Book Description

Timber frame is one of the most sustainable methods of delivering new housing. If correctly managed, timber is a renewable resource and has the potential to provide much lower embodied energy than masonry or concrete. This Information Paper describes the most common approaches to timber framing in the UK and how these are evolving to meet the increasing demand for high performance, low energy housing. Case studies illustrate three different approaches to low energy timber-frame residential construction.

Contents:
Introduction    
 The origins of modern timber-framing methods   
 Requirements of sustainable, low energy housing
Description of the most common timber frame methods today   
 Stick   
 Open panel    
 Closed panel  
 Twin wall    
 Structural insulated panels  
 Cross-laminated timber   
 Dowellam/Brettstapel
Adapting today’s methods for low energy standards   
 Extra layers of insulation – internal    
 Extra layers of insulation – external   
 Detailing to minimise thermal (cold) bridging   
 Airtightness   
 Maintaining stable temperatures
Issues relating to sourcing and processing timber 
 Species   
 Timber sourcing   
 Processing
Conclusions
References and notes, and Further reading 

A4, 12pp, 10 drawings, 6 photos