quality on display today has been inspiring and signals the way forward for housing deliveryat scale using MMC both here on the Isle of Wight and across the UK.”
The event included a tour of the nearby Gibbs Timber Frame factory, providing an insight into the offsite construction process. Six new employment positions have opened at Gibbs Timber Frame as a result of the Three Oaks contract, underlining the wider local economic benefits of new housebuilding. Ashley Gibbs, Managing Director at Gibbs Timber Frame, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for us and for the Isle of Wight. Building at scale has always been a challenge here, and we are thrilled to be part of a solution that brings much-needed homes to the community. The size of this project has also allowed us to expand our team, creating six new jobs—fantastic news for the local economy.” www.gibbstimberframe.co.uk
Glidevale Protect and Superglass Join Forces
Leading UK building materials producer, Glidevale Protect recently announced a collaboration with Superglass Insulation to provide a collective system solution that strengthens the offering for housebuilders, specifiers and offsite manufacturers.
Achieving the required levels of thermal performance, airtightness and moisture control within the building envelope is a critical part of a build. The new working partnership between Glidevale Protect and Superglass Insulation brings together their respective expertise in these key areas with both manufacturers offering insulating products for the building fabric, adding value to the construction with solutions that are tried and tested to achieve high energy efficiency and compliance when used together as a full system.
As part of this collaboration, Glidevale Protect and Superglass Insulation have launched a joint brochure that provides customers with a handy resource that can be downloaded from both companies’ websites. The new literature effectively illustrates how Glidevale Protect’s external and internal reflective wall membranes and Superglass Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation can be used together within a wall build up to help achieve low U-values and maximise energy efficiency. By including both product categories, the brochure gives housebuilders, specifiers and timber frame manufacturers access to key product performance information in one place. It also demonstrates how they can be used together effectively to enhance thermal performance, airtightness and moisture control.
John Mellor, Head of Marketing at Glidevale Protect said: “For a home to be energy efficient and meet the required regulations it’s important for the individual materials specified as part of the building envelope to complement each other as a system and enhance the overall thermal performance. Working collaboratively with manufacturers like Superglass Insulation is key to helping to reduce the performance gap and ensure new homes perform to the levels they have been designed.”
Lowfield Timber Frames, one of the UK’s largest independent timber frame manufacturers, has expressed its optimism for the continued growth of the sector as it announces that it successfully contributed to the delivery of nearly 2500 new homes in 2024, and with it already actively involved in 1500 units so far this year, it forecasts that 2025 will be even more successful.
The announcement comes as the firm proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since its founding in
2000, Lowfield Timber Frames has grown from a team of just four, to an award-winning team of over 130 people all committed to championing sustainable construction.
Providing modern methods of construction (MMC) to a wide range of both residential and commercial building projects across the UK, Lowfield Timber Frames has continually invested in cutting-edge technology and recently became the first firm in the UK to invest in a new Hundegger Compact Robot Drive CNC machine to enhance
Tony Gordon, Head of Product Management at Superglass Insulation added: “Working with Glidevale Protect optimises the synergy between our offerings. Our products work together to insulate the wall structure and encouraging specifiers to view them as part of a system rather than as individual elements is a key part of the fabric first approach. We also have a common bond of sustainability, with live initiatives underway on both sides to reduce our carbon footprint as well as our products helping to improve the overall energy efficiency of the building fabric.” The next stage of the partnership will see Glidevale Protect and Superglass Insulation work together both commercially and technically with a combined product offering to enhance a wall structure.
Managing Director Darren Jarman said: “We are incredibly proud to reach this 25-year milestone, which is testament to the hard work, expertise and dedication of the entire team. As we look ahead, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction, investing in innovation, and playing a key role in shaping the future of the built environment.”
In addition to expanding its manufacturing capabilities, Lowfield Timber Frames is investing in the future of the industry and has committed to integrating a dedicated training space at its recently revamped headquarters. Due to open in summer
2025, this facility will provide invaluable insights for developers, housebuilders, and commercial property stakeholders, and equip them with the knowledge and expertise to maximise the benefits of timber frame construction.
Darren Jarman added: “As we continue to invest in enhancing our production capabilities, our success is driven by our dedicated workforce, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver on the promises we make. We take pride in the length of service that so many of our team have built with us over the years and this undoubtedly adds value to the service that our clients receive.”
www.lowfieldtimberframes.co.uk
Students Given Closer View of BE-ST Retrofit Project
Students from Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) have been learning first hand from the deep retrofit of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)’s National Retrofit Centre. The project at Hamilton Technology Park Innovation Campus in Blantyre got underway last year thanks to £1.2million in grant funding from Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund. Funding for this scheme is delivered by Salix Finance on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Designed by John Gilbert Architects and BE-ST, the retrofit is serving as a living demonstration of best practice for the industry. Additions to the building include a new zero direct emissions heating solution to replace its current gas heating, a cutting-edge curtain wall system, a solar PV integrated roof and energy-efficient LED lighting controls. As part of the project, final year students from
ENU’s Architectural Technology course were given a tour of the site including demonstrations, group discussion and a chance to speak to the contractors involved.
Dr Suha Jaradat, Associate Professor of Architectural Technology at ENU’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment, said: “This visit is a fantastic learning opportunity to see complexities of retrofitting a large-scale building like the National Retrofit Centre in person. The plans for the retrofit include lots of innovative products with a focus on sustainability including home grown Scottish timber manufactured on site and natural insulation products to name a few.
“Students also had an invaluable opportunity to ask questions about life after graduation as an architectural technologist, as well as the opportunities available through engagement with sustainable design and retrofit projects. This
More MMC Required for New Homes
Increasing the percentage of offsite-constructed homes and encouraging more young people to embrace a career in construction will be key components in enabling the Government to implement its planning reform aims, says insulation specialist Actis. The comment follows news that the first phase of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to be introduced in the Spring, will see developers potentially being given default permission to build homes near commuter and transport hubs.
Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper explained: “Alongside overhauling the planning system, practical considerations need to be taken into account if the government is to achieve its aim of delivering 1.5 million homes during the current parliament. These include increasing the number of offsite homes we build as a nation and making a concerted effort to encourage more young people to enter the construction industry.
“We will need to increase the rate at which we deliver new homes, with offsite being an excellent way to achieve this as they can be built up to 30% more quickly than their traditional counterparts. Elements such as wiring, plumbing and insulation take place offsite, in the factory. Our insulation systems take between 25 and 50% less time to install than traditional alternatives, which all helps to speed up the process. The on-site build element typically takes between seven and 12 days, depending on the size of house.
“While they are quicker to build, the quality of offsite homes is far better controlled. Timber frame homes can be thermally superb, cutting
has really demonstrated some of the benefits of working in partnership with colleagues at BEST on such an innovative project.”
Gavin Johnston, Impact Manager at BE-ST and lead of the retrofit, said: “For us, an important aspect of the project was to develop a wider programme of activity to maximise the impact of this investment to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment. Through events like this we are developing the
future generation of professionals, offering them a first-hand experience of a complex and innovative retrofit project. It is exciting to be able to share details of the project with these students and to engage with them during the construction phase as well as when the building is up and running, so that they can hopefully gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the design intent.”
www.napier.ac.uk
carbon emissions and saving money and resources. With a recent report by Checkatrade revealing that the UK needs another 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices, the industry and government needs to make a concerted effort to attract new recruits. In the meantime, the reduced build time of offsite houses means more homes can be constructed by fewer people.”
Actis is involved in school and college outreach initiatives to encourage more young people to consider careers in construction and it also helps upskill existing construction professionals via its RIBA-approved CPDs – ‘Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards and Addressing the performance gap with reflective insulation’.
www.insulation-actis.com
SIP Build UK Announces Strategic Partnership
SIP Build UK have announced their partnership with SIP Building Systems Ltd (SBS) in a strategic move which will allow for the further growth and expansion of both companies. SBS manufacture one of the most highly accredited and certified SIP panels in the UK market and have over 24 years of experience.
SIP Build UK share this passion and vision and with the expertise, experience and scale to design, engineer and install these systems
on-site, the partnership has huge potential to streamline the use of these systems to all sectors. The partnership boasts over 40 years in the successful implementation of SIPs systems and at a time where Building Regulations are more stringent, fuel poverty is increasing and skilled labour is in a shortfall, the potential of a SIP approach could not be better positioned to deliver.
Speaking about the partnership, Chris Duckworth, Managing Director at SIP Build
UK said: “The partnership with SIP Building Systems Ltd is a natural fit for us – it feels just like coming home. We are excited to combine our strengths and propel the construction industry forward, setting new standards in sustainability, efficiency, and quality. Together, our commitment underscores our dedication to provide customers with reliable, high-quality SIP panels and construction solutions that not only meet regulatory requirements but also contribute to a more
environmentally conscious approach to building projects.”
Peter Barr, Managing Director at SIP Building Systems added: “We are delighted to welcome SIP Build UK back as a delivery partner for SIP Building Systems Ltd. Chris and the team at SIP Build UK have built a great business over the last 10 years and have become one of the UK’s leading SIP specialists, enjoying a great reputation for quality, service and a passion for creating better buildings. We look forward to working with the team to combine our experience and aspirations to grow the SIP market in the UK by providing better insulated, airtight buildings of the highest quality.” Overall, the partnership looks to drive the industry forward and raise awareness of the potential of SIPs systems and the solutions they offer.
www.sipbuilduk.co.uk
www.sipbuildingsystems.co.uk
DTE First to Achieve CCPI Mark for Trusses and Joists
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of engineered timber components, Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd (DTE) has become the first bespoke product manufacturer to achieve the Code for Construction Product information (CCPI) mark for DTE roof trusses and DTE joists.
Initiated by the Construction Product Association (CPA), the CCPI was developed as a direct response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It consists of an 11-clause set of expectations that promotes positive culture and behaviour change in the approach and management of product information by the construction product manufacturing industry. Conformance with the CCPI helps to give greater customer confidence that product information is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date and unambiguous. This is something which is becoming increasingly important to specifiers and buyers looking for guarantees and safeguards in product performance claims.
The CCPI Assessed Status for DTE roof trusses and DTE joists is valid for two years and requires a commitment to continuous improvement and a proactive approach to raising standards in product information.
Luke Roberts, Managing Director at DTE, said: “We’re extremely proud to be the first manufacturer of trusses and joists to commit to higher standards in construction product information, marketing and product
claims by achieving CCPI assessed status for this product set. This is another step towards delivering manufacturing and supply chain excellence, signifying to customers that the product information they’re receiving is trustworthy and adheres to the high standards set out by the CCPI. The CCPI is playing a pivotal role in driving up standards in product information and marketing and facilitating positive culture change. We’re pleased to be working proactively with the CCPI to raise standards in our product information management and marketing.”
