TIMBER FRAME SYSTEMS AND THE
PATH TO NET ZERO HOUSING DELIVERY

Timber frame construction offers superior energy efficiency, low embodied carbon emissions and should be the first choice for housebuilders prioritising affordable, sustainable construction.

Rebecca Goldsmith, Product Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY, explains why OSB offers many advantages for offsite construction. From structural strength to adaptability and ease of installation, OSB is a game changer in timber frame systems making it an ideal solution on our journey to providing high-quality, low-carbon housing rapidly and efficiently.

In order to mitigate climate change, we must reduce our dependency on steel, concrete and brick when building and consider a more sustainable option such as timber. Offering one of the lowest embodied carbon emissions of any building material, responsibly and sustainably sourced timber and wood based products provide a route to reducing operational carbon emissions of our existing homes, and the embodied carbon emissions of the homes we are yet to build. This is exemplified by SMARTPLY OSB/3 panels, where the carbon stored during the growth of trees in our sustainably managed Irish forests1 to the point of manufacturing, remains locked in for the lifespan of the product and the building in which they are used.

Maximising the use of timber in the housebuilding industry in place of other materials is an effective route to reducing the carbon impact of new homes and complying with the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standard. Furthermore, structural timber systems offer a simple route to achieving the required levels of airtightness and thermal performance whilst at the same time offering housebuilders the speed and reliability of construction.

Airtight panel solution
The increasing demand for double sheathed timber frames in both structural applications and the development of offsite closed panels, led to innovation for producing airtight OSB/3 panels with airtightness engineered into the panel substrate. SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, a high performance structural OSB panel, can be used as the airtight layer on the warm side of the insulation in timber frame construction systems.

Each panel features alternating layers of wood strands coated with a high quality formaldehyde-free resin and wax binder system to deliver outstanding levels of airtightness. A specialist coating is then applied to ensure vapour resistance and provide a premium performance OSB solution for super-insulated and passive buildings, and enabling the elimination of a traditional additional vapour control membrane from the construction.

By seamlessly integrating air and vapour barriers into high-performance SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT OSB panels combined with the ease of taping between panels and around details streamlines the installation process, minimising the risk of air leakage that often plagues traditional timber frame structures. This cutting-edge solution not only simplifies construction but also ensures a certified, proven approach to contributing towards airtight building envelopes that will pave the way for low-carbon, energy-efficient homes of the future.

Timber frame contractors can now benefit from Irish-manufactured OSB that features integrated vapour control and air barrier properties, enabling them to consistently achieve the stringent airtightness levels needed and create airtight, high performance building envelopes that surpass the rigorous NZEB standard.

To find out more visit MEDITE SMARTPLY

1 MEDITE SMARTPLY is part of Coillte, an innovative, FSC certified Irish forestry and forest products manufacturer

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Michael McDonnell Managing  Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE  WWW.IRISHCONSTRUCTION.COM