STRUCTURAL TIMBER ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES TIME FOR TIMBER HUB AT OFFSITE EXPO

The Structural Timber Association has today launched a new Time for Timber Hub at Offsite Expo, to provide a vital source of information and resources to those interested in building in structural timber.

With all eyes on the new Labour Government to deliver its ambitious commitment to building 1.5 million homes in the next five years, offsite manufacture and low carbon structural timber has an essential role to play - with the capacity to meet 30% of the Government’s pledge. To support in this effort, the new Time for Timber hub has been developed to provide the HOW – guidance on how to plan, design, cost and build in structural timber.

Andrew Carpenter, CEO of the STA, said: “With the Government’s pledge to building 1.5 million homes over the next five years, the dialogue has now shifted from whether to build more homes to how do we build more, and the only way to do this is to embrace change. Ultimately, the Time for Timber hub provides answers to this question and demonstrates how we can build more higher quality sustainable timber frame homes, regardless of where you find yourself in that journey.”

As part of the Time for Timber Hub, the STA is also developing a series of How To guides that will provide practical advice on making the transition to using timber.

The STA also took advantage of Offsite Expo to showcase the latest developments from several of its manufacturing members. 

Donaldson Timber Systems is the first timber frame manufacturer to offer a published, third party accredited environmental product declaration (EPD) for its Alpha product, proving its sustainability credentials.

The EPD, which transparently communicates the environmental performance of a product over its lifetime, demonstrates the benefits building with timber can bring.

MEDITE SMARTPLY, a leader in sustainable wood-based panels, has completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited lab on their SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB flooring solutions. These OSB panels meet the 40dB airborne sound insulation requirement set by Building Regs. 

Kirkwood Timber Frame, has introduced FastBuild®, a new product designed to speed up and enhance construction efficiency. FastBuild® can cut construction times by up to eight weeks while boosting sustainability and energy efficiency. This comprehensive timber frame system includes wall panels, floors, roofs, windows, and insulation.

Openwall® offers an innovative ‘true’ open panel timber frame wall system combining, enhanced performance, simple, flexible detailing and volume manufacture in a cost-effective package without compromise on time, quality or safety, enabling housebuilders to viably produce high-quality, thermally efficient homes at scale.

KLH, with its overall water management solution comprising factory applied membranes to provide weather resistance during the installation period.  This product is part of an overall water management solution.

For more information about the STA, and to view the Time for Timber Hub, visit:

www.timefortimber.org

Ends

Editors notes

MEDITE SMARTPLY

MEDITE SMARTPLY, the market-leading manufacturer of sustainable wood-based panels, has successfully completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited laboratory on flooring solutions featuring SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB. The OSB panels used in timber flooring systems for internal residential floors have achieved the airborne sound insulation performance of 40dB as required by the Building Regulations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Compared to the traditionally used chipboard solution, these flooring systems offer a host of benefits. Opting for SMARTPLY MAX DB enables a thinner, stronger and 30% lighter alternative. Opting for SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB provides an airtight, durable, and slip-resistant solution, ticking all the boxes for operational goals.

KLH UK

Factory applied membranes offered by KLH UK to provide temporary weather resistance for the installation period. This product is part of an overall water management solution which can be discussed with KLH UK on a project by project basis.

Kirkwood Timber Frame

Leading manufacturer of timber frame structures in the UK, Kirkwood, has launched its latest product, developed to unlock quicker, more efficient build processes for its customers.

FastBuild®, produced at Kirkwood Timber Frame’s state of the art, semi-automated factory at Sauchen, Aberdeen, is revolutionising building projects. It reduces construction times by up to eight weeks, whilst improving overall sustainability and energy efficiency of the building(s).

An all-encompassing timber frame system, FastBuild®, comprises all core components, including wall panels, floors, roofs, windows, and insulation.

The new innovative, build methodology system is available in Closed Panel and Open Panel timber frame options. Engineered with precision, expertise, and care, FastBuild® timber structures, undergo pre-fabrication within the controlled factory environment - ensuring consistent quality and reliability.

Openwall

Openwall provide a true ‘open panel’ timber frame wall, substituting sheathing boards with connector-plated joints and diagonal timber webs to achieve structural performance exceeding current regulation.

The open panel design serves as a framework for multiple applications, providing a unique, innovative solution enabling housebuilders to deliver high quality, thermally efficient homes at volume and crucially at reduced cost.

What benefits does it bring to a customer

·      Direct and indirect cost savings, without compromising quality or performance.

·      Simple and adaptable detailing, open to inspection for longer in the build process.

·      Reduced external and internal wall sections, providing flexibility of design and space gain.

·      Safer during construction.

·      Less reliance on follow-on trades.

STA

 As the leading authority for structural timber build systems, the Structural Timber Association (STA) is recognised for their technical excellence, superior knowledge and leading standards. With over 950 members, the STA is the UK’s leading organisation representing the structural timber sector, a sector now valued at over £1billion, and associated supply chain companies.

Their mission is to support and facilitate the UK construction industry to increase the use of structural timber across housing, public sector and commercial sectors, contributing to the housing targets of 300,00 per year, while delivering value and increased build quality, through fast, sustainable, low carbon construction. Over the past 5 years 198,429 timber frame homes have been built in the UK, a number which the STA seeks to increase in line with housing targets. 

The STA actively work to promote structural timber through innovation and accreditation while raising the bar on quality standards, health and safety, skills training and technical knowledge. Their goal is to drive increased use of MMC and offsite manufacture for the benefit of all stakeholders. Additionally, the STA works to influence legislation and regulation, and support the objectives of the structural timber sector as a whole. Having played a key role in the Government’s Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap development, the STA continues to spearhead its implementation.

STA Assure is the STA’s Quality Assurance Scheme that provides confidence in the use of structural timber and determines member competency and compliance, providing solid reassurances to the construction community that its members meet or exceed current legislation and regulatory requirements.

For more information, visit: www.structuraltimber.co.uk