Mark Murphy Chief Risk Officer at Donaldson Group and Tom Edwards, General Manager at DTE Ilkeston led the process. Mark said: “While a huge amount of work has gone into this process, our structured approach, along with an historic and ongoing commitment to certification, allowed us to demonstrate our compliance and values across the business.
“We’re always striving to achieve the next standard of excellence and trust, so there’s an enormous amount of pride in achieving the CCPI mark for this product set. It’s great to have successfully been through the CCPI independent assessment process to demonstrate that we deliver on our core value of integrity. A huge thank you to our Donaldson colleagues who supported on this over the last nine months.”
www.donaldsontimberengineering.co.uk
Taylor Lane Timber Frame Retains STA Gold Assure
Taylor Lane Timber Frame has boosted its commercial credentials after securing STA Gold Assure membership for another year. This demonstrates the manufacturer’s continued commitment to superior quality and performance through conformity and compliance.
Taylor Lane is a long-standing member of the Structural Timber Association (STA). In recent years, the timber frame manufacturer
has held the highest level of membership: STA Gold Assure.
This membership level confirms that Taylor Lane Timber Frame holds the relevant accreditations or standards and is Site Safe fire compliant, uses STA Installer Training Scheme (ITS) certified and competent erector/installer companies, holds Conformity compliance (for components), is subject to STA Assure third-party assessment 85% + assessment
score, and utilises STA Gold/Silver Assure designers (or equivalent standard).
To retain its STA membership, Taylor Lane is subject to an annual assessment by the STA, this includes providing evidence of the STA and third-party accreditations and affiliations required to meet the membership criteria. In holding this certification, Taylor Lane also has the necessary accreditation to comply with Construction Products Regulation (CPR), plus relevant and applicable construction product conformity compliance. CE/UKCA marking of products (where applicable) is a condition of STA membership.
“We are proud to retain STA Gold Assure membership for 2025,” said Blane Pannell, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Lane Timber Frame. “This accomplishment reflects our steadfast commitment to quality, training, health and safety, and
compliance, and, therefore, gives our customers confidence. They know that we meet the most stringent criteria set by the STA and that, in choosing to work with us, they are guaranteed the highest standard of product, service and workmanship.”
Taylor Lane’s products, services and operations comply with the requirements of ISO 9001, Frame Mark, UKCA and PEFC certification. Taylor Lane is a CHAS accredited contractor and member of the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA). Last year, the timber frame manufacturer also achieved NHBC Accepts status for its Ultimate and Advanced closed panels. It is one of only a handful of timber frame companies in the UK to gain NHBC Accepts certification. Each panel system also holds LABC and Premier Guarantee system acceptance.
www.taylor-lane.co.uk
JELD-WEN Secures BM Trada Q Mark Certification
UK doorset manufacturer
JELD-WEN has secured BM Trada Q Mark certification allowing it to expand the range of internal fire doorsets it manufactures. Complementing its position as a Licensed Door Processor, securing the UKASverified certification provides a guarantee that fire doorsets manufactured by JELD-WEN meet stringent, ongoing, thirdparty certification standards. To support the application, JELD-WEN has dedicated an area of its manufacturing plant in Sheffield to be used solely for the manufacture of BM Trada Q Mark certified fire doors. This will be used to process a wider range of door cores that can then be fabricated to a range of specifications, including different
finishes, colours, glazing options and hardware to meet projectspecific requirements.
While JELD-WEN already manufactures its own range of fire doorsets it can now process components and parts for other BM Trada Q Mark certified manufacturers – operating as a fabricator to supply the finished solution for projects, with certification carrying through to the final product.
The BM Trada Q Mark certification complements the existing Certifire and Certisecure standards that JELD-WEN meets, allowing the company to offer its widest range of doorsets. This underlines its commitment to meeting the highest standards through third-party, independently tested product certification while
offering customers a wide choice of doors. Having secured approval for BM Trada Q Mark certification within the space of nine months, the first doors manufactured under the scheme came off the production line at the end of January.
Glyn Hauser, Engineering and Innovation Manager at JELDWEN UK, said: “At JELD-WEN we pride ourselves on achieving the highest safety standards when manufacturing fire doorsets and the gold standard in demonstrating this is through third-party verification. BM Trada upholds the
very highest standards across the supply chain.
“By becoming a verified member of the scheme, JELD-WEN can now work with other suppliers also holding BM Trada certification to deliver a wider range of products to meet varied specifications. This is a great way to complement the already comprehensive offer from JELD-WEN as a specialist doorset manufacturer – and to produce high quality, design-led doorsets that meet the highest standards in fire safety.”
www.jeld-wen.co.uk
Accoya Cladding Specified for Willowburn Retail Park
Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick, is designed to create a modern and sustainable retail destination and aims to enhance the local shopping experience while complementing North Northumberland’s natural surroundings. Projekt Architects envisioned a retail park that not only meets the needs of both shoppers and businesses but also prioritises longevity, environmental responsibility, and high-quality design that will serve the community for years to come.
Timber was the ideal aesthetic choice, offering warmth and authenticity to a commercial retail park, however, with many wood species it would require frequent maintenance and replacement. Accoya provided the perfect solution, delivering the natural aesthetic of wood with exceptional durability, minimal upkeep and a 50-year warranty.
Building on the success of Phase One – which welcomed key tenants such as Marks & Spencer and Turnbull Butchers – Phase Two is now complete. This stage of development features FinishLine cladding from James Latham, comprised of Accoya, machined and factory finished in a Sansin coating, and installed by Alderclad. It has delivered two new units, B&M and Mountain Warehouse, with a further Accoya-clad unit planned to complete the retail park.
Mark Jansz, Founding Director of Projekt Architects said: “Accoya opens up a whole world of possibilities for natural timber, overcoming traditional challenges related to warranties and long-term performance. Phase One was completed five years ago, and the Accoya cladding still looks as good as new. The ability to specify a timber product with confidence in its durability and stability is a game-changer.”
Peckham, Regional Head of
at
added: “As a product, Accoya is ideal for commercial projects because it delivers both long-term aesthetic appeal and structural reliability. We know that in five, ten, or fifteen years, it will have maintained its integrity without twisting, or warping, providing complete peace of mind for specifiers and developers alike.”
Garry Suggett, Technical Specifications Manager at James Latham also said: “We’re proud to have supplied our exclusive FinishLine cladding for this project, as this is a great example of how Accoya can redefine commercial architecture. By combining sustainability with outstanding performance, Accoya ensures that Willowburn Retail Park continues to set new benchmarks for commercial developments that balance environmental and design aspirations.”
www.accoya.com
Justin
Sales
Accsys
Image: Courtesy TwoFresh and Drone Studio North East
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Timber Roadmap Gets Green Light
The recent ministerial approval of the Timber in Construction Roadmap as part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change is hugely encouraging. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA sees it as positive step in building our future sustainably.
The announcement by Environment Minister Mary Creagh CBE on 27 February 2025, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap, marks a significant milestone in the UK’s journey toward sustainable construction. This renewed commitment, unveiled at the Timber in Construction Summit in London, aligns with the Government’s Plan for Change and establishes a clear framework to address multiple national priorities: delivering 1.5 million homes during the next Parliament, achieving net zero targets by 2050, and stimulating economic growth through green industries.
As the Structural Timber Association (STA), we have long advocated for the expanded use of timber in construction, recognising its potential to revolutionise how we build while dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the construction sector. Working alongside Timber Development UK (TDUK) and the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor), we have been instrumental in shaping the original policy roadmap and welcome its ambitious evolution.
A bold vision for construction
The updated roadmap represents far more than incremental change – it signals a fundamental shift in how the UK approaches construction. With approximately 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from the built environment, the case for timber is compelling. Large buildings constructed from engineered timber products can store up to 400% more carbon compared to concrete alternatives, making timber one of the most effective tools for decarbonizing the construction industry. Currently, around 80% of timber used in the UK is imported. The new roadmap aims to reverse this trend by boosting domestic
An ambitious plan to deliver 1.5 million homes over this Parliament are unlikely to be delivered without adopting offsite construction methods
production, creating green jobs in forestry and wood processing sectors that already contribute over £3billion to the UK economy.
The revised roadmap places clear emphasis on several critical areas where the timber construction industry has been making significant progress:
Improving Data on Timber and Whole Life Carbon
Led by TDUK, work continues to improve embodied carbon measurement in timber construction. This includes supporting voluntary initiatives to reduce carbon footprints, enhancing data collection on timber projects, and improving the quality of timber Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Future plans will explore implementing embodied carbon limits for buildings and developing more comprehensive carbon assessment methodologies.
Increasing Skills, Capacity, and Competency Across the Supply Chain
With Napier University leading efforts to map competency routes for timber-related occupations, the industry is addressing the skills gap that has historically limited wider
Businesses You Can Trust – Why It Matters to Work with STA Assure Members
When it comes to building with structural timber, quality isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. That’s why choosing an STA member company makes all the difference. STA Assure is the Structural Timber Association’s (STA) Quality Assurance Scheme. It’s your assurance that a company is competent, compliant, and committed to the highest standards in timber construction.
All of our manufacturing members have to participate in STA Assure. As part of the scheme there is a requirement for them to work with installer companies that are also members of the STA and engaged with STA Assure.
Timber construction plays a crucial role in helping the UK meet its Net Zero goals by 2050 — but that success depends on consistently high quality. STA Assure sets the benchmark for excellence and gives peace of mind to clients, contractors, investors, and insurers.
Key Benefits of STA Assure Accreditation
Adaptable Accreditation Levels - STA Assure includes three levels of accreditation, reflecting increasing levels of quality and assurance.
Trusted Workmanship – Every manufacturing member is subject to an on-site annual audit to prove their commitment to quality.
Consistent Quality – STA Assure provides end to end coverage from design and factory production to on-site assembly, to check standards are maintained.
Health & Safety Compliance - All manufacturing members are checked to ensure they follow Site Safe procedures. Site Safe helps demonstrate that the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 are met.
Trained Installers – At least 66% of installation team members must complete the STA’s Installer Training Scheme (ITS) to ensure professional and safe timber assembly.
Independent Oversight - STA Assure is an independently audited scheme, giving you confidence in your project delivery.
