The Structural Timber Association has today launched a new Time for Timber Hub at Offsite Expo, to provide a vital source of information and resources to those interested in building in structural timber.

With all eyes on the new Labour Government to deliver its ambitious commitment to building 1.5 million homes in the next five years, offsite manufacture and low carbon structural timber has an essential role to play – with the capacity to meet 30% of the Government’s pledge. To support in this effort, the new Time for Timber hub has been developed to provide the HOW – guidance on how to plan, design, cost and build in structural timber.

Andrew Carpenter, CEO of the STA, said: “With the Government’s pledge to building 1.5 million homes over the next five years, the dialogue has now shifted from whether to build more homes to how do we build more, and the only way to do this is to embrace change. Ultimately, the Time for Timber hub provides answers to this question and demonstrates how we can build more higher quality sustainable timber frame homes, regardless of where you find yourself in that journey.”

As part of the Time for Timber Hub, the STA is also developing a series of How To guides that will provide practical advice on making the transition to using timber.

The STA also took advantage of Offsite Expo to showcase the latest developments from several of its manufacturing members. 

Donaldson Timber Systems is the first timber frame manufacturer to offer a published, third party accredited environmental product declaration (EPD) for its Alpha product, proving its sustainability credentials.

The EPD, which transparently communicates the environmental performance of a product over its lifetime, demonstrates the benefits building with timber can bring.

MEDITE SMARTPLY, a leader in sustainable wood-based panels, has completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited lab on their SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB flooring solutions. These OSB panels meet the 40dB airborne sound insulation requirement set by Building Regs. 

Kirkwood Timber Frame, has introduced FastBuild®, a new product designed to speed up and enhance construction efficiency. FastBuild® can cut construction times by up to eight weeks while boosting sustainability and energy efficiency. This comprehensive timber frame system includes wall panels, floors, roofs, windows, and insulation.

Openwall® offers an innovative ‘true’ open panel timber frame wall system combining, enhanced performance, simple, flexible detailing and volume manufacture in a cost-effective package without compromise on time, quality or safety, enabling housebuilders to viably produce high-quality, thermally efficient homes at scale.

KLH, with its overall water management solution comprising factory applied membranes to provide weather resistance during the installation period.  This product is part of an overall water management solution.

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