STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 39 The timber-paved road to zero
Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association explores the vital importance of timber in construction on the path to net zero, but also the associated importance for specifiers of quality assurance and competency
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n recent decades timber has faced greater competition from other construction methods and materials.
However, for the UK to meet its net zero 2050 commitment, carbon savings must be made in the construction industry, which is responsible for almost 25% of carbon emissions in the UK.
Carbon accounting benefits As part of these efforts, the Future Homes Standard regulations are becoming much more stringent, meaning that alternative materials such as timber are appealing thanks to low embodied carbon, low energy in use, and proven design qualities. Structural timber systems offer clear sustainability advantages, while also offering greater versatility, flexibility and construction speed when compared to other traditional construction materials. A keen focus must be placed on the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings, and ensuring high levels of airtightness and insulation are essential. Structural timber systems offer a
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straightforward route to achieving these objectives and the use of both timber open and closed frame and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) offers excellent flexibility to increase the thermal insulation of the external wall construction. For example, closed panel timber frame systems can typically achieve U-values as low as 0.10 W/m²K. Additionally, the controlled factory conditions under which offsite systems are manufactured allows high levels of precision and means that when the panels are assembled on site, they form a highly airtight, energy-efficient building envelope. Maximising the use of timber in the construction of new residential and commercial buildings is a simple and effective way of achieving a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. For every cubic metre of timber used in construction, 0.9 tonnes of CO2
is sequestered and
stored for the lifetime of the building. And typically for every farmed tree, a further five are planted in its place.
Durability is also a critical component of sustainability that generates an overall
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Structural timber systems offer clear sustainability advantages, while also offering greater versatility, flexibility and construction speed
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