Recognised by Warranty Providers - STA Assure is recognised by major warranty providers including NHBC, LABC Warranty, Premier Guarantee and Build-Zone.
adoption of timber construction methods. This includes curriculum development, improved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offerings, and promotion of timber-related careers in schools. Future initiatives will establish a multi-stakeholder industry forum and conduct research to quantify additional workforce requirements.
Increasing the Sustainable Supply of Timber
Under Confor’s guidance, work is underway to identify and remove barriers to the use of homegrown timber, promote the planting and management of productive tree species, and invest in manufacturing capacity for wood-based construction products. Future plans include delivering against statutory woodland cover targets, promoting greater rates of woodland management, and improving long-term availability forecasts.
Addressing
Fire Safety and Durability Concerns to Safely Expand the Use of Engineered Mass Timber
The STA continues to lead efforts to address safety concerns through the Fire Safety Hub and the development of best practices from demonstrator projects. This work will extend to collaboration with government, academia, and the Building Safety Regulator to research outstanding safety, durability, and competency questions that have sometimes hindered broader adoption of mass timber.
focus on optimising carbon and operational performance, increasing the efficiency of timber construction methodologies, and exploring opportunities for timber product reuse.
A collaborative path forward
Timber frame construction is key to solving many of the UK’s housing problems
“As the STA, we are committed to working with government, industry partners, and academia to deliver on these ambitious goals. The expanded collaboration with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers will help address market barriers, while continued promotion of timber as a safe, sustainable construction material will help change perceptions across the industry.”
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive, STA
Promoting Innovation and High Performing Timber Construction
BE-ST leads initiatives to publish and maintain best practice technical standards, while promoting the TDUK Resource Library. Future collaborative research with government and academia will
The Minister’s Foreword to the updated Policy Roadmap encapsulates the transformative vision: “The steps we take today will create a thriving, green economy. Timberframed homes, public buildings, and offices will transform the built environment. This is just the beginning, and I look forward to seeing how timber helps shape a sustainable future.”
As the STA, we are committed to working with government, industry partners, and academia to deliver on these ambitious goals. The expanded collaboration with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers will help address market barriers, while continued promotion of timber as a safe, sustainable construction material will help change perceptions across the industry. The recommitment to the Timber in Construction Roadmap represents not just an environmental imperative but an economic opportunity.
By leveraging modern methods of construction (MMC), including timber frame and engineered wood systems, we can boost productivity in housebuilding while delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes at the scale needed to address the UK’s housing crisis. The path ahead is challenging but clear. Through collective effort and continued innovation, timber will play a pivotal role in building a more sustainable, prosperous future for the UK construction industry.
www.timefortimber.org www.structuraltimber.co.uk
L-R David Hopkins, CEO TDUK, Defra Environment Minister Mary Creagh CBE MP, Andrew Carpenter, CEO STA and Andy Leitch, Deputy Chief Executive of Confor at the Timber in Construction Summit
Delivering efficiency
and competitive
advantage for manufacturers of offsite systems and technology
As specialists in industrialised construction technologies – our objective is to increase productivity and profitability by making offsite manufacturing operations leaner, safer and more efficient. We offer:
Manufacturing logistics
Manufacturing controls systems
Management systems
Manufacturing process improvement
Offsite manufacturing audits and gap analysis
Marketing support
Innovate and Thrive: Unlocking Greener Potential
Trevor Richards, Operations Director for offsite experts, Cogent Consulting, explores how innovation in construction can unlock new levels of positivity, productivity and growth with timber, sustainability and circularity in mind.
In 2016 Mark Farmer’s influential report, ‘Modernise or Die’ – sent shockwaves through the UK construction industry and beyond. With a clear and urgent call to action, the report exposed deep-rooted inefficiencies, critical skills shortages and a culture stubbornly resistant to change.
However, today we stand on the cusp of a different, more promising narrative. Under the mantra of innovate and thrive, the UK construction industry is set for transformation, and industrialised construction offers the key to unlocking its enormous potential. By harnessing modern technologies, progressing traditional processes and fostering collaborative working models – we can propel the sector into a new era. The solutions to resolving many of the industry’s most persistent problems are already here, we just need to adopt them at a faster rate.
Sustainability is no longer an optional add-on—it is a core driver of innovation in construction. The industry is under pressure to reduce its environmental impact and build more sustainably. This challenge is sparking a wave of innovation in material design and construction techniques. The demand for energy-efficient buildings is driving the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as smart building systems, energy-harvesting materials and passive design strategies. Innovations like photovoltaic windows, geothermal heating, and energy-efficient insulation are becoming integral to the construction of low-carbon buildings.
Sustainable Building Materials: advances in material science are leading to the development of new, environmentally friendly materials such as carbon-neutral concrete, cross laminated timber (CLT), and graphene-based composites. These materials reduce the carbon footprint of buildings while offering superior performance in terms of strength and durability.
Panelised timber offsite systems created in the factory are precision designed
Timber elements for structural systems are created with high performance and high quality. Courtesy SCM
Circular Construction Practices: the shift towards a circular economy is encouraging architects and contractors to rethink how materials are used. Innovative approaches such as designing for disassembly and design for reuse at the end of a building’s lifecycle are becoming more prevalent. These practices reduce waste, lower costs, and increase the sustainability of construction projects.
Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency: the demand for energy-efficient buildings is driving the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as smart building systems, energy-harvesting materials and passive design strategies. Innovations like photovoltaic windows, geothermal heating, and energyefficient insulation is becoming integral to the construction of zero-energy and low-carbon buildings, helping the industry contribute to the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets.
Approaches such as Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Platform Design, integrated with digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM),
The robotic production line at Donaldson Timber Systems, Witney
INDUSTRIALISED CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE: A PATHWAY TO OPPORTUNITY
Taking place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry on 2-3 July 2025, the UK’s only Industrialised Construction Conference and Exhibition is acknowledged as leading the charge in showcasing groundbreaking solutions, cultivating collaboration and driving an industry-wide shift towards a more advanced approach to design and delivery. Laying the foundations for a new era in construction, join us to discover where technology meets practical application to influence transformative change that is not just theoretical or futuristic but is already delivering tangible results.
For the full speaker lineup and to book your place visit: www.industrialisedconstruction.co.uk
automation and data analytics – streamline project management, improve collaboration and reduce costly errors. Platform Design involves creating standardised, reusable systems and components to boost efficiency, cut costs and enhance flexibility.
Timber systems integrated with DfMA approaches, focuses on offsite manufacture and easy onsite assembly with a leading low carbon building material. And when big data enters the construction arena, analytics tools provide contractors with the ability to make informed real-time decisions. Automation is transforming repetitive tasks by deploying robots, drones and 3D printing of construction components. Contractors can reduce labour costs, improve precision and speed up project timelines.
The ‘Modernise or Die’ report offered a necessary wake-up call for the construction sector, but the story does not end there. Far from being on the brink of decline, the industry is on the cusp of an exciting era of innovation that holds the potential to solve many of its long-standing challenges. Rather than modernise or die, our message is confident and compelling – innovate and thrive.
www.cogent-consulting.co.uk
The Hidden Threat
Mass timber systems provide countless structural solutions, but one significant emerging risk is moisture and water damage. Phil O’Leary, Director at Filros Timber Consultancy and previously head of Timber Consultancy at BM TRADA, highlights some areas of concern.
The carbon storage capabilities of mass timber/cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings are often highlighted as a key factor in achieving climate neutrality. As a construction material it also has low embodied carbon. These carbon benefits are only realised if the product achieves its intended service life which can instil confidence in designers, clients, developers and insurers to enable the industry to specify and build mass timber buildings.
One of the benefits of timber and wood-based products is that their service life can be long if they remain dry, with timber frames in some UK buildings being almost one thousand years old. Timber is only vulnerable to fungal decay if its moisture content stays above the nominal 20% threshold for decay for prolonged periods. The moisture dynamics in large cross-section timbers in buildings were not well understood or recognised until recently, despite the well-documented relationship between moisture and timber. We started to find decay in completed CLT buildings which was not always apparent or visible internally. These hidden decayed areas were on the top surfaces of CLT flat roofs, at junctions between sloping roofs and parapet walls, bases of CLT walls at or below ground level, and in CLT adjacent to plumbing leaks.
Example of decayed and dry top laminate of a roof panel
Understanding decay
Upon opening sections of these roofs after investigating their condition from below through decay detection drilling, it was frequently observed that the top one or two layers of laminations were decayed but dry. This showed that trapped construction water could dry out through the thick cross section of the CLT panels to reduce timber moisture below the 20% decay threshold but only after a long time and after inducing conditions suitable for decay. CLT has a smaller surface-area-to-volume ratio compared to standard light weight timber frame structures and timber is significantly more permeable along its length (along the grain) than across the grain. Hence, any trapped moisture would tend to travel along the top laminate rather than down through the thickness of the panel, and hence drying times
Managing Moisture
were sufficiently long for decay to occur and develop. The same scenario happens when slow leaks first occur in CLT roofs, but if not rectified, decay can develop through the thickness of the panel.
Other decay to mass timber buildings has occurred because of plumbing leaks. In such cases, the water infiltrates the upper laminates and remains hidden beneath floor coverings and insulation which restrict drying from this face. The third cause of decay is caused by flaws in construction/ design. The latter has often resulted with the bases of walls which are at or below the finished ground level, taking up water and not being able to dry sufficiently quickly and moisture uptake also occurs at the end grain at edges of panels where there are defects in the building fabric.
The aim is to ensure water uptake is always lower than loss which keeps the moisture content of all timbers below the 20% decay threshold. We now know that the drying of wet CLT panels can be difficult with potential long-time frames and the associated consequences. Once decay has been found it becomes a difficult and expensive process to map the full extent of decay, the extent of wetting to determine the timber at risk from decay, drying wet timber and repair or replacement of decayed panels.
Sources of moisture
We can broadly categorise the sources of moisture as (a) construction moisture trapped during the building process (b) exterior moisture and (c) interior moisture. We need a different strategy to reduce high moisture content risk for these different scenarios.
Firstly, all timber must be below the 20% decay threshold before they are enclosed. Moisture contents must be taken in the high-risk areas to confirm this. Moisture contents can be taken from within the building with the appropriate techniques. We have measured and mapped out moisture content and decay in many completed buildings to provide confidence that buildings are dry and free of decay or where drying and/or localised
Roof panel decayed through its cross section caused by leaking roof
Early stages of moisture ingress at edges of panels
Non-destructive decay detection drilling through base of CLT wall panel to measure moisture content and decay of timbers
remedial works are required. Periodic checks of areas where there are risks of plumbing leaks will have to be undertaken as well as areas where timber walls are at or below the external ground level. Checks for moisture can be done by competent consultants or by installing moisture sensors which can provide constant monitoring of wood moisture content and can flag up elevated wood moisture contents indicating a building defect.
