Government moves to create a new Code for Sustainable Buildings are good news for timber in construction, says UK Timber Frame Association chief executive Brian Woodley.
Mr Woodley, who represented timber interests on the Sustainable Buildings Task Group which recommended the development of such a code, said the timber frame industry is “very well placed” to meet the potential requirements of the initiative.
He said: “Even the code’s more aspirational aspects are achievable using timber in construction and co-operative follow-up actions are now being progressed with government, the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET), the Forestry Commission, WWF, Energy Saving Trust, Waste & Resources Action Programme, BRE and TRADA, as well as a broad cross-section of industry and its supply chain.”
The code, designed to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, will establish higher standards for energy and water efficiency, plus waste and use of materials (including timber) in order to deliver sustainable buildings.
The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) plans to approach the secretary of state for trade and industry Patricia Hewitt to see if it can sit on the working party which will establish the main criteria for the code.
Mark O’Brien, the TTF’s head of public affairs, said there was an obvious correlation between this working party and the board overseeing the work of CPET, on which the TTF has been offered a seat.
The government is recommending the code be based on existing Building Regulations, which could be adopted by government clients in their procurement strategy. It is due for implementation by 2006.
