Archive for category: Timber

Top performing FR panels add the finishing touches to MMC projects

Panels are the perfect addition to a modern build. A consistent, repeatable product that is quick to install and available in standard sizes across a range of decorative finishes, they offer the perfect finishing touch, whatever the design.

One consideration high up on the agenda for specifiers when designing public buildings, such as schools, hotels and medical centres, is fire protection.  Reducing and managing the risk of fire is an essential consideration and there are a range of panels available on the market that can help.

Here, Lathams explore three of its top performing Fire Resistant (FR) panels. Structural product SMARTPLY FR B is a good place to start. Used for floors and walls, it is a moisture resistant, flame retardant Euroclass B panel (B-s2, d0).  What makes this product unique is the way in which it is produced. Individual flakes of wood are treated with a water-based FR solution before the panel is manufactured. This means that the fire protection is maintained throughout the panel, so it can be cut or machined without losing any of the fire performance. The boards are produced using ContiRoll® technology, making this a highly flexible product because it can be rolled out to any size. Essentially, the OSB panel goes under rollers on a continuous conveyor and is only cut once the desired length has been reached. With sizes of up to 2.8 x 7.5m achievable, they are ideal for the MMC sector.

Garnica Fireshield is also rated Euroclass B (B-s1-d0). It is a modified plywood that undergoes an innovative ply-to-ply process which results in strong flame retardant properties. Like the SMARTPLY FR B product mentioned above, this process means that it can be cut or adapted without negatively affecting the fire performance.  It is a lightweight product making it perfect for the offsite market; whether installed within the factory or sent directly to site, it is easy to transport and handle. Sourced from sustainably managed European poplar forests, Garnica Fireshield is often used for ceilings, walls, doors, frames and partitions. Suitable for a range of sectors, its certifications make it one of the best performing wood products, offering low carbonisation, low smoke emission and an absence of flaming particles in the event of a fire.

For those looking for something with more decorative options, High Density Fibreboard (HDF) Valchromat FR provides fire resistance across a range of 11 colours.

The boards are ‘through coloured’, with the dye embedded throughout the panel. This means that it can be easily machined, offering clean cuts and a uniform finish with a consistent colour. It is perfect for locations that need a bit more colour but do not want to compromise on performance.

The Euroclass B-s2,d0 Flame Retardant version is perfect for branded environments that perfectly blend in, and is heavily utilised in commercial fit outs, retail and hospitality environments, exhibitions, museums, and schools.

To find out more about these products or the wider Lathams range, PLEASE VISIT the below website or email info@lathams.co.uk

Timber is the oldest and most sustainable building material ever known but it is also becoming more popular in modern methods of construction. Not only does its use have significantly less environmental impact than steel or concrete, it has other properties which bring additional benefits to those using an education building day in day out.

Timber is the only construction material that is truly sustainable. 97% of timber used in Europe is registered under the FSC and PEFC schemes resulting in the European forested area increasing by 30%.
Timber uses far less energy to harvest and manufacture (-676kg/Co2e/m3)
Timber is not only a carbon sink (sun, water, carbon) it releases oxygen and improves air quality during its 60 year life cycle.
Timber weighs 20% the dead weight of concrete and 6% the dead weight of steel
According to the Athena Calculator, wood outperforms concrete and steel on a number of environmental measures.
Versus timber, concrete causes +470% more water pollution, 150% more fossil fuel consumption and 240% more smog potential. The respective figures for steel are 300%, 140% and 120%.
So on environmental considerations alone, a timber frame building solution is a good choice. However, when constructed well, a modular timber frame system can also produce a building which is net zero carbon in use and one that looks and feels much warmer than alternatives.
Weitzer Parkett, ProHolz Austria and partners undertook a research project called ‘School Without Stress’ where the idea was to try to scientifically demonstrate the advantages of using timber within a classroom and its long term benefits to students who study within them.  They found that on average children in a timber classroom had 8600 less heart beats per day than those in a traditional building.
At TG Escapes we combine the use of natural materials with floor to ceiling windows and doors and covered decking areas for easy access to the outdoors. This enhances well-being and educational outcomes.