Non-destructive decay detection drilling can determine whether any decay exists and if present the extent of decay which can be combined with moisture content detection which will indicate if the decay is active or if there is risk of decay progressing. We now recognise:
• How water gets into CLT buildings
• How water travels in CLT
• The difficulties in identifying wet areas
• The high-risk locations
• Drying mechanisms – difficulties, potential long timeframes and consequences
• Expense and challenges of repair.
With this knowledge we understand the challenges, but we can design, construct and maintain these buildings under real-world scenarios.
www.filros.co.uk
Combilift Prepare for LIGNA 2025
Materials-handling specialist
Combilift is thrilled to return to Ligna, where it will showcase its innovative range of safe, efficient, and spacesaving materials-handling equipment designed for the unique challenges faced by the woodworking and timber industry.
The Irish manufacturer offers a wide array of products, including
multidirectional forklifts such as the C-Series and Combi-CB, the articulated Aisle Master, pedestrian stackers, powered pallet trucks, Straddle Carriers and the Combi-CSS for safely loading and unloading containers. Around 15 exhibits will demonstrate that Combilift has a solution for every handling and storage scenario that companies in the timber, joinery and furniture sectors face.
UNLOCK EVERY INCH OF YOUR STORAGE
LIGNA 2023 coincided with the company’s 25th anniversary and saw the launch of the multidirectional Combi-CB70E, demonstrating the company’s dedication to the timber industry. This electric model, which will be displayed again this year, is the most compact 7-ton lifting capacity counterbalance of its capacity. Its small footprint and lateral movement allow for easy navigation through confined spaces and narrow aisles,
making it perfect for transporting long and bulky loads of timber. Designed for driver comfort, it received the prestigious ‘Ergonomic Innovation of the Year’ award at the most recent UK Materials Handling Association Awards.
Additionally, the Combi-CSS Container Slip-Sheet, designed for quick and safe loading and unloading of containers, will also be showcased. It efficiently handles rough-sawn timber, flat-packed goods, and panel products. With a maximum capacity of 30 tons, the Combi-CSS can complete a full load cycle for a 40ft container in under six minutes.
Discover how Combilift can enhance the safety, productivity, and sustainability of your timber operations by visiting its extensive outdoor stand (FG), Stand M61, as well as its indoor stand in Hall 13, Stand G23 at LIGNA 26-30 May 2025. Find out more at: www.combilift.com
Creating Mass Timber Confidence
The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook (MTIP), first published in May 2023, has been updated with endorsements from three major UK insurance organisations and will further strengthen the case for timber use across the built environment.
The end of 2024 saw one of the mass timber sectors key publications updated and receive backing from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Fire Protection Association (FPA), and RISCAuthority. The update was also preceeded by its adaptation for the US mass timber market by Michael Hastings in collaboration with WoodWorks – a US not-for-profit that offers free project support and a robust nationwide education program, with a wide range of published resources. The US Edition (MTIP): “Gives developers, design/construction professionals, and insurers a comprehensive framework for working together to resolve challenges that impact the insurability of mass timber buildings, making it easier for teams to bring more of these projects to fruition.”
The Playbook which has become regarded as key resource for managing risks associated with mass timber buildings has been downloaded 7,500 times since its initial release. It was reissued on 4 December 2024 – the content, which continues to be well received by insurers and the larger construction ecosystem, remains largely the same with the additional endorsements added in. The Playbook enables a collaborative approach between construction teams and insurers, opening the door to more equitable insurance for mass timber buildings.
“The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook is a great example of collaboration across the supply chain, and the Association of British Insurers is proud to support this publication,” said Louise Clark, Policy Advisor, ABI talking the updated version. Understanding and acting on the necessary risk mitigations when building with mass timber is essential, and this playbook sets this out clearly. Consideration of the insurance implications when at the planning, design and build stages is crucial for everyone involved, so that we can build and live in truly resilient buildings.”
The Playbook was authored by two insurance experts: Professor Jim Glockling and Philip Callow. Philip Callow, Founder & CEO of Rosetta Risk Management (RRM) has been involved in construction insurance and innovation for over 22 years and following 19 years as the Technical Director to the FPA and RISCAuthority and previous time running a number of key fire laboratories and working as a forensic fire investigator, Jim Glockling now consults on behalf of insurers and the military, working on solutions to complex risk scenarios and supporting academia as visiting Professor at the University of Central Lancashire.
“The need for, and challenges presented by, mass timber buildings must never be underestimated and solutions supporting progress are urgently required, said Jim. “Through
The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook
The Playbook gives clear guidance on understanding and acting on risk mitigations when building with mass timber
thoughtful and honest collaboration between stakeholders this document accepts the challenges, confronting them head on yet still allowing designers the freedoms to bring their skills to the fore to address them. It has been a pleasure working on this with Phillip Callow, and Simon Corbey (ASBP) and his team, and its creation is a clear statement that the mass timber industry is maturing apace.”
Improved building and product data, along with the ‘golden thread’ of information, are playing a crucial role in enhancing building safety – not just fire but also moisture and water damage. Documents like the MTIP are instrumental
in addressing insurers’ concerns. The ongoing success of the MTIP is helping the insurance market gain confidence that buildings incorporating large amounts of timber – whether in the design or construction phase – can be built and operated safely. Ultimately, this ensures that the asset remains protected from potential damage and that those living or working within the building are kept safe at all times.
To download the latest edition of the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook visit: https://asbp.org.uk/project/ mass-timber-insurance-playbook
BE-ST Receives Funding Towards Mass Timber Fire Safety Research
Built by Nature has awarded a €219,000 grant to Built Environment–Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) to spearhead critical research into fire safety in mass timber buildings across the UK. The research grant is a direct response to the Timber in Construction Roadmap and the need to identify the actions needed to improve understanding of how timber can be safely used in construction.
With delivery partners at the University of Edinburgh Fire Research Centre, and with additional funding from BE-ST’s academic host Edinburgh Napier University, Timber Development UK, Confor and the Structural Timber Association, the project will address key knowledge gaps and present next steps for advancing fire safety research and regulatory policy for mass timber buildings.
BE-ST will input the findings directly to the Government’s Timber in Construction policy working group, creating a definitive roadmap of outstanding research and testing around the fire safety of mass timber, to address prevailing concerns held by many stakeholders throughout industry and Government.
“This project is about moving beyond an environment of doubt, concern, and negative perceptions towards a broader scientific understanding of mass timber construction,” according to Joe Giddings, Built by Nature’s European Network Lead. “The roadmap will plot a pathway out of the fog of misperception and address that uniquely British conundrum of questioning whether or not it is safe to build using timber whilst simultaneously constructing many buildings using timber.”
The project scope will leverage the University of Edinburgh’s expertise in timber research, along with BE-ST’s industry network, to create the roadmap and mobilise collaboration across industry and government stakeholders. Following an extensive literature review of
mass timber fire safety at material, product, and system levels, plus an analysis of existing fire safety research on timber buildings in the UK and internationally, the project will define future research priorities.
The team will also provide recommendations for both immediate policy actions to support the UK government and industry in advancing fire safety for multistorey timber buildings and to secure government commitment to future research and testing. The project’s engagement and dialogue with a comprehensive range of built environment stakeholders will help drive collaborative and informed decision-making, fostering industry alignment and policy coherence necessary to reinforce and advance the case for safe, sustainable multistorey timber construction.
www.be-st.build
TAI AR Y CYD – Homes Together
Launched in January, Tai ar y Cyd is an exciting new affordable homes collaboration that will boost timber-based offsite homes in Wales, making them more sustainable, energy efficient and cost effective. Project Lead at the Welsh Government, Steve Cranston, outlines the key aims.
Tai ar y Cyd is a collaboration of 23 Welsh social landlords (including 11 councils and 12 housing associations). We have just launched a Pattern Book, Performance Specification and Design Guide to help build the next generation of high performing, timber based offsite manufactured affordable homes.
Our launch in Swansea on 15 January was high energy with keynotes from two Welsh Minsters, Jane Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Julie James Minister for Delivery, alongside Mark Farmer, CEO at CAST, Cllr Andrea Lewis Deputy Leader at Swansea Council and Rob Wheaton from Stride Treglown.
Over 350 delegates joined the celebration. There was a real buzz in the panel discussions, workshops on How to Use the Pattern Book: Aggregating Pipeline Demand, Placemaking and Pattern Books: and Our Carbon Journey and a final Call to Action session.
The collaboration of 23 landlords grew up known as ‘Delivering Net Zero Project’. We rebranded as Tai ar y Cyd. ‘Ar y Cyd’ translates in Welsh to ‘together’. So Tai ar y Cyd – pronounced Ta-Ee-Ah-R-Uh Keed – Homes Together – speaks to our values of community, unity and shared purpose.
The pattern book will be used by the 23 members to help build out their pipeline of new affordable homes. We are gearing up now to start
The timber frame homes will pursue a MMC Category 2: 2D panelised approach and will be highly energy efficient and airtight
prototyping our Pattern Book homes. This will lead to using our aggregated demand to nurture a short, strong and sustainable supply chain of timber frame manufacturers. It will help stimulate demand for natural materials especially homegrown Welsh timber. All of which will increase the number of high skilled jobs across Wales. Together this will drive better quality homes and, over time, affordability.
Rob Wheaton, from Stride Treglown led the design team comprising Arda Consulting and Hoare that co-created four new resources:
Pattern Book – house layouts for 15 house types and 18 variants ranging from onebedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. Plus, three fully wheelchair accessible bungalows and flats. They meet Welsh Development Quality Requirements.
Performance Specification – which sets out two performance standards with a common
fabric design. An ambitious ‘entry level’ standard to start – AECB/Carbonlite. As well as LETI/Passivhaus Classic as the advanced position – both with solar PV for on-site renewable generation.
Design Guide – comprehensive guidance on how to use the pattern book.
Pattern Book Details – a technical manual with detailed house type designs for use by timber frame manufacturers to build the homes in Welsh offsite factories.
“WKW first became involved in the idea of standardisation in 2016/17, when we were interviewing clients and timber framers and the clients were saying we can’t see any technical or cost advantage of offsite timber construction, and the timber framers were saying well, we were invited in too late in the process to bring in the innovations and cost benefits that timber frame can bring. So it was immediately apparent we needed to change the way that housing was procured and change the dynamics and increase the collaboration, This project is a massive step forward.”
