New figures revealing 20% rise in smoking-related fires during pandemic demonstrate urgent need to replace combustible materials

With the world still in the grip of COVID-19, the built environment is having to respond. While lockdown is easing, it is being done on the condition that social distancing and hygiene are top of the agenda for individuals and businesses. This means changes to the places we work, shop and relax; changes that are likely to remain until next year at least.

Polyx®-Oil from Osmo UK is a premium wood finish guaranteed to keep wooden surfaces in top condition. Ideal for solid, engineered or laminate wood, it is a high quality, water-repellent and tread-resistant wood finish based on natural ingredients. Available in a glossy, satin, semi-matt and matt finishes, the Polyx®-Oil range offers the highest coverage of any oil on the market - a 2.5 litre can cover approximately 30m² with two coats.

Simpson Strong-Tie, leader in engineered structural building solutions, has launched a comprehensive range of connectors and fasteners to serve the growing demand for CLT construction, along with a brand new ‘Connectors & Fasteners for CLT Construction’ catalogue.

With sales of timber homes and buildings heading towards £1bn in the next 12 months*, Andy Swift, sales and operations manager, UK & ROI for ISO-Chemie, considers sealant tapes for timber frame structures and accommodating differential movement.

Looking up at 81-87 Weston Street, it is hard to believe it was a former warehouse. This impressive Modernist-style refurbishment is now a mixed-use building comprising eight spacious, multi-level apartments and ground floor office space.

Verksbyen, a new green neighbourhood in Fredrikstad, Norway, showcases the future of sustainable living. As part of the project, construction company Arca Nova Bolig is building five, five-storey apartment buildings situated in Capjon Park area in Verskbyen. The buildings are being constructed using Metsä Wood’s Kerto LVL (laminated veneer lumber) products – making the construction fast, light and green.

The engineered timber industry has been founded on the principles of advancing sustainable building technology. Led by innovators such as B&K Structures, the use of timber technology in UK construction has undergone a renaissance in recent years which has greatly increased the use of ground-breaking products such as cross laminated timber (CLT). Here Managing Director of B&K Structures, Andy Goodwin discusses the proposed building restrictions and the unintended consequences.

James Jones & Sons’ Timber Systems Division, the maker of the UK’s market-leading I-Joist system, JJI-Joists, has entered into a partnership with specialist building and protection materials manufacturer Ockwells, which will see it recommending Ockwells’ Stairwell Hatch System to all JJI-Joist customers in the future.

There are many aspects to consider when designing a building – from the building system and sustainability to ongoing performance and costs. With numerous routes to take along the design and construction journey, selecting the core structural solution is one of the most important decisions. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, offers his perspective on how to select the optimum building solution to meet the budget and specific needs of the client.