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STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
reduction in waste. Structural timber systems are more than capable of meeting service-life objectives. To deliver building longevity, a systematic approach to procedures is recommended to engage professionals to review durability as a wider topic throughout the building process. Best practice should always be adhered to for the planning, designing and construction of buildings, and then maintained by those with a solid foundation of understanding of the building material. A moisture management strategy for building projects provides a clear pre-build plan and focuses attention on design and installation.
Health & wellness
Expanding the use of timber throughout a building can also have a number of health and well-being benefits. It is shown to improve both physical and mental wellbeing, and reduce stress. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia and FPInnovations found that the presence of wood surfaces in a room lowered sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, which is the system responsible for physiological stress responses. Timber is also linked to benefits in terms of blood
pressure, digestion and healing. A person may feel good about living in a home constructed of natural materials. In a study conducted by the BRE, 62% of respondents saw climate change as an issue they should be concerned about and 96% said that they had already made changes to be more sustainable. Additionally, 43% said they would prefer to buy or rent a home that had a sustainability certification. In fact, approximately one in five were prepared to pay more for such a property. To deliver durable buildings and reach net zero by 2050, quality of construction is paramount. Across the construction sector, the importance of quality assurance schemes cannot be overstated. Timber presents our best opportunity for meeting the UK’s net zero commitments by 2050, but the quality and standards of timber construction must be to the highest degree, as will the scrutiny that it is put under. Therefore, accreditation is crucial to providing investors and insurers with evidence that companies are being held to high standards.
Andrew Orriss is director at the Structural Timber Association
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF DECEMBER 2022
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