Gary
Newman, Chief Executive Woodknowledge Wales
Steve Cranston, Project Lead, Tai ar y Cyd, Welsh Government
These resources will be used by the members development teams to bring forward new sites. Benefits will be better quality new homes –aligned around common performance standards and cost certainty. Contractors will be pricing against standardised house designs and performance specifications. This will help create a transparent level playing field where we can start to get benefits from economies of scale and repetition and less waste. Homes will be built faster with less time on-site causing disruption to neighbours and communities and there will be an increased use of natural low carbon materials. This is an exciting opportunity to start shifting the dial towards using far more Welsh timber. What’s next? Tai ar y Cyd landlords are identifying sites across Wales to join the prototyping phase. These projects will be connected through a new Tai ar y Cyd Prototype Community of Practice. This will be a safe, high-trust place where project managers will be able to share, learn and build confidence in how to use these new resources. Members will be joined by key partners with whom we share common cause – including Cwmpas, Construction Excellence in Wales, Design Commission for Wales, Passivhaus Trust, Tai Pawb, Tpas Cymru, Welsh Government and Wood Knowledge Wales. But all this works starts immediately. After all, we are on the journey ‘ar y Cyd’ - together.
www.taiarycyd.cymru
Measuring Mass Timber
Building, Living and Working Well
New research has revealed that mass timber buildings produce on average 50% less carbon than industry equivalents and leave users with a consistent sense of comfort and relaxation.
In depth research led by award-winning architects dRMM has found that mass timber buildings produce on average less than 50% of embodied and in use carbon emissions than industry equivalents, while providing users with a consistent sense of comfort and relaxation.
Funded by Built by Nature, the ‘Measuring Mass Timber: deriving a mass timber whole life carbon & quality of life method by evaluating five mass timber UK buildings’ report, demonstrates that mass timber buildings meet or exceed RIBA 2025 targets for embodied and whole life carbon. Conducted in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University, the Quality of Life Foundation, and supported by an expert stakeholder advisory group, the research showcases the significant environmental and quality of life benefits of mass timber construction through an innovative analysis methodology.
“This research provides compelling evidence that mass timber buildings are not only a vital tool in reducing embodied carbon but also create healthier, more comfortable environments for people,” says Matthew Morgan, co-Founder and Director of the Quality of Life Foundation. “By integrating wellbeing metrics with whole life carbon analysis, we can make more informed decisions about how we design
The Cambridge Central Mosque was one of the case study buildings under analysis. Courtesy Marks Barfield Architects
and build for the long term. At the Quality of Life Foundation, we believe that homes and neighbourhoods should enhance people’s health and wellbeing, and this study highlights how sustainable materials like timber can play a crucial role in achieving that goal.”
A
range of timber buildings
dRMM developed the methodology through an overview of industry best practice, with a goal to assess the quality of life and whole life carbon impacts of five case study projects across different sectors. The case studies are UK exemplars of building for education, infrastructure, worship, residential and commercial uses designed by architecture practices Architype, Fereday Pollard, Marks Barfield Architects, Tikari Works and Waugh Thistleton Architects.
Each building was subject to detailed life cycle analysis, internal environment monitoring and user consultation over the 18-month study to measure the benefits of mass timber through evidence-led research. The broad range of buildings showcase how these benefits might be maximised across sectors to enhance both national and international timber development. The methodology itself is detailed in the report.
One key takeaway from this research is that mass timber is a readily available solution that can help achieve ambitious embodied carbon targets today.
“This report shows for the first time that on average a mass timber building can store – per square metre – three times as much carbon as a typical UK forest,” says David Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, Timber Development UK. “This is good news in the battle against climate change as it means that, with strict sustainable forest management measures in place, we can plant more productive forests and construct more timber buildings that will sequester more carbon in rural forested areas and store it safely in urban developments. This is a crucial step in the battle against climate change.”
The quality of life assessment of the case study buildings revealed them to be healthy places that help people connect with nature.
Measuring Mass Timber
Measuring Mass Timber methodology and case study summary
Internal conditions for temperature, humidity and air quality were monitored with devices and are routinely within recommended ranges, despite the diverse sets of requirements. Occupant satisfaction was recorded by interviews and questionnaires showing that the majority of all users felt more relaxed and comfortable in the mass timber buildings and that more than three quarters were reminded of the natural world by the materials.
Carbon and wellbeing benefits
All five case studies use existing technology to perform well against industry benchmarks for whole life carbon (where those exist). On top of this, the carbon storage potential is significant in mass timber buildings if the buildings are designed and delivered robustly ensuring longevity. In total, these five buildings store more than five thousand tonnes of CO2 captured by the sustainably managed forests from where their products are derived. The buildings employ a wide range of engineered wood products, including glue-laminated and cross laminated timber, and
Measuring Mass Timber
• Mass timber offers a decarbonisation solution now. All case studies report significantly lower emissions than ‘business as usual’.
• Quality of life enhancements have been observed. Particularly exciting is the perception of enhanced connection with nature, although more data will help to build this evidence base to be more representative and wide-reaching.
Key Takeaways
• Biogenic storage potential is significant in mass timber buildings. The case studies store carbon equivalent to more than fifty thousand journeys from London to Glasgow in the average UK car01.
• BPE/WLC methods are not at present consistently applied, nor conducted widely enough in industry. Best practice, including for biogenic carbon, should be adhered to.
evidence the ability of long-life harvested wood products to both store carbon and offer real solutions to reducing the embodied carbon of buildings.
“The evidence coming from all the case study buildings feels like a powerful beginning in establishing the case for mass timber, said Kat Scott, report co-author and previously Head of Sustainability and Regenerative Designer, dRMM and now Sustainability and Climate Change Officer at Hackney Council. “We have seen how mass timber supports lower carbon construction today. We have seen how mass timber and biophilia can help people feel more connected to nature, to feel more relaxed and comfortable and to provide healthier internal environments. So let’s accelerate its use responsibly and efficiently, and in so doing support sustainable and ethical forestry practices.”
The study offers an open-source tool for developers and designers to measure the impacts of their buildings whilst addressing pressing concerns of a sector with an increasing appetite for life cycle analysis and post occupancy evaluation. The report shares lessons learned in conducting building assessments, which were undertaken in line with the relevant standards despite significant barriers found in an industry that is only
Whole life carbon shown in relation to the circular path of a building’s life cycle
• Mass timber, whilst providing benefits, is not a standalone solution for decarbonisation and quality of life.
Whole life thinking (in every sense) is needed to ensure maximum impact is created from mass timber alongside wider best practice.
beginning to address the need for reliable tools for data collection and analysis of buildings. The data gathered across the case studies is shared in detail, revealing the nuances of mass timber construction, and offering the basis for a larger dataset, should more research be supported and adopted.
“The built environment is hugely varied and highly complex, says Professor Robert Hairstans of Edinburgh Napier University. “This valuable collaborative research effort led by dRMM sets a benchmark to build out from, so as to inform the decision-making process of future projects. Follow on case studies would be welcome because ultimately the more evidence we have of the whole life value of mass timber the more confidence the market will have in its undoubted credentials as a sustainable and modern construction technique.”
Measuring Mass Timber could be seen as a first step in building an evidence-driven case for timber construction using whole life carbon and wellbeing metrics in combination, supporting DEFRA’s goal of ‘improving data on timber and whole life carbon’.
You can download the report at: https://drmmstudio.com/project/ measuring-mass-timber/
“Our intention for this project was to develop a methodology for measuring whole life carbon and quality of life of mass timber buildings. We sought to combine and build upon existing industry best practice. We then applied our combined method in assessing five UK mass timber buildings. Our intention is to build an evidence base for mass timber’s carbon and quality of life impacts that can be added to by others.”
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Whole House Solution –everything under one roof
The Whole House Solution offers a range of energy efficient and insulation products
Glidevale Protect has launched its Whole House Solution – a new interactive webbased specification tool offering housebuilders and specifiers seamless navigation of its complete building envelope product collection.
The new resource has been designed to make it easier than ever to see how Glidevale Protect’s extensive range of products can be effectively used on real-life homes and ranges from pitched roofing underlays and construction membranes to loft hatches and building ventilation.
Offering one of the widest ranges of construction membranes on the market, Glidevale Protect’s portfolio is suitable for various construction types including timber frame, SIPs, CLT, and steel frame construction. Its airtightness solutions, which include air and vapour control layers (AVCLs), can enhance the thermal performance of walls, ceilings, and floors, particularly when used as part of a system with an external wall reflective membrane. The range also features a non-reflective air barrier with vapour control layer which is used across many Passivhaus projects in conjunction with sealing tapes to maintain strict levels of airtightness.
Continuing its whole house solution, Glidevale Protect has developed a range of products to provide the key benefits of airtightness, ventilation, condensation control and damp proofing. The collection encompasses airbricks, ventilation for walls and windows, and underfloor ventilation, cavity trays, loft hatches and construction membranes comprising external wall breather membranes, including fire rated options, as well as airtightness membrane and sealing tape solutions.
Glidevale Protect’s portfolio covers pitched roofing underlays, high and low-level roofing ventilation and roofing accessories. When installed correctly, these products work together to ensure adequate roof space ventilation in accordance with BS 5250, allowing the roof to breathe and minimising the risk of condensation.
Its roofing underlays are suitable for both cold and warm pitched roofs and can be used in conjunction with all types of roof covering. The range includes air and vapour impermeable (type HR), vapour permeable and airtight (type LR) and air and vapour permeable (type LR) underlays – all providing reliable protection against wind-driven rain and snow as
a second line of defence. Glidevale Protect’s high and low-level roofing ventilation solutions include dry fix ridge and hip ventilation, as well as slate and tile vents with more than 450 tile profiles covering the majority of tile and slate pitched roofs, while eaves and abutment ventilation offer effective low level ventilation solutions.
Matt Neary, Product Manager at Glidevale Protect said: “With the introduction of new building regulations and standards comes an increased focus on improving the energy efficiency of new homes through improved airtightness. Achieving the correct balance between energy efficiency, airtightness, ventilation and condensation control is a challenge, so it’s important to take a holistic view to understand how different elements, particularly hidden protectors, may interact with each other.
“Our varied product range offers complete choice – a true whole house solution. With reliable performance from ground to roof our Whole House Solution is intended to demonstrate we are at the heart of housebuilding, helping developers to help build tight and ventilate right, creating healthy homes that can future proof and go beyond meeting the regulations.”