A study by A Sigman shows that children exposed to nature;

•  scored higher on concentration and self-discipline
•  demonstrated improved awareness, reasoning and observational skills
•  performed better at reading, writing, maths, science & social studies
•  were better at working in teams
•  showed improved behaviour overall

We conduct regular research amongst customers in education to understand how our timber frame buildings perform as classrooms, SEND spaces, studios, early years settings and more.
The feedback shows that these ‘natural’ buildings provide spaces which feel very different to other types of buildings.

“Giving the children a new setting to learn in has had a big impact on their motivation. Working amongst natural surroundings has enhanced the imagination and creativity.” Headteacher
“Talking to the pupils about the eco-friendly features has been a great way to teach them about sustainability and the environment.” Headteacher
“The environment seems settled and calm. Children able to focus on learning. Very positive impact on staff well-being.” Headteacher
“Both children and staff have really enjoyed working in this lovely new classroom, with easy access to the outdoors for play. A welcome bonus is that we have saved significantly on energy costs!” Headteacher
A Construction Line Gold member and an approved partner of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) customers score us 4.9 out of 5 based on 159 reviews.
“Working with TG Escapes was very good. The buildings provide a better-quality environment for staff and students.” Estates & Facilities Manager

For more information call 0800 917 7726 or email info@tgescapes.co.uk and visit the website for video case studies.

www.tgescapes.co.uk/education-case-studies

The use of panels in construction is far from a new idea, but the innovation in manufacture and performance in panels has been significant, if little understood. Stuart Devoil, Group Head of Marketing at James Latham brings some of that innovation to light.

James Latham was founded in 1757, when they first imported hardwoods into Liverpool. But, much like construction panels, they’ve progressively moved forward to remain at the cutting edge of panel materials technology. In fact, Lathams has always been ahead of the panels game, being the first UK importer to set up a panels business in the early 1900’s. They were the first stockist to take delivery of MEDITE MDF in the UK, and the first importer to stock TRP plywood from Weyerhauser. With a history like this, and the experience gained from these firsts, it is fair to say that Lathams lead the way when it comes to panels.

Products such as WISA Spruce plywood demonstrate the qualities a business like Lathams expect. WISA is another historic company, with links to Lathams going back many, many years. Their sustainability credentials, teamed with some of the most stringent certification in the market, makes them a trusted supplier. Perfectly suited to volumetric and offsite construction, WISA Spruce panels offer stability, predictability and consistency necessary for repeatable, accurate modular units. Whilst a traditional plywood in appearance, the materials and manufacturing process make it stand out. Finnish spruce is renowned for stability and once peeled and pressed produces a plywood that remains flat and stable in use, whilst the Class 3 exterior grade glue line means concerns over delamination are a thing of the past. Available in a multitude of sheet sizes in T&G and square edge variants, and including a Euroclass B flame retardant option, it is the perfect product for offsite builds.

Another product which offers outstanding fire performance is the newly launched SMARTPLY MAX FR B. What makes this product unique is the manufacturing process. Individual flakes (or strands) of wood are treated with a water-based FR solution before the panel is manufactured, meaning the fire protection is maintained all the way through the panel. This allows it to be cut or machined without losing any of the fire performance. The boards are then produced using ContiRoll® technology, meaning panels of practically any length are achievable. Much like rolling out pastry, the OSB panel goes under rollers on a continuous conveyor, allowing the panels to be cut only when the desired length is achieved. Panels of up to 2.8 x 7.5m are achievable, making them ideal for Modern Methods of Construction. A structural, moisture resistant, flame retardant Euroclass B panel, up to 7.5m long! What more could the sector ask for?
Well, perhaps something to help with weight? One of the most innovative products to arrive in Latham stocks recently is the amazing Ultralight panel from Spanish poplar plywood experts Garnica. Poplar plywood is very light anyway, due to the nature of the species.  However, Ultralight takes that one step further by using two 4.5mm poplar plywood faces, either side of a 9mm ultra lightweight XPS foam core, effectively creating an 18mm SIPS panel weighing just 250kg/m3. Ideally suited to ceilings, walls and furniture, the Ultralight panels are available with a number of face options, including real wood veneers in a number of species, or High-Pressure Laminate variants. Furthermore, the panel can be made (to order) using Garnica’s Duraply on the faces, which offers a 15-year external warranty. While well suited to construction of buildings, Ultralight has also started to find itself very popular in the garden building, mobile home and leisure accommodation sectors.

