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Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association, explains how building in timber can create a high performance building envelope


Building in timber O


ver the past year, both the British economy and the construction sector as a whole have turned a corner, with growth returning and remaining stable. While


it is important that we seize the opportunity to secure this recovery, our industry still has a number of issues it needs to tackle with regards to sustainability, such as rising energy prices and the growing drive for zero carbon. Creating a secure, air- tight building envelope will go a significant way to meeting these challenges, and timber is the ideal material to achieve this. When constructing a building’s exterior envelope, the


Structural Timber Association (STA) encourages all its members to pursue a fabric first approach, where the energy performance of the building is achieved primarily through the external structure. A secure envelope helps to minimise heat- loss, placing less demand on a building’s heating systems. Not only does this have the desired effect of reducing a building’s carbon footprint, it also helps to keep heating bills under control – an important consideration for both business and res- idential occupiers, especially as energy bills continue to rise. Taking a Fabric First approach also negates the need to install


renewable technologies, including solar panels, micro wind turbines and ground source heat pumps, which are often inef- ficient, expensive and notoriously difficult to maintain. Evidence also suggests that it is easier to manage performance


when constructing with structural timber methods, thanks to the higher level of off-site prefabrication inherent in its manu- facturing process. This is particularly the case for the junction performance, where the work done in the factory allows for greater control of the elements, and the junctions are considered before it gets to site. It is not only easier to monitor quality in


the factory environment, but in addition, the all-critical insu- lation is positioned such that it is able to work more effectively – thereby reducing the risk of environmental conditions, or work from another trade, negatively impacting on it. Off-site construction also allows for quality to be monitored


at every stage, unlike other methods, which are reliant on a multitude of trades. Factory based activities allow for better and safer working conditions, while also protecting the workers from the changeable British climate, which is likely to lead to better quality work. There is also increasing agreement across the sector that prefabricated systems will go some way to helping reduce the gap between a building’s design intent and its in-built credentials.


Low carbon building


Using structural timber as a way of creating a secure building envelope is an effective way of helping current and potential clients to meet their environmental targets. As an organic, non-


Continued overleaf... respond online at www.architectsdatafile.co.uk


‘A secure envelope helps to minimise heat-loss, placing less demand on a building’s


heating systems’


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