Homes fit for the 21st century

The Politics of the Environment.

The pressure to adopt more environmentally friendly measures is becoming more intense, with the Government

demanding that all partners in the building industry contribute to reducing the impact of development on CO₂ emissions.

Both the carrot and stick will be used. Planning and fiscal policy will favour ‘green’ development; the thermal insulation standards of the Building Regulations will be made more demanding. Timber Frame’s environmental credentials and fast-track production technique can contribute towards achieving a sustainable community with a high Eco Homes/HQI rating:

Wood is renewable; European softwood plantations are currently in surplus production, with standing stocks of timber increasing annually by 252 million m³ – almost 30 times the UK’s annual consumption of wood
Wood is close to carbon-neutral (even allowing for transport): growing trees absorb carbon and produce oxygen; the carbon is stored for the life of the tree and the building; at the end of its usable life the wood can be burned for energy as a substitute for fossil fuel
Wood has low embodied energy: strength for strength, concrete uses 5 times, and steel 6 times, more energy to produce than wood
This low embodied energy, plus excellent insulation properties, helps reduce CO₂emissions throughout the life of a building.

While the housing industry as a whole has struggled to meet demand over recent years, one sector has shown consistent growth – Timber Frame.

There is every reason to expect that growth to continue, with the industry investing in increasing capacity to match the increasing demand. We want you to be part of it.

A Proven System.

Far from being a novel way of building, in most parts of the developed world Timber Frame is the norm, an engineered and proven system.

Over 70% of the population of the developed world live in Timber Frame housing. In the USA and Canada it accounts for 90% of low-rise buildings, while in Scotland 55% of new houses are built this way.

Timber Frame is not just suitable for low-rise buildings; there is considerable growth in the construction of medium-rise buildings of up to at least six storeys for apartments and social housing, while it is also being used for schools and offices, hotels and student accommodation, sports and leisure centres and healthcare facilities.

As with any building system, quality is important. To ensure the highest standards of manufacture, the UKTFA requires its Members to comply with one of two independently assessed quality assurance schemes: Q-Mark and Q-Mark Plus.