28 THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE
the overnment has recognised that that market is construction. owever, Carpenter added that the construction industry needed to understand that it is acceptable to use softer timber varieties than received wisdom may suggest, to benefit sourced timber. e need to educate the sector that they can use C1 timber rather than C2 that is a big stumbling block.
The other question mark, says Carpenter, is around the capacity of the industry to deliver, which will not be overnight, meaning many suppliers will still need to import the majority of their timber. e says that the nvironmental udit Committee has asked for a minimum of 0 of housing to be timber frame, nearly doubling the current 23 figure ideally theyd like it to be 0 (the target in Scotland. Carpenter asserts If we get 0 my sector would be quite happy.
The second priority for the roadmap was looking at how are we going to create that demand in the industry, whats the incentive, says Carpenter. e asserts that the major housebuilders are driving it to a degree, citing how Barratt purchased ST member Oregon Timber Frame around three years ago. They have invested heavily in a new 0m-plus factory in the idlands, and Taylor impeys new 5m Peterborough factory building timber-framed homes. e adds Persimmon has had Space in their supply chain for ages, Cala omes has bought Taylor Lane, istry has just bought Countryside with its three factories. e says that this shows that commercially it stacks up, but adds we need to fill in the gaps, giving one example of how the ST was that day
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meeting the leading group of London housing associations 15 to hear their views and drive forward the agenda. ngland, where the big potential currently is for timber, is behind the curve on growing compared with devolved governments, admits Carpenter. Timbers sustainability is a given, but the roadmap working group is interrogating it far more than just embodied carbon to look at whole life, end of life, and Ps (nvironmental Product eclarations. Carpenter said at the moment we seem to be fixated on a 0 year building life, but we think it should be double that, but admitted that degree of shift would be unlikely. Fire safety agenda forms one of the key priorities, and the ST has worked for many years to bring rigour to timber design and specification (collected in its 1 steps to fire safety and the ST ssure fire safety audit scheme. Post-Building Safety ct, Carpenter says that allied to early involvement of all the key players, dangerous specification switching is far less likely. lthough ostensibly for over 1 metres, the culture has cascaded down through the industry, he asserts. Persuading the insurance sector remains a major nut to crack, of course. ith the post-Grenfell environment seeing a ban on all combustible materials over 18 metres, we are a long way from seeing the innovation in sustainable high-rise timber buildings many hoped for, in the short term. working group has been set up with the insurance industry via the ssociation of British Insurers to try and look at their issues and concerns.
SKILLS, COST & INNOVATION Carpenter says the skills issue is
probably the elephant in the room, even questioning whether architects have the skills to design in timber. any may assume that designers love timber, but theres a lack of specific timber-oriented training currently, says Carpenter, so he is working with the IB currently on developing a technical helpline, alongside the STs existing training scheme for contractors assembling timber frames. The final part of the pule is innovation omes ngland now requires 55 of C-oriented projects to provide premanufactured value ie factory assembly, as a prerequisite for funding. STA members are innovating further in response, adding more elements such as doors and windows offsite.
Cost may continue to be a stumbling block here, and ST is producing an extensive cross-sector cost comparison with other materials like masonry, with consultant ider Levitt Bucknall. nd, with a greater push towards controlled, innovative offsite methods, unforeseen costs should be reduced.
The timber roadmap is just a start, and the lection may see a shift in priorities, but youd expect such a key piece of thinking to survive the political upheaval. Could we soon see a step change in specification of timber across the industry, but also, long term, from sources The biggest immediate question is whether the construction industry can supply the necessary demand to support the investment and innovation. In terms of the impetus for tackling climate change, the direction we are on as a society is unstoppable, says Carpenter. For now, industry and overnment have finally seen the sense in pursuing the answers collaboratively.
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