Architects Datafile (ADF) – Timber in Architecture (Supplement – August 2019)

twice as long as PVCu. Reducing the

number of windows and doors that become

landfill is good for the planet and they

sport top-end, performance double glazing;

ensuring that any loss of energy is further

minimised – keeping heat inside the home

where it is most beneficial.

Reaching new heights

One area where timber products have come

under particular scrutiny is cladding,

following the Grenfell disaster. New

legislation has shaped how timber cladding

can be used, with it no longer being allowed

to be used more than 18 metres above the

ground.This has had a significant impact

and means there is no definitive answer on

the next steps. What we do know is that

the only materials allowed will be those

classed as A1 or A2 under the European

Reaction to Fire classification system, which

includes materials such as metal, stone,

glass and plasterboard.

Any product that is combustible cannot

be used within anything classified as a new

building, while anything above 18 metres

has to be fully non-combustible, which will

rule out all current timber products. Testing

is currently underway to try and find a

solution which will allow timber products

to meet the new stringent fire regulations.

Timber doors make their mark

While internal doors have nearly always

been timber, there has been a shift into

requiring an internal timber door that is

both sustainable and adds value and

saleability to new builds. Increasingly

specified by leading housebuilders, doors

such as the Suffolk door from Howarth

Timber are chain and custody certified,

while aesthetics can be significantly

superior to pine or white moulded doors.

Regarded as the new ‘wooden door

effect,’ this style of doors is proven to make

a property more sellable, while offering it as

an upgrade offers an extra revenue stream

for homebuilders. Available at three

separate price points depending on the

specification level, even the most affordable

option still offers the same levels of green

credentials, giving peace of mind to both

the builder and their buyers.

Gavin Knowles is marketing manager at

Howarth Timber & Building Supplies

Technology can now be

used to target the tracking

of timber as it moves

through the supply chain to

guarantee authenticity of

the timber’s origin

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