Pivotal moment

On the eve of Timber Expo at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry last month, a wide range of timber industry leaders took part in ProTimber, the first of a regular annual gathering to discuss the opportunities ahead for the timber sector, boosted by cross-timber trade association support from the Timber Trade Federation, the British Woodworking Federation, Confor, the Timber Decking & Cladding Association, TIMCON, TRADA, UKSIPS, the UK Timber Frame Association, Wood for Good, the Wood Protection Association and the Wood Panel Industries Federation.

Under the headline banner of "one vision one voice" the afternoon discussion centred on the presentation of two pieces of commissioned research from specialist consultancy Lychgate. The two studies, separated by panel and audience discussion, examined key issues pressing the timber sector and its wider industry perceptions. It also looked at what steps those working within the timber industry can take to reinforce and grow its position as the leading renewable material within the construction market.

The findings of the studies involved detailed interviews with more than 50 architects and main contractors to identify common themes. Both of these professions have long driven construction industry material specification and how to grab their attention has always been a matter of great importance. The debate was enthusiastically facilitated by Peter Coleman from Lychgate, alongside Peter Caplehorn, technical director of Scott Brownrigg Projects; Joe Mescall, divisional chairman of general merchanting at Travis Perkins; and Adrian Robinson, researcher at Southampton University and formerly an associate at Buro Happold engineers.

The Lychgate studies threw up some interesting, if not unexpected, findings. Although architects showed a clear preference for working with timber, the influence of main contractors is increasingly important and they now heavily influence the choice of materials - especially on design and build projects. This area in particular saw some excellent feedback from the audience and lively debate on how timber is increasingly being adopted across a wide variety of different construction projects in the UK and Europe.

The continuing importance of Building Information Modelling (BIM) was flagged up as a crucial area. Not only will the adoption of BIM help bolster timber construction's many technical benefits, it will prove to a wider specifier audience that its versatility and sustainability credentials are second to none.

Expansion areas for timber, and where the future of the sector lies to some extent, is in 'high rise' timber structures and deeply embedded timber procurement policies within the public sector. The increasing number of higher rise timber structures and 'wood first' policies which, although adopted elsewhere in Europe and Canada, have only attracted recent attention in the UK, will play a major role in the material's future. Certainly, engineered and solid timber solutions such as glulam and cross-laminated timber are now "very strong and appealing to designers".

The overarching theme and something the audience was in agreement about, was the need for a more cohesive and collaborative approach across the timber sector to promote its strengths to a wider client and consumer audience. Timber's strong sustainability message needs to be marketed correctly and this includes providing comprehensive information on product data, material supply, costs and carbon sequestration in a definitive, easily understood and accessible way.

At the heart of this is the development and promotion of the Wood First campaign by Wood for Good and the signing of the recent Timber Industry Accord between the sector's trade associations. These are critical first steps in the process of creating this 'one vision one voice'.

"The event put its finger on a number of key points, provided plenty of facts and opinions and proved an excellent format for engaging with everyone involved," said TRADA's Rupert Scott, who organised the ProTimber Summit and Timber Talks seminar programme for Timber Expo. "We look forward to working with the associations signed up to the Timber Industry Accord, to contributing to its future strategy over the next 12 months and tackling some of the amazing opportunities timber is creating."

Full findings and copies of the report have been circulated to all the supporting trade associations, where individual members can obtain a copy.

ProTimber 2013 is scheduled to take place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on September 23, 2013.