Speed and efficiency favour off-site housebuilding; off-site favours timber frame; and timber frame favours West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero. The result is less reliance on traditional site-based trades and a re-shaping of the housebuilding sector.
In a recent House of Commons research briefing addressing the housing shortage in England, it was estimated that 340,000 new homes would need to be supplied every year to meet demand: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7671. Offsite timber frame construction could be the solution for housebuilders and using West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero is just the ticket in terms of green, speed and cost when considering essential board materials. In fact, MTW Research forecasts a rapid rise in timber frame buildings across the residential and commercial sectors in 2022: https://www.marketresearchreports.co.uk/timber-frame-market-2022/timber-frame-market-size.htm.
Offsite construction is one of most environmentally-conscious processes in the industry through the use of sustainably-produced materials manufactured locally around the UK and Ireland.
Why timber frame?
The growth of timber frame is changing long-established practices within housebuilding as the construction industry embraces the idea of off-site manufacture. This approach is due mainly to the fact that offsite manufacture means a huge reduction in the site-based activities that define a traditional building firm. The reduction in on-site activity means that, once the building’s foundations are installed, erection of the main structure follows very quickly, typically taking only two or three days to complete. New timber-framed homes can therefore be brought to market at a much faster rate than is possible with traditional brick-and-block.
Structural timber technology addresses many government concerns associated with the procurement of housing – including environmental impact and energy efficiency, as well as speed of construction and cost. The materials that go into a timber frame system are generally more sustainable and more energy efficient than traditional masonry.
The SterlingOSB Zero range from West Fraser
Manufactured using renewable heat from on-site biomass boilers, West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero is a sustainable, low-energy product with excellent physical performance characteristics. West Fraser’s OSB portfolio comprises SterlingOSB Zero 3, SterlingOSB Zero Tongue and Groove, and SterlingOSB Zero StrongFix. They are variants of the precision-engineered OSB3 board; BBA-approved and designed for humid conditions. The board is certified according to the guidelines of the FSC or PEFC.
To find out more about West Fraser’s carbon negative status, visit: https://uk.westfraser.com/carbon-negative
For further information on West Fraser’s products, call: 01786 812921 or visit: https://uk.westfraser.com