1. INTRODUCTION
This chapter aims to establish the purpose of Commercial Timber Guidebook and set out how to use it.
Climate change is already affecting every inhabited region across the globe, with human influence contributing to many observed changes in weather and climate extremes. This climate change is caused by human activity, and with approximately 40% of global carbon emissions attributable to the built environment, we have the responsibility to act.
With the UK committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, mass timber construction will undoubtably play a major role in the reducing of carbon emissions.
Timber is a replenishable and sustainable material and if utilised correctly, mass timber construction offers several sustainable benefits compared with traditional building materials including, lower embodied carbon, carbon sequestration, circular economy benefits, and low waste to name a few. The using mass timber can reduce the embodied carbon emissions in a single building by 20%- 60%.
Despite the above, the increase in mass timber construction in the UK is relatively slow with designers and developers becoming increasingly frustrated with current obstacles to constructing mass timber buildings.
THE GUIDEBOOK KEY THEMES
Demonstrates consensus on fire safety and design principles A panel of fire and design experts collaborated to address perceived inconsistencies in fire safety approaches to reach a consensus on a set of fire safety and design principles for mass timber buildings. For the first time, the Guidebook outlines an agreed upon approach followed by competent fire engineers designing in mass timber. Establishes good practice principles for durability and fire The Guidebook consolidates comprehensive good practice technical guidance on the key risk areas of durability from moisture and of fire. Bridges the knowledge gap The Guidebook will play a critical role in reducing the knowledge gap between the construction industry and the insurance industry regarding the use of mass timber by addressing key concerns around durability and fire.
KEY DEFINITION
Mass timber is the name given to types of engineered timber that can be used as structural building materials. Mass timber buildings can be full timber (entire structural frame comprises timber elements) or hybrid (combination of a steel/concrete frame with mass timber floor slabs).
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