To find out more visit: www.glidevaleprotect.com/wholehouse, call 0161 905 5700, or email: info@glidevaleprotect.com.
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Protect VC Foil Ultra timber membrane
Generation Next
Professor Robert Hairstans is a familiar face to many in timber circles and in 2024 was proud winner of Pioneer of the Year at both the Offsite Awards and Structural Timber Awards. We caught up with him for a quick chat at the Skylon Campus in Hereford.
The Skylon Campus, Hereford is a thriving facility for education and understanding the uses of timber technology for future generations
Presently splitting his time as Head of the Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures at Edinburgh Napier University’s Institute for Sustainable Construction, and as Director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technologies (CATT) at the New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering (NMITE), Robert has long been an advocate for greater use of timber and offsite technology.
The double Pioneer of the Year Awards are a validation of the huge collaborative efforts of working with colleagues and extensively with industry plus external stakeholders to accelerate change in construction – not only to achieve net zero carbon targets and create healthier buildings – but to improve productivity and streamline manufacturing processes.
“It is a validation of the work that we’ve been doing and that it is heading in the right direction,” says Robert. “Being an academic – and these were awards from industry – it demonstrates the level of recognition and impact for the sector. The work we are doing isn’t just published work through normal academic channels, it’s been delivered face-to-face over a number of years, working in collaboration with industry partners and broadening out – not just in a UK context – but
internationally. The work we do with the Trimble Technology Lab at Edinburgh Napier University is highly regarded.”
A developing world
Since 2002 there have been massive changes across the built environment. The use of timber in construction and advent of a myriad of developments within offsite manufacture have transformed the built environment. “I think the whole perception surrounding timber has changed,” says Robert. “It is a material that can be easily utilised and is now seen on the same level as steel and concrete. It has come more to the forefront as a sustainable material choice with the climate crisis and is central to MMC.
“We are still trying to change perceptions. Particularly surrounding an alternative approach to delivery and a more factory-based approach, post Mark Farmer’s report and changes to construction culture with pre-manufactured value (PMV). With timber, the sustainability and environmental credentials were always there front and centre, but wider questions surrounding whole life cost, operational performance, embodied and operational carbon – timber has those concepts baked in.”
Timber lends itself to an offsite approach being lightweight, easily worked within the factory environment, and as the built environment aims for more biophilic surroundings – key to education and new schools. Wider construction drivers such as productivity, skills improvement, environmental and regulatory changes plus an industrialised construction approach, need more industrialised timber products, not just to respond to the newbuild housing market but other sectors including building retrofit.
“When it comes to housing, we need to think about the types of homes that we build,” adds Robert. “We need to think more about creating sustainable communities and local job creation, local factories ideally using localised supply chains, and where possible localised timber resource. We are always going to be a net importer of timber given the scale of what we need to achieve.”
Pioneers are always looking forward and seeking out how to use new methods or explore fresh areas of knowledge or activity. What are the next steps for timber and the offsite sectors and what should those in the offsite world be aiming to change?
“There’s a lot to do,” says Robert. “Especially surrounding digitisation. We have challenges on forest management and resourcing the industry with more resilient supply chains. We need to plant more trees and there are issues around land use. We are not going to be able to supply the totality of what is required by the construction industry, but we need to increase the amount and add as much value to it as possible. Also, what will be the impact on climate change in terms of the existing environment going into the future? A lot of that is identified within the Timber in Construction Roadmap which of course has also highlighted skills as a critical area to address.”
Developing timber for the future
Robert plays a significant role in delivering the Timber in Construction Roadmap as chair of the Skills & Education Working Group – one of the Roadmap’s seven priority themes to increase the use of timber in construction in a ‘safe, targeted and sustainable way’.
Published in December 2023, under the Rishi Sunak administration, and recently reindorsed by the Labour Government, the Government’s Roadmap is trying to pull the differing parts of construction, timber and forestry sectors closer together and have the whole timber supply chain working in a coherent, clear direction. “What is super useful is that the Roadmap is sector defined but the issue is delivering on it,” says Robert. “Ultimately what is required are more resources because currently it’s sitting with industry. We have the working groups, but it is everyone’s
L-R Associate Professor Steve Bertasso and Professor Robert Hairstans
time and resource, it’s all ‘in kind’ support to the delivery and Government needs to help. If we can work within something that is a bit more centralised and get a more joined up approach, then it will have a more scalable impact eventually.
“Within the Skills & Education Working Group, we appreciate the broad spectrum of built environment professions needed and that education on timber and offsite needs to be done differently from the current status quo. How do we push forward with timber and construction aspects, the delivery of projects, installers, co-ordination of management, logistics? More offsite approaches, means a different approach to construction delivery, with procurement, insurance, warranty, durability – that’s all in the mix.”
Of course, the core of Robert’s professional world surrounds learning and skills development and preparing future generations of industry professionals. Offsite methods have seen a wealth of new opportunities to enter construction and develop a range of transferable skills. There are many construction jobs which are not on a construction site – so having been lecturing and teaching since 2007, what is different and how is learning changing?
“Technology is much more to the fore with virtual learning environments and we have a more blended
A Real Living Lab
Robert has put his research into practice by creating his own test bed for timber living. The 54sq m extension to his own home was designed as a panelised systems by ECOsystems Technologies and manufactured offsite at Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). The intention was to measure and monitor the impact of the technical solutions deployed in the extension of his 1950s bungalow. The cross laminated timber (CLT) panels and glulam beams were manufactured using the UK’s only Vacuum Press, located at the BE-ST Campus.
Robert says: “The project of my own home has been a decade long research and innovation experiment of UK sourced forms of timber offsite/MMC and modified timber products as a demonstration of what is feasible. Retrofit and refurbishment of the existing stock is the major built environment challenge faced which this project undertakes utilising a combination of timber offsite MMC techniques, renewable technologies and existing building upgrades. This has been achieved using a timber-rich process both in terms of the new additions and existing building improvements.
approach to teaching. I think going forward that is going to open up even more. Industrialisation and demographic changes give opportunities for diversification, cleaner working environments and flexible shift patterns that attract a diverse workforce. The basis of offsite presents more opportunities in terms of career pathways and corresponding opportunities.
“Within the industry we know this, but the difficulty we find is how to encourage those outside of construction circles about the exciting career prospects available within the built environment – career advisors for example.
We have rebranded the NMITE BSc in Sustainable Built Environment to Construction Management, as from a wider perception and market perspective, it is a bit clearer for people to understand and recommend.”
So far NMITE/CATT has been hugely successful in developing courses and learning pathways to better understand timber technology and sustainable construction generally. Courses such as the Timber Technology Engineering Design (TED) short courses take place at the Skylon Campus. Completed in 2021, it has been recognised with a Construction Excellence Social Impact Award and is a landmark example of timber-based construction. Designed as a demonstration of the benefits of using timber as a building
“The final phase in 2023 was made possible by working collaboratively with BE-ST and ECOsystems Technologies to create a ‘Living Lab’. It required significant investment on my part but has fundamentally improved the whole life value of the property, by raising its value and making it compatible with modern living requirements. Operational performance has been significantly enhanced with consideration to the embodied energy and carbon of the products used whilst employing locally sourced and recycled materials for circularity.
“I genuinely wouldn’t have approached it in any other way. Having the kit of parts manufactured offsite in a controlled environment allowed a high level of pre-manufactured value (PMV) with external cladding and windows and doors pre-installed. This was possible via the collaborative procurement process and use of digital technologies for accuracy in design and detailing. The super structure was erected over two days in January on a new highly insulated slab where the old garage used to be. While the external fabric required to be fully finished to match the existing structure, thereafter this was done with minimum disruption. Once completed we were able to fit it out internally and then knock the wall through from the existing house into the extension.”
Robert’s own home has been used as a test bed for timber-based living
material, the building stores 330,000 kg of CO2e, serving as a beacon for sustainability in the Herefordshire region.
Alongside the teams at NMITE and ENU, Robert is keen to widen sustainability and industrialised offsite construction approaches and create a future generation of potential pioneers. “I’m truly delighted to have this
industry endorsement for the collaborative effort in timber and MMC research and education,” says Robert. “We are working hard collectively to ensure the next generation of built environment professionals are equipped with latest knowledge to use timber and achieve the most sustainable environment possible.”
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Sole UK partners of:
Timber Supply Chains
Prepare for IMPACTT
At its 9th annual Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo, the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) unveiled key findings from the IMPACTT project – a twoyear initiative designed to bring greater transparency to timber supply chains.
Launched in 2023, Innovative Mapping and Processes to Advance Construction Timber Transparency (IMPACTT) set out to challenge misconceptions and debunk myths surrounding the environmental impact of sourcing timber products and to increase the transparency of timber supply chains. A big part of this was developing digital tools to show traceability, integrate biodiversity data, and show the path of timber from forest to end-use.
Project partners included the ASBP, PEFC UK, Double Helix Tracking Technologies, Woodknowledge Wales, Agrodome, Stora Enso, Eurban, Timber Development UK, and CEI-Bois – and was funded by Built by Nature.
Connecting forestry and construction
One of the project’s ultimate aims was to introduce QR codes for timber buildings, allowing users to scan and access a map showing their locations and follow the supply chain of timber products, through sawmills to the source forests. By integrating digitally advanced software and mechanisms (via Double Helix Tracking Technologies) to trace timber from its forest origin to the construction site, the project explored how to connect easily in people’s minds the role of sustainable sourcing practices to a completed building. The maps also included details of methods and routes of transport of materials along the supply chains.
This attempts to answer a key question at the heart of IMPACTT: “When specifying and using timber in construction, how much do developers, architects, engineers, contractors and the end-users of a building know about the impact it has on the environment – in particular on the forests in which it is grown?”
To find out, an online questionnaire was distributed through the networks of ASBP, PEFC UK, Built by Nature and TDUK alongside indepth interviews with architects, developers, local authorities, and main contractors from organisations in the UK and the Netherlands.
As the final report outlines in detail, the results showed that industry knowledge is fragmented and patchy with a huge educational programme required to level out understanding and awareness of complex supply chains and the important role that certified commercial forests have in protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
“One of the major contributions of the project, alongside visualising supply chain maps for timber buildings, is that we addressed common misconceptions and knowledge gaps,” said Dr. Asselia Katenbayeva, IMPACTT Project Lead at the ASPB. “For example, it is often believed that forests should be left untouched and that commercial forests are ecological deserts. However, in the face of rapid climate change, forests must be actively managed to help prevent fires, pests, diseases, and other threats. As our research has shown,
commercial forests do sustain significant biodiversity. We referenced several managed forests that are home to various animals, including endangered red squirrels.”
