Modern methods of construction, such as offsite manufacturing, have been widely identified as key in the push to close the gap in affordable housing, as well as offering large building and hotel developers more efficient solutions.
This move away from traditional site-based building methods means reducing the slow, component focused, reliance on traditional skills and moves to more of a factory built, efficient, quality controlled approach; a practice that perfectly suits the timber frame industry due to its lightweight, structurally sound product offerings.
MEDITE SMARTPLY, manufacturers of innovative timber panel products, is one such company that has adapted the way it works to prepare for the forecasted increase in demand for offsite production.
“We have developed a number of ground-breaking technologies over the past few years to ready ourselves for increased demand in offsite, modular construction,” says David Murray, Innovation Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY.
“Our SMARTPLY FR OSB/3 panels, for example, are ideal for wall, roof and floor sheathing applications where a combination of strength, moisture resistance and flame retardancy are paramount, such as low-rise housing, medium-rise apartment blocks, hotels or school buildings.
“Timber burns, that’s a reality, but it doesn’t mean we can’t slow down the rate at which it does, or even better prevent its ignition, which is exactly what we can do with SMARTPLY FR OSB/3. It’s lightweight and structurally sound as an OSB/3 panel, but with an enhanced reaction to fire classification, due to the environmentally friendly water-based flame retardant added to the OSB strands during manufacture.
Noticing the shift to offsite construction early, the innovation team at SMARTPLY identified the need for a different type and format of product to suit a new demand.
“Our brand new Conti-roll® manufacturing advancements now mean that we can manufacture FR OSB panels up to 7.5m long, perfect for offsite construction,” David continues. “What these large panels mean for the industry is that we can now sheath entire sides of an apartment, home or school in a controlled environment, which can then be simply delivered to site and craned into place ready for services to be installed. No additional post-treatment or coating is required.
Structurally sound and with European reaction to fire class C-s2,d0 and BFL –s1 performance, as well as independent WPA Benchmark FR Build Certification and STA FR Build approval, SMARTPLY FR OSB/3 is also suitable for use with torch-on roofing systems.
“All FR panels that we produce from our manufacturing plant in Waterford, Ireland are CE certified. Our flame-retardant SMARTPLY FR OSB/3 panels are manufactured with Zeroignition® technology during production unlike many panels that are treated post-manufacture which can damage the structural integrity thereby invalidating a CE mark.”
And any additional tweaks that need to happen on site further down the line can be addressed easily due to the nature of the product, meaning it can be cut, drilled or fixed without invalidating the CE mark.
“The SMARTPLY FR OSB/3 product that we’ve developed is also more lightweight and easier to cut than mineral-based panels. In fact, it can be installed in exactly the same way as standard structural OSB/3 with the added benefit of ‘built-in’ flame retardancy.
“If any adjustments or renovations need to be made at a later date, then that is still not an issue. Furthermore, our panels are less dusty than mineral-based panels when cut, do not crack when fixings are inserted or shatter on impact during construction. They also do not contain any added formaldehyde: something which is vital for sensitive environments.”
Supply chain traceability is also easy to monitor, meaning environmental credentials are easy to prove and product supply and demand can be managed with precision.
“When it comes to the sustainability and traceability of our products we have an enviable guaranteed supply of FSC certified timber sourced from our own forests in Ireland, which removes the risk of illegal timber – an issue that is high priority in our industry.
“It’s our goal to provide the offsite industry with high performance wood panel products that continue to address the challenges that they face, which is exactly what we’ve done with our SMARTPLY FR OSB/3. We will continue working closely with the trade, and insurers, to create an ultimately safer, more efficient timber frame industry.”
While timber has long been a sustainable, structurally sound and lightweight solution, it has not always had the chance to prove its worth on a mass scale. With the need for housing growing, changing demographics, skills shortages and offsite construction methods providing a logical solution to at least part of that problem, it is surely just a matter of time before this versatile building material is at the forefront of specifiers minds.
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