4. DURABILITY
Timber is unique among mainstream building materials as it can be completely renewable. Sourced from well-managed forests, it can be replenished, making it a sustainable choice for modern construction. Alongside its renewability, timber offers several other key benefits. It is safe to handle, visually appealing, and provides excellent thermal insulation. With a high strength-to-weight ratio, it is both strong and lightweight. When properly specified, detailed, assembled, and maintained, timber can also be extremely durable. However, the durability of timber largely depends on how it is used and protected, particularly from moisture. Through proper design, detailing, and maintenance, timber structures can stand the test of time, combining sustainability with long term durability.
FOCUS
This chapter focuses on how mass timber’s durability is affected by moisture, outlining the risks associated with water damage and providing strategies for mitigating these risks to ensure long-term performance.This chapter will set out the following: – The properties of timber relating to moisture and durability and specifying appropriate materials. – Highlighting key risk areas and how these can be mitigated in the design, construction, and in use phases. – Guidance on the remediation process if mass timber is damaged by water/moisture. – A set of durability principles that can be adopted by designers to demonstrate good practice relating to identification of risks, risk mitigation measures and remediation strategy.
KEY THEMES
– Timber Properties: Moisture and Durability – Risk Mitigation Guidance – Water Damage Remediation Guidance – Durability Principles
CONCLUSIONS
This chapter offers detailed and comprehensive guidance about the challenges, mitigation, and remediation strategies for designing durable and robust mass timber buildings. This is summarised in the following key principles:
– Understand material properties – Specify appropriate materials – Risk identification – Consider repair and maintenance – Keep timber dry
– Early intervention – Moisture management in assembly – Remove critical vulnerabilities – Durability risk analysis – Repair and remediation strategy
DURABILITY
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