Chartered Engineer.
Engineered timber cannot substitute or offset the use of concrete and steel but its use should be prioritised in the right type of buildings.. Our response is to:.- Ensure timber specified is of a sustainable nature, by using PEFC or FSC certification schemes.. - Have a critical view about sustainable forest management and explore alternatives.. - Interrogate timber manufacturers on their root and soil carbon accounting.. Acoustic performance.
When designing with engineered timber special attention is required to reduce vibrations, noise transmission and reverberation time..The layered nature of engineered timber can improve acoustic compartmentation and if properly designed, does not need the same mass as concrete to achieve the same airborne sound resistance.However, detailing is the main challenge and if not properly resolved it can generate sound flanking at the joints which is difficult to resolve without the use of wet trades.
Creating reliable diaphragm action through slabs when trying to achieve acoustic separation and control movement is also fraught with issues.. Other acoustic considerations include the noise from building services and potential increased reverberation time due to smooth surfaces.. Our response is to:.- Engage in early discussions with specialist timber contractors and acoustic engineers to address all potential acoustic difficulties.. - Use additional mass (increase the thickness of the slab) and acoustic ceiling and wall panels.. - Decouple floor finishes from the slab with additional insulation.. - Use alternatives to wet screeds, slab breaks above partitions, and resilient strips between CLT panels.. - Coordinate with engineers to reduce noise transmission caused by HVAC systems.. - Use in smaller size, lower buildings to reduce acoustic transmission and complexities.. Durability, rotting, installation in wet conditions.
Significant volumetric changes can occur to timber exposed to changes in moisture, including swelling perpendicular to grain direction, warping, and bending of straight elements.
With engineered timber overall deformations are less likely due to the controlled material use and grain directions, but it is still sensitive to swelling if exposed to moisture and water.The advantages of adaptive reuse architecture include:.
the reduction of embodied carbon from the reuse of existing buildings.reducing the embodied carbon emissions associated with new builds.
reduced operational carbon emissions.reduced energy bills for occupants, and.
(Editor: Basic Gadgets)