Exemplar methodology for mass timber construction launched

An expert cross-industry team of engineers and architects has launched a pioneering set of design principles, demonstrating how mass timber can be used safely to construct multistorey residential buildings, in full compliance with UK building regulations.

The development of The New Model Building was funded in part by Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund dedicated to accelerating the timber building transformation in Europe and the UK.

The new methodology, called The New Model Building and created by structural and sustainability engineers at Buro Happold, timber design specialists Waugh Thistleton Architects, cost consultants Gardiner & Theobald and fire engineers at UCL (University College London), has been developed to help unlock and stimulate the construction of net zero homes.

The New Model Building project team have been working with the National House Building Council (NHBC), a national warranty and insurance provider, who have reviewed the New Model Building methodology. New Model Building Published For Timber Housing | 2

Chris Hall, Technical Innovation Manager at NHBC said, “We support the use of natural construction materials in housebuilding when employed in line with our technical standards. Natural construction materials can offer various advantages during the construction process and are being increasingly employed across the industry. Timber is very versatile and perhaps the oldest of all construction materials, and its use in housebuilding continues to evolve.”

The New Model Building is exemplar guidance for building residential developments in a climate emergency, illustrating how substitution of a traditionally constructed superstructure with engineered timber can reduce the whole life carbon footprint by over 50%.

In an exciting milestone for the team, the methodology has been pre-assessed by the National House Building Council (NHBC) to ensure that it meets its technical and safety standards. This facilitates developers to more easily apply for Buildmark for buildings, NHBC’s ten-year warranty and insurance cover for new-build homes.

In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, changes in UK building regulations prohibiting the use of potentially dangerous external cladding systems in residential buildings has created hesitancy around the use of engineered timber in construction. This lack of confidence threatens the UK’s ability to meet emerging embodied carbon targets and address the climate change crisis, despite wide acceptance of the knowledge that the use of structural timber is one of the primary ways to reduce the carbon emissions produced by construction.

Jonathan Roynon, Technical Director at Buro Happold, said: “This groundbreaking design and engineering work demonstrates just what’s possible with mass timber. Embracing the use of the material in medium rise residential buildings and beyond will be a critical part of our response to the climate emergency.

“With the team’s breadth of experience with mass timber, we’ve been able to develop a comprehensive methodology for delivering all parts of a project, including architectural designs, the structure, buildability plans and fire safety.

“The key element of our engineering work – the structural strategy – is flexible too, so it can be adopted by as many construction projects as possible. And we’ve made sure the strategy gives absolute clarity on how to build a structure that’s safe. Ultimately, we hope all this work will encourage the construction industry to reemploy timber as a core construction material, in our drive to achieve net zero.”

Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature, said, “Game-changer is an over-used phrase, but truly applicable here. Six storey residential timber buildings that exceed UK Building Regulations, meet GLA policy and slash embodied carbon by over 50% – all pre-assessed by a major national warranty provider! We believe this will unlock a significant shift in the way we build housing in the UK”.

As part of The New Model Building launch, its design principles and details have been published and made available to download on an open-source platform.

For further information please contact:

Storm Hey or Michael Philps
Tel: 01242 577 277
Email: shey@camargue.uk or mphilps@camargue.uk

About Buro Happold

Buro Happold is an international, integrated consultancy of engineers, designers and advisers. For over 45 years, it has built an unrivalled reputation by delivering creative, value-led solutions for the benefit of people, places and planet.

Described by clients as ‘passionate’, ‘innovative’ and ‘collaborative’, Buro Happold is synonymous with the delivery of exceptionally complex projects on every continent, working with the world’s leading architectural practices and organisations, such as the United Nations, UNESCO and C40 Cities.

Through its global community of driven, world-leading engineering, advisory and design professionals, Buro Happold is acting to address major challenges in an ever-evolving world. Find out more at www.burohappold.com.

About Waugh Thistleton architects

Waugh Thistleton is a world leader in engineered timber and a pioneer in the field of tall timber buildings. Since their inception they have prioritised the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle in their work, producing innovative and imaginative design solutions that harness leading technologies and minimise their impact on the environment. The quality of their buildings and commitment to low carbon construction has earned Waugh Thistleton an international reputation in environmentally viable architecture and design.

Waugh Thistleton design buildings that are inherently sustainable by virtue of their construction and celebrate context, form and proportion in their work. Their architecture is human in scale, and their buildings and places are designed to encourage communities to flourish.

About UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering Department

A multidisciplinary department renowned for excellence in research and teaching the Department currently hold a substantial EPSRC research portfolio in civil engineering. Home to world-leading research projects, groups and centres, we reflect a broad, enquiring and human-centred view of the engineering world.

Professor José L. Torero works in many aspects of fire safety engineering, remediation and sanitation. He has developed novel methodologies for the safe design of complex buildings such as tall buildings, historic architectures or timber structures and has conducted extensive research in engineering education that has resulted in the development of successful educational programs in Fire Safety Engineering worldwide.

About Built by nature

Built by Nature is a network and grant-making fund accelerating the timber building transformation, connecting key actors across the built environment and forest communities to spark city-scale projects and amplify stories of ground-breaking timber and biobased projects and solutions. Through collaboration with its major partners and frontrunners, Built by Nature aims to change perceptions around timber construction and reshape the built environment system. The Built by Nature Fund awards grants to the teams and solutions that can increase the uptake of sustainable timber and improve its climate impact, overcoming some of the most challenging barriers. Visit: www.builtbn.org

About Gardiner & Theobald LLP

Gardiner & Theobald is an independent construction and property consultancy committed to providing world class service to clients. The dedicated team of over 1,300 people delivers Cost Management, Project Management and Specialist Consultancy services from a network of UK and US offices bound by a common purpose – to build a better tomorrow.

G&T defines success by the value created for clients, the fulfilling careers built for people and the contribution to the communities where they work. G&T’s own long-term business performance aligns profit with purpose, taking social and environmental responsibility for the legacy they leave behind. Visit: www.gardiner.com / www.marketintel.gardiner.com