Timber frame construction was at the heart of two major awards presented at Interbuild.
Ecological Building Systems (EBS), which makes vapour diffusion open membranes, scooped the overall Best New Product prize for its Eco Wall system, based on a timber frame, Sasmox gypsum-bonded wood particleboard, EBS pro clima vapour check membrane, Thermo Hemp natural insulation and Panelvent woodfibre external sheathing.
Pod company Elements Europe won the Offsite Solutions New Product Award for its Ty Unnos engineered timber frame construction system, made from low-density Welsh softwood. The frame and windows were made from low-grade wood which would otherwise be used for firewood, fencing and pallets.
The system, which relies on laminated hollow box beams as the main load-bearing structure, is designed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 as standard.
Elements’ chief operating officer Darren Richards said about 300 Ty Unnos homes will be constructed in the next 12-18 months, with section 106 agreements being made with local authorities to cap the selling price to make them truly affordable. A typical selling price of £58,500 was quoted by Mr Richards at Interbuild.
“We are not intending to be the sole manufacturer of the system,” he said. “We would like to license it out to other timber frame manufacturers and we’re talking to some at the moment.”
