The UK government is to start work on creating a risk register of data on mass-timber buildings, as part of a package to allay insurer fears over the material’s use in construction. Source: Construction News UK
In its Timber in Construction roadmap the government set out proposals to mitigate the safety risks of engineered mass timber, paving the way for its greater use in construction.
It said it would work with industry, academia and the Building Safety Regulator to produce evidence about the safety and durability of engineered mass timber, in order to expand its use beyond low-rise buildings over the next five years. In addition, it stated that it would work to create better dialogue between insurers and developers.
The roadmap said: “Insurer and warranty provider concerns go beyond the life-safety objectives considered in the Building Regulations and relate to the wider impact of use of engineered mass timber or volumetric timber systems on the potential for property damage and length of time to restore business function following an insurable event.”
It said that key risks to be mitigated go beyond fire safety, and extend to the potential impacts of water damage and of the durability and repairability of engineered mass-timber products.
“This means that clear evidence needs to be provided of longevity of the timber system without need for frequent repair or replacement,” it said.
David Hopkins, chief executive of Timber Development UK, told Construction News last year that the perceived fire risk was the “biggest frustration” holding back building with timber.
In response to the new roadmap, he said: “It is great to see the government make a firm commitment to expanding low-carbon timber construction in this policy document.
“By expanding low-carbon timber construction, particularly in the housing sector, we can decarbonise our built environment whilst simultaneously building high-quality, efficient buildings.”
The report, released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, sets out plans to tackle common barriers to building with timber, including the limited domestic wood supply, skill shortages and insurer uncertainty.
Among the government’s other proposals are a review of its timber procurement policy; a streamlining of new forestry proposals; tree-breeding programmes to diversify the species used in construction; and the creation of a forum between industry and government aimed at addressing the demand for skilled labour.
Structural Timber Association chief executive Andrew Carpenter said: “The increased use of structural timber presents an opportunity to transition towards a more sustainable and carbon-efficient method of construction.
“As the only truly renewable and sustainable building resource, and with low embodied carbon, timber is an effective solution to achieving net zero and meeting the requirements of the Future Homes Standard – so we are pleased to see that the government is prioritising its use.”
The roadmap was produced in collaboration with the Timber in Construction working group, comprising representatives from government, industry and academia.
The use of timber in construction may reduce a building’s embodied emissions by an estimated 20%-60%, according to a report cited in the roadmap.
Only 9% of new-build homes in England were built with timber frames in 2019, compared with 92% in Scotland.
The government has already committed to 16.5% woodland and tree cover in England by 2050. The UK is currently the world’s third-largest importer of timber and wood products.
Forestry minister Rebecca Pow said: “Investing in timber is investing in growth and levelling up. The built environment is responsible for a huge proportion of UK carbon emissions, and using home-grown timber in construction is key to reducing emissions.
“Promoting the use of timber as a building material is a key part of the government’s Net Zero Strategy. It will innovate the economy, play a role in creating green jobs and also help meet our tree-planting targets.”
