Standardising areas of variance and stepping away from totally bespoke designs is key..
Unfortunately, this generates additional carbon emissions and waste.. Another issue with glulam and CLT is the debonding of layers during a fire.The glue can start evaporating at a relatively low temperature causing engineered timber to fall apart even before it burns.
If the timber only chars, it might remain stable but may not be suitable for compartmentation as smoke can break through at joints.. Our response is to:.- Use engineered timber in lower buildings with a decreased risk of vertical propagation.. - Involve specialist contractors and fire specialists from early stages to ensure the material’s structural integrity in the event of fire and robust co-ordination between disciplines.. - Engage early with statutory bodies, supply chain, and timber contractors.. - Consider the use of sacrificial layers of timber to protect the rest of the structure and potentially result in self extinguishment.. - Use timber fire treatment such as intumescent paint to prevent the spread of fire and reduce the amount of smoke produced, taking account of the impact on recyclability.. - As a last resort, consider full fire bonding if there is a risk of debonding of layers.This scenario is appropriate in multistorey residential buildings.. Other general concerns when using CLT include:.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).- Shortage of construction expertise.
- MEP co-ordination.
Conclusions for the industry.Climate scale solutions and decarbonisation strategies:.
Terra Praxis, co-founded by Kirsty Gogan, is dedicated to developing and implementing high-impact solutions to decarbonise sectors that are difficult to abate.This includes not just power generation but also industrial processes and transportation through innovative uses of nuclear technology.. 5.
Political and social implications:.The podcast touches on the political and social challenges associated with transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.
(Editor: Beginner Gimbals)