Key outcomes
Enhanced Supply Chain Transparency – a cornerstone of IMPACTT was the development of interactive supply chain maps that trace mass timber elements in buildings back to their forest origins. These maps give a clear, visual journey of where timber comes from, highlighting each stage of the supply chain, helping stakeholders better understand their sourcing choices.
Integration of Biodiversity Data – the project achieved significant progress integrating biodiversity and forest management data into timber tracing to offer a holistic view of the environmental impacts associated with timber sourcing. This ensures that forest management practices prioritise ecological health alongside timber production.
Technological Innovations – the introduction of QR codes on buildings represents a direct technological output from IMPACTT. These codes allow users to access detailed information about the timber’s origin and associated environmental data by simply scanning them with a smartphone. This engages everyone – including the general public – to understand the environmental impact of timber construction.
Stakeholder Engagement and Education – IMPACTT found that many professionals in the construction industry had limited awareness of forestry practices and revealed a knowledge gap between the forestry and construction sectors and a need for better education around sustainable timber sourcing and forest management.
Case Studies
IMPACTT studied various mass timber buildings—choosing them based on factors including geographic diversity, homegrown vs. imported timber, material types (CLT, LVL, glulam), and different applications (commercial, public, educational buildings).
These case studies mapped out the full timber supply chain, focusing on forests with active biodiversity management. They also analysed how timber sourcing impacts carbon emissions and forest health, offering practical insights for making timber sourcing more sustainable.
After two years of intense research, IMPACTT has underscored the importance of transparency in mass timber supply chains and the final report is a sizeable slice of knowledge on what makes timber supply chains tick. It also exposes large knowledge gaps that will take some filling – e.g. the lack of understanding and confusion surrounding certification schemes like PEFC and FSC and durability of timber species – reveals a massive industry push on better education of timber and its merits is required.
But technological innovations such as interactive maps and QR codes are the kinds of handy and accessible digital means that are now becoming commonplace. As the construction industry increasingly turns to timber as a sustainable alternative to more carbon-intensive materials, IMPACTT offers valuable guidance on how best to frame what timber has to offer, dispel some myths that surround it and further prove its environmental credentials.
To download the final report ‘The IMPACTT Project: Bridging the gap between construction and forestry’ visit: https://asbp.org.uk/project/ impactt
Implications for the Construction Industry
IMPACTT highlighted several clear ways on how the construction industry can approach wider communication surrounding timber sourcing:
• Encouraging Sustainable Practices – more transparency means better sourcing decisions, ensuring timber procurement supports ecological sustainability
• Smarter Decision-Making – with detailed supply chain info, developers and designers can choose materials based on environmental and social impact
• Stronger Policies – integrating biodiversity data into forest certification schemes such as PEFC could shape future sustainability policies
• Public Engagement – QR codes and interactive maps make it easier for everyone – professionals and the public – by providing accessible information about the environmental impacts of construction materials, fostering greater awareness and accountability.
Bridging the gap between construction and forestry
The IMPACTT project:
You can see a scannable case study example overleaf on p52
The Catkin Centre and Sunflower House at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, UK
About these timber buildings
The Catkin Centre and Sunflower House are part of the Alder Hey Children’s Health Campus, which provides vital support for children facing the most challenging mental health difficulties.
The buildings were designed to create a welcoming, nature-inspired space. Integrating timber was central, helping to reconnect with nature and foster a healing atmosphere.
Environmental impact of using timber in this project
The project used 629m3 of CLT and 42m3 of Glulam columns and beams.
Carbon Emissions:
Manufacturing the CLT emitted only 34 tonnes of CO2 – significantly lower than conventional building materials.
Transporting the CLT to the site added 9 tonnes of CO2 – keeping embodied carbon minimal.
Carbon Sequestration:
The timber used sequestered 480 tonnes of CO2 during tree growth, stored in the building for its entire lifespan.
Remarkably, it takes only 1.75 minutes for the timber used in this project to regrow in Europe’s forests on a summer day.
Tracing the origin of CLT
The Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) comes from Stora Enso’s sawmills in Sweden and Austria, sourced from sustainably managed forests with a PEFC-certified full chain of custody.
In Sweden, the wood for CLT is primarily harvested from Stora Enso’s own 1,139,000 hectares of forest land.
Sustainable Forest Management
Stora Enso applies innovative, scientific methods to preserve and enhance biodiversity in its forests. Key practices include:
Leaving high stumps and deadwood to create habitats for insects, fungi, and cavity-nesting birds.
Preserving soil and water habitats to protect aquatic ecosystems.
Maintaining retention trees and buffer zones around wetlands and water bodies to support wildlife.
Prioritising high-value habitats to safeguard biodiversity.
Thanks to sustainable forestry, the volume of wood—and the carbon captured in it—continues to increase in Sweden’s forests. Across Europe, the forest area has grown by 9% since 1990, equivalent to the size of Portugal.
IMPACTT - Innovative Mapping and Processes to Advance Construction Timber Transparency is a collaborative enterprise in association with the following companies:
Gothenburg Port
Immimgham Port
Rotterdam Port
Cullinan Studio, London
B&K Structures, Nottingham
Project Site:
Catkin Centre, Liverpool
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Gruvön CLT Mill, Stora Enso
Swedish Forest, Stora Enso Birch tree, Swedish forest, Stora Enso
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Testing Times: building trust in the supply chain
As John Mellor, Head of Marketing at Glidevale Protect explains, when it comes to demonstrating thermal efficiency of your membrane product, transparency and testing is everything.
Product manufacturers play a critical role in ensuring buildings are specified with safe, sustainable materials. With offsite construction increasingly utilising high pre-manufactured value (PMV), specifiers must scrutinise product performance claims and verify how they are tested. As a UK based manufacturer of wall, floor, ceiling and roofing membranes, we take this responsibility very seriously.
Reflecting on U-values
Offsite manufactured structural timber buildings are designed to deliver quality construction with high insulating properties and good airtightness. Using reflective wall membranes, both on the cold and warm side of the insulation, can further enhance the level of thermal performance and improve the energy efficiency of the structure. The thermal resistance (R-value) of these membranes is a key metric to aid specification but results can vary by supplier based on testing methods, whether products have been assessed pre- or post-aging, fixing centre distances, and the presence of printed logos on the reflective surface. Even small variations in R-values can impact the overall U-value of the wall build up, making it vital to compare like-for-like technical data from different suppliers.
Guidance from the Structural Timber Association’s (STA) Advice
Note 18 underscores the importance of manufacturers providing clear, verified data for reflective wall membranes. This includes testing to required thermal and emissivity performance standards, with aged surface emissivity (ε) and R-values fully verified by a UKAS-accredited third party.
The role of ‘hidden protectors’
Creating energy-efficient homes requires a balance of thermal efficiency, airtightness, ventilation, and condensation control. This can be achieved through early collaboration with manufactures who can offer a holistic ‘whole house’ solution.
Reflective wall membranes, which can arguably be seen as ‘hidden protectors’ within the building envelope, have a prominent role to play in helping to reduce U-values in timber framed buildings. When placed with the reflective surface facing still airspace cavities – such as the use of a
service void – these low-emissivity surfaces can enhance thermal resistance without increasing overall wall thickness.
Reflective membranes also function as radiant barriers, reducing heat loss in winter and minimising heat gain in summer. However, their effectiveness depends on material composition and for our part, Glidevale Protect’s TF200 Thermo and VC Foil Ultra membranes use high-purity aluminium foil to achieve a low emissivity of 0.03 (aged) and a reflectivity of 97%. When specifying reflective membranes, a simple way to remember the link between thermal resistance and emissivity is that the lower the ‘E’ (emissivity), the higher the ‘R’ (thermal resistance) and the better the membrane’s thermal performance when facing into a still airspace.
Challenging claims
It is vital that all thermal efficiency claims are backed by testing and that results are transparent. Ultimately, correct and clear thermal resistance values are critical to not over inflate the overall performance level of the wall structure and confuse the specifier.
Suppliers should be able to provide unbiased information about their products when asked - is the thermal resistance data aged and quoted in the worst-case scenario? Does testing incorporate printed logos on the surface which can affect the overall emissivity of the membrane? Does the thermal resistance value achieved use realistic and correct fixing centres that would be typically used on a timber frame wall panel and is the claimed result in line with testing requirements?
Not only do these questions need to be answered effectively, but they should be backed up by independent, third-party certification and meet the guidance requirements detailed in STA Advice Note 18. Only then can membrane manufacturers truly build trust within the construction industry and help close the performance gap so that the building fabric can perform exactly as intended.
To find out more visit: www.glidevaleprotect.com, call 0161 905 5700, or email: info@glidevaleprotect.com.
Protect VC Foil Ultra installed to timber frame wall. Courtesy Matthew Nichol Photography
A Cut Above the Rest
A new chapter in the life of Essetre has started with a partnership with the worldwide and respected Weinig Group to deliver UK distribution and support.
The use of wood in residential construction is as old as mankind itself. Just like mankind, construction constantly develops and is never faster than nowadays when the need for eco-friendly, highly insulated and efficient homes is at an alltime high. Most industry observers believe the solution lies with factory-built homes that are precision manufactured to exact specifications and tolerances.
For over 40 years Essetre has been producing innovative CNC woodworking machines to solve real production issues in the processing of complex and large timber sections ranging from traditional roof trusses through to enormous cross laminated timber (CLT) and structural insulated panels (SIP) and glulam beams.
Essetre will be represented in the UK by Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd who will provide sales and after sales support. A dedicated National Sales Manager, Damon Harris, will provide advice on production solutions and machine models while the after sales support will be provided through the well-established Weinig UK Service Department.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring a new range of advanced CNC machines to the UK market to a sector that has been seeking well engineered machines that are professionally supported,” says Malcolm Cuthbertson, Managing Director of Weinig UK. “The Weinig partnership with Essetre brings the reputation and nationwide coverage of Weinig together with the innovation and creativity of the smaller but very agile Essetre to offer the market solutions that genuinely improve profitability.”
The extensive range of Essetre machines starts with the Techno Saw XS which has a fast five axis automatically-fed cross cutting centre, perfect for timber frame house producers and manufacturers of roof trusses. This impressive machine excels in producing all types of cut –straight, angle and compound – at speed and with perfect precision. If more capability is needed, then the Techno Saw equipped with two outputs – saw and router – complete with eight position tool magazine and the ability to process multiple pieces at a time can be specified.
