New fire safety website launched on the use of timber in buildings

0

The newly launched Fire Safety: Wood in Construction website will help users create fire-safe wood buildings with confidence.

The timber industry, represented by Swedish Wood, Timber Development UK and the Structural Timber Association, has launched a new fire safety guidance website on the use of timber in buildings. The site draws on the latest research and technical expertise of the European and UK industry associations and of leading structural engineers.

The timing of the site’s launch is especially appropriate. With climate change an urgent challenge, it is natural to turn to wood to help achieve sustainable development in the built environment. However, the increasing popularity and complexity of wood buildings raise questions about combustibility and fire safety. And revisions in UK and European building regulations have implications for all combustible materials used in construction, including wood.

The industry-wide, independently verified site, Fire Safety: Wood in Construction, is the first stage in bringing together the information needed to answer some of these questions. It is designed to provide guidance, rather than specific solutions, for the use of timber in buildings, as fire safety design can take many different pathways, influenced by such factors as architectural vision, client demands and product choices. Useful sources and links are provided for further in-depth advice.

The website has been created by experts to guide professionals and aims to be a guide to help users create fire-safe wood buildings with confidence. It draws on the latest research and technical expertise of UK and European wood associations and structural engineers. Referencing European standards where appropriate, but with a focus on UK regulations and standards, it brings knowledge from across the world to a range of different users, from architects and structural engineers to building owners and the fire service.

Information in the first iteration of the fire safety guidance website has been provided by technical and industry experts from the UK and Sweden and reviewed by a separate expert reference group drawn from the UK timber industry and independent consultants. A credible and independently verified introduction to timber and fire safety information, the site will be updated as new information and research results become available.

Click here to visit the Fire Safety: Wood in Construction website.