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Why a wood first policy stacks up


Greg Cooper of B & K Structures discusses the positive impact which cross laminated timber has made within the built environment


important issue for the industry and one that should be addressed throughout every aspect of the build – from the sourcing of materials through to the long-term impact of the final structure.


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As one of the most renewable mainstream construction materials, the increased use of engineered timber as the core structural component enhances the construction industry’s credentials not only from a sustainable perspective but equally from achieving optimum speed as well as performance.


Identifying and measuring carbon properties is now a fundamental part of any construction business. There are two ways of decreasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – by reducing emissions or by removing CO2


and storing it. Wood has the


unique ability to do both. We may commonly hear the term ‘carbon sequestration’, which is the process of capturing and long-term storage of atmospheric CO2


. Solid wood products like


cross laminated timber (CLT) are natural, renewable and are far less energy intensive to produce and apply. Compared to other building materials such as concrete or steel, the environmental credentials of CLT are far superior. Not only is it a renewable material, it involves very little waste during production and is extremely carbon efficient to transport. Moreover, for the production of each m3 of CO2


of CLT, 676 kg will still be stored after the manufacturing process.


Best practice To help monitor and reduce environmental damage in construction, a Carbon Calculator that gives carbon estimates to help assess the best ecological solution can be used. Material resolutions and transport factors are entered into the system and the


s construction makes up a total of 45 per cent of carbon emissions in the UK, sustainability is an


University of Essex


calculator then produces carbon estimates to act as a guideline for different project scenarios. This enables professionals to gather early information about the ecologi- cal impact of their future development. Companies leading the way in


sustainable construction apply best practice principles throughout all aspects of their processes, from raw material procurement through to manufacturing and offsite processes as well as onsite assembly. The Chain of Custody Certification for both PEFC and FSC outlines require- ments for the ability to track certified material from the forest to the final product. This ensures that both the wood contained in the actual product and wood used throughout the production line originates from certified forests.


Solid wood products like cross laminated timber (CLT) are natural, renewable and are far less energy intensive to produce and apply


For the wood-processing industry, Full Chain of Custody Certification can improve efficiency and production systems by enhancing traceability and accounting. This means that all legal requirements are met, forest cultivation of sourced timber is


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ADF OCTOBER 2016


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