Of significant interest to glulam beam processors will be the Techno Fast which is the all-rounder, handling beams up to 300 x 620mm and up to 16m in length.
Fully equipped with a dual output five axis spindle and an 11-position tool magazine, the Techno Fast can handle the most challenging applications in structural timber designs.
This very capable core range of machines is complemented by large format CNC machining centres for CLT and SIP processing. The Techno Multiwall is the machine for this type of product as it can handle panels with unlimited length, a maximum width of 6000mm and thickness of 480mm.
Malcolm Cuthbertson adds: “To represent a company such as Essetre that has a unique blend of German engineering and Italian design is a great opportunity for us. It provides timber frame house manufacturers with a reliable and professional partner for the future.”
For more information about the Essetre product range please contact Weinig UK on 01235 557600 or email: sales.uk@weinig.com
JOINERY MACHINE FOR PROCESSING SMALL WORKPIECES
The Techno Saw joinery machine is the perfect solution for processing workpieces with smaller cross-sections. It is particularly suitable for the precise production of truss and frame elements as well as for projects such as carports, playground equipment and garden sheds. Discover the joinery machine that will revolutionise your woodworking and make it more efficient!
MORE DETAILS
For further information about the Essetre product range, please contact Weinig UK at 01235 557600 or email sales.uk@weinig.com
Timber Fashion Statement
A new, landmark low-carbon, timber framed building at Manchester Metropolitan University provides a perfect home for a pioneering new manufacturing lab.
The £3.8million Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) opened in February at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Manchester Fashion Institute. In a UK-first, the new fashion research facility will help support micro-scale fashion businesses using robotic technologies. It will conceive, test and develop new tooling solutions for stitching, cutting and pressing as well as enable fashion research to inform policy on carbon-neutral manufacturing.
A key part of the development is the ‘Work in Progress’ Pavilion. The single-storey pavilion is a low carbon adaptable building designed by the Manchester office of Bennetts Associates. The simple, elegant pavilion occupies an under used courtyard tucked away behind the listed Righton Building in central Manchester.
“This launch is the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and research” says Susan Postlethwaite, Professor of Fashion Technologies at MFI and Director of RoLL. “I’m delighted to showcase the important work of the lab inside this beautiful structure designed by Bennetts Associates to meet our climate commitments.”
The pavilion design champions UK materials and construction methods that help reduce the upfront embodied carbon of the building in conjunction with passive environmental controls to reduce energy consumption for ventilation and cooling. A central aspect is the use
of an exposed FSC-certified, UK Douglas fir timber frame and roof structure. Provided and installed by Timber Workshop – and sourced from within 250km of the workshop which produced it – with plywood internal linings and timber framed windows and door. It also benefits from UK-sourced chopped straw insulated wall panels from Agile Build Systems, keeping the building hyper-energy efficient and sequestering a large amount of carbon.
The pavilion is also clad in black Shou Sugi Ban to further enhance the fabric durability. The black cladding contrasts with the glow of the timber elements, providing a calm backdrop housing the research being carried out within a previously unassuming courtyard. The lightweight timber design also reduces the need for complex foundations, allowing the existing concrete slab in the courtyard to be reused and allowing the use of ground screws instead of concrete pad foundations.
The component pieces and materials are also intended to be recovered for reuse when the building is dismantled, aligning the design to circular economy principles and with the University’s Leadership in Sustainability strategy and Greater Manchester s Zero Carbon Manchester 2038 plan.
“The client is pushing boundaries and innovating in fashion and were keen to innovate with the building,” says Sam Gills, Associate at Bennetts Associates. “It also needed to be as low carbon as possible and for it to be demountable or recycled at the end of use. The space is purposefully designed to be very adaptable. I think it’s important that we demonstrate that this type of timber construction is suitable and can be something that looks really smart and sophisticated.”
Bennetts Associates approach to the design has resulted in an upfront carbon figure of 468 kgCO2e/m2 GIA (A1-A5). A further -340 kgCO2e/m2 GIA biogenic carbon is captured in the building. This is expected to align with the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard newbuild Higher Education target up to 2030. The project has also now been submitted to the NZCBS Pilot Scheme.
With installation work beginning in February 2024, the building was completed the following October and has had a couple
RoLL is housed in a secluded courtyard behind Manchester Metropolitan University’s historic Righton Building and is a stylish home for innovative fashion research and thinking
of months of ‘bedding in’ – a post occupancy evaluation exercise is now underway that will be openly shared with industry.
“It’s really exciting to have the space starting to be used now,” says Adrian Lonsdale, Studio Director at Bennetts Associates. “The Work in Progress Pavilion is a pioneering space that not only represents a milestone in resource-conscious design and challenging conventional building techniques but also marks a significant first for the university and the UK fashion industry.
“As a practice known for our commitment to sustainability, we are proud to deliver an exemplary project that highlights the potential of biogenic and regenerative low-carbon materials. It’s been fantastic to work with a client whose ambition for a low-carbon future aligns so well with our own. This has enabled us to develop a multifunctional space that is lean, elegant and minimises upfront carbon using low-carbon and biogenic materials.”
The Work in Progress pavilion is a small but perfectly executed timber building in the heart of Manchester and clearly shows the benefits of what timber and biobased materials can provide. With a committed client wanting to go beyond ‘business as usual’ to create a low carbon building for its new manufacturing lab, Bennetts Associates and the project team have delivered a project that taps into circularity and deconstruction alongside a stylish and sleek piece of building design.
www.bennettsassociates.com
Accelerated biobased construction offers opportunities for economic growth, innovation, long-term productivity, and sustainable development. However, the market needs proactive policy and aligned regulation to support this transition.
The Government’s goal to deliver 1.5 million homes is vital for addressing housing shortages. However, current building practices means this will comfortably exceed climate limits. Housing delivery should align with sustainable development, prioritising whole-life carbon assessments to meet necessary reduction targets. New developments must create inclusive, climate-resilient communities and consider future generations’ well-being. Homes built today must meet the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets, avoiding costly retrofits and addressing the health crisis from poor-quality housing.
The EU is showing the way: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 55% by 2030, urging member states to regulate whole life carbon, including embodied carbon in materials. New EU laws support biobased materials for sustainable construction, changing building approaches. France’s RE2020 regulation requires assessing and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings. Since 2022, all new public buildings in France must use at least 50% bio-based materials, boosting demand for low-carbon materials and innovative techniques. The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam’s covenant on timber construction has set a target for 20% of new housing to use timber construction by 2025, boosting local housing whilst generating key learnings for metropolitan areas on streamlining timber-specific processes and design standards.
Timber is a significant component of the UK’s housing strategy, but it could have a bigger role. In 2019, timber frames accounted for 27% of new homes. Scaling this to meet the 1.5 million housing target could deliver
Pushing Sustainability Boundaries
Anna Lisa McSweeney, UK Networks Lead at Built by Nature, explains how important timber is in decarbonising the built environment and how the organisation is helping make it all happen.
approximately 400,000 timber-framed homes, generating significant local economic benefits by creating green jobs in forestry, processing, and construction. Increasing investment in these sectors, which contribute over £2billion annually, would reduce reliance on imports and create resilient supply chains.
Where and how we build matters. Enabling density near public transport hubs aligns with sustainable urban planning. The ability to construct taller, low-carbon buildings with engineered timber in urban centres reduces sprawl and car dependency. The Built by Nature funded New Model Building guidance gives confidence for delivering safe multistorey residential mass timber buildings that meet regulations and have been pre-assessed by NHBC.
construction. Mandating embodied carbon limits, as proposed by the Part Z campaign, would align the UK with international best practices. Financial incentives and fast-tracked planning processes for low-carbon projects would accelerate adoption, as would minimum requirements for bio-based materials in publicly procured projects.
The Principles for Responsible Timber Construction, which we are developing alongside the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership, should offer further opportunities for international alignment. These Principles ensure sustainable sourcing, transparent supply chains, and robust environmental performance. They will be launched at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, with the aim of becoming the international quality mark for timber buildings.
Built by Nature
Built by Nature is a network and grant-making fund dedicated to accelerating a timber building transformation in Europe. Its network supports pioneering developers, architects and engineers, asset owners and managers, investors and insurers, city leaders, academics, researchers, non-profits and policymakers in their journey to decarbonise the built environment and protect nature. It’s ‘Frontrunners’ are recognised as industry leaders in sustainability and timber construction helping to drive this transformation through research, innovation, advocacy, demonstration and city-scale projects.
Policies prioritising urban densification and brownfield redevelopment can unlock existing towns and cities’ potential, reducing pressure on greenfield and flood-prone areas. Lightweight timber construction is well-suited for these projects, enabling vertical extensions and redevelopment of underutilised buildings. The new ‘Optoppen’ study – also funded by Built by Nature – highlights the potential to add over 515,000 new homes in London alone by densifying existing structures.
Despite many opportunities, several barriers must be addressed to unlock timber’s potential. The absence of embodied carbon regulations in the UK hinders the transition to low-carbon
Timber is not just a climate necessity – it is an untapped financial opportunity. As whole-life carbon regulations tighten and tenant demand for greener buildings grows, those who invest in timber buildings today will be the winners of tomorrow. Last month the UK Government endorsed the Timber in Construction Roadmap, and with it renewed their ambitions to build homes, grow the country’s economy and restore nature. I am optimistic that a biobased transition will futureproof industry and position the UK as a leading green economy.
www.builtbn.org
ROUNDTABLE DEBATE EVENTS
GUEST RECRUITMENT & EVENT MANAGEMENT
The roundtable debate events host thought leaders and influencers from; the offsite sector, government departments, private sector clients, leading architects, engineers and contractors.
Each debate is chaired and facilitated by Darren Richards, Managing Director of Cogent Consulting – leading offsite construction consultants, and shaped by a panel of experts and opinion formers.
Each roundtable event debate will be captured and presented in a special four-page feature in the following issue of Structural Timber or Timber Trader UK magazine including exclusive content and will also appear online via the industry-leading Timber Media Newsroom
In association with:
The cost associated with hosting the Structural Timber roundtable debate event includes:
Recruitment and Management of Experts/Delegates
Issuing Joining Instructions
Photography
Write-up and Feature in Structural Timber or Timber Trader Magazines
Write-up and Feature Timber Media Newsroom
PRICE - £4,950* + VAT
* Venue hire costs, refreshments and any other disbursements will be chargeable at cost
For more information, or to host your own roundtable debate event contact Karen Cox on 01743 290 014 or email karen.cox@radar-media.co.uk