So there we are, a trip through the world of panels which, possibly, has breathed a little life back into a subject that many may see as ‘commodity’. Like Lathams, the panel industry does not stand still and has adapted very well to MMC. Products listed here are available throughout Latham’s network of 12 depots in the UK & Ireland.

For more information, email info@lathams.co.uk or visit the website below.

www.lathamtimber.co.uk

Despite government pledges and increased investment in the housing sector to tackle the housing crisis, the ongoing effects of the pandemic is expected to make matters even more challenging for the construction industry.

As well as the need to build faster, there is a demand to build better. As people are spending more time at home, they are looking to make their homes more suited to their needs. Last year, research conducted by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) revealed that UK homeowners are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly properties that better support their new ways of living. With this demand on the agenda as well, what can the construction industry do to deal with this challenge?
Timber frame buildings and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
One way forward is timber construction. There are numerous benefits to building with timber. In addition to being produced naturally, it is a sustainable and renewable building material, and is usually lighter than other building materials, such as steel or masonry. It is also easier to install and offers a quicker build time.
Timber frames can be modulated and pre-cut, and because of this are ideal for offsite construction—all systems of construction now thought of as coming under the umbrella of MMC. The process of modular construction allows a building to be constructed in “modules” offsite, in half the time it would usually take on site, with much fewer workers needed on site—important in the current climate. Furthermore, modular construction reduces site disruption, vehicle traffic and improves overall safety and security onsite.*
Constructing timber frame buildings offsite often provides a project the ability to boast greater energy efficiency and lower embodied carbon, which makes it a popular choice for contractors aiming to build more sustainable houses that cater to the demands of modern day property buyers and renters.

Working with MEDITE SMARTPLY
MEDITE SMARTPLY has recently developed three robust products ideal for structural timber applications within MMC, from roofing to wall sheathing, both on and offsite. These are SMARTPLY ULTIMA OSB/4, SMARTPLY MAX OSB/3 and SMARTPLY MAX FR B OSB/3, which is flame retardant.
These lightweight and structurally sound panels can be made longer and wider, which is ideal for covering extensive meterage in shorter spaces of time. All three boards are available in large panels of up to 2.8m wide by 7.5m long, using ContiRoll® technology—the continuous pressing of wood strands. As a result, roofing projects can progress faster, needing fewer workers to produce better results.
The panels are also sustainably manufactured using a no added formaldehyde resin. This makes them safer for contractors to work with, as well as for creating healthier environments for future building occupants.

SMARTPLY ULTIMA is an extremely high-performance engineered wood panel, suitable for the most demanding structural applications. It is a cost-effective alternative in humid and high-load structural applications when compared to a similar performing exterior structural plywood. SMARTPLY ULTIMA can also be manufactured up to a maximum thickness of 40mm for super heavy-duty requirements.
As a strong, versatile board, SMARTPLY MAX is also moisture resistant, and suitable for structural use in humid conditions (service Class 1 and 2). It’s had a long history of successful use in roofing, flooring, hoarding and wall sheathing applications, within timber construction.

SMARTPLY MAX FR B has been specially developed to provide greater fire performance and deliver greater peace of mind to those specifying for offsite construction. It is the first Euroclass B OSB/3 panel manufactured in the UK and Ireland to feature wood flakes treated with flame retardant solution before pressing.  Vitally, SMARTPLY MAX FR B meets the requirements of European Standards EN 300 and EN 13986, and the European reaction to fire classes B-s2,d0 and Bfl-s1. It also complies with the Structural Timber Association’s (STA) FR Build performance requirements in accordance with their “Design Guide to Separating Distances During Construction” for timber frame buildings. The panel is referred to as SMARTPLY MAX FR/FR BUILD in this instance.

In these challenging times, timber can offer a robust and sustainable solution in tackling housing shortages. Let’s do the right thing and build better for a brighter future with MEDITE SMARTPLY.

CLICK HERE to find out more about these products and how they can help contractors with MMC in mind