Periodic Reporting for period 3 - Build-in-Wood (SUSTAINABLE WOOD VALUE CHAINS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LOW-CARBON MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-08-31
To meet the global and European challenges of reducing the GHG emissions from the construction sector, Build-in-Wood developed a sustainable and innovative wood value chain for the construction of multi-storey wood buildings. The potential estimated impact from Build-in-Wood is a reduction of GHG emissions of 12.1 MT/year by 2030. Based on experiences from the stakeholders involved in construction of some of the worlds largest wooden multi-storey buildings, Build-in-Wood developed solutions to take wood construction beyond state of the art. Developments included materials and components as well as structural systems and façade elements for multi-storey wood buildings fit for both new construction and retrofitting. Selected developments were disseminated through the web-based Build-in-Wood Design Guide. Build-in-Wood demonstrated full-scale digital demonstration projects for real projects in corporation with seven European Early Adopter cities. Prototypes of the developed structural building system and façade system as well as developed acoustic and fire performance related solutions for multi-story wood construction were demonstrated in operational environments by constructing a full-size demonstration building. All developed materials and solutions were documented from a technical and environmental perspective. Active engagement of cities and their building ecosystems through technical and thematic co-creation workshops strengthened the urban-rural connections. Based on developments, recommendations for new or updated European harmonised technical specifications and Eurocodes were provided as well as policy recommendations through the Build-in-Wood Policy catalogue. Build-in-Wood also created the Build-in-Wood Community (community.build-in-wood.eu) a collaboration and knowledge sharing platform for the wood construction industry.
An overview of Build-in-Wood results was presented in the Build-in-Wood Exploitation Booklet which can be downloaded via the project website (build-in-wood.eu). Within materials development, the project has investigated the use of re-used wood as input for engineered wood products. Small-scale CLT prototypes with reused wood in the middle layer underwent 4-point bending tests with positive results indicating that reused wood can be effectively utilized in CLT production without compromising structural integrity. Build-in-Wood designed a structural building system including a facade system as an open-source building system designed to use generic products and widely available materials to safeguard against issues of procurement and competitive tender. The Build-in-Wood building system consists of a kit of variable components, which can be tailored to achieve the range of performance criteria typically required for residential or commercial buildings of between five and ten stories across Europe. New enhanced connection systsems for wood construction were developed along with the building system. The project centred on the performance characterization, validation, and thorough documentation of cutting-edge technological solutions nearing market readiness. For the developed building materials and components, five areas
of technical performance have been documented and validated: mechanical performance, fire performance, acoustic performance, thermal performance and indoor climate performance. Part of the demonstration activities included the construction of a full-scale demonstration building, the 'Build-in-Wood Demonstrator', allowing the consortium to demonstrate and test both the constructability and performance of the proposed solutions in a real-world context. In addition to showcasing the Build-in-Wood developments, the Build-in-Wood Demonstrator is a unique test building designed for disassembly where all parts of the building such as floors, walls, ceilings, facades and their individual components and materials can be exchanged to allow for testing and documentation of new innovative biobased materials and solutions for the construction sector. Documentation efforts within Build-in-Wood included sustainability assessments of the developed solutions from both the environmental, economic and social point of view. Build-in-Wood had a strong focus on digitalisation and developed a BIM library as an easy-to-use collection of elements that can help with planning and specification in timber construction. Based on collaboration with selected European cities, several digital pilot projects were developed and the Build-in-Wood Policy Catalogue issued. The policy catalogue off ers an overview of current best practi ces and new developments in the policy and regulatory environment governing the construction sector, specifically in relation to building materials and the use of wood in multi-storey buildings. It aims to support cities and regions in channeling their efforts to create a more sustainable built environment by prioritizing wood either implicitly or explicitly. Dissemination and communication activities were a key part of project activities. The project linked-in account reached more than 18.000 members and the Build-in-Wood Community was established in the project and reached more than 2000 members by the end of the project. The Build-in-Wood Community was established to provide the wood construction industry with a collaboration platform to contribute to innovation and address barriers for wood construction.
The Build-in-Wood Community will live on beyond the lifetime of the Build-in-Wood project.
of technical performance have been documented and validated: mechanical performance, fire performance, acoustic performance, thermal performance and indoor climate performance. Part of the demonstration activities included the construction of a full-scale demonstration building, the 'Build-in-Wood Demonstrator', allowing the consortium to demonstrate and test both the constructability and performance of the proposed solutions in a real-world context. In addition to showcasing the Build-in-Wood developments, the Build-in-Wood Demonstrator is a unique test building designed for disassembly where all parts of the building such as floors, walls, ceilings, facades and their individual components and materials can be exchanged to allow for testing and documentation of new innovative biobased materials and solutions for the construction sector. Documentation efforts within Build-in-Wood included sustainability assessments of the developed solutions from both the environmental, economic and social point of view. Build-in-Wood had a strong focus on digitalisation and developed a BIM library as an easy-to-use collection of elements that can help with planning and specification in timber construction. Based on collaboration with selected European cities, several digital pilot projects were developed and the Build-in-Wood Policy Catalogue issued. The policy catalogue off ers an overview of current best practi ces and new developments in the policy and regulatory environment governing the construction sector, specifically in relation to building materials and the use of wood in multi-storey buildings. It aims to support cities and regions in channeling their efforts to create a more sustainable built environment by prioritizing wood either implicitly or explicitly. Dissemination and communication activities were a key part of project activities. The project linked-in account reached more than 18.000 members and the Build-in-Wood Community was established in the project and reached more than 2000 members by the end of the project. The Build-in-Wood Community was established to provide the wood construction industry with a collaboration platform to contribute to innovation and address barriers for wood construction.
The Build-in-Wood Community will live on beyond the lifetime of the Build-in-Wood project.
Build-in-Wood has contributed to changing the state-of-the-art materials mix of the construction sector from energy intensive non-renewable materials to carbon storing renewable wood-based materials causing a significant decrease of the GHG emissions of the construction sector. The project has developed a building system which is flexible in terms of adaptability to meet different European requirements (climates, building codes, regulations) and user needs (office, residential, hotel, etc.). The system is designed for resource efficiency, cost effectiveness, prefabrication, and digital integration. This will contribute to decreasing the carbon footprint of the construction sector as well as increasing the productivity. The system is also designed with disassembly in mind for increased re-use and recycling options at the end-of-life. Build-in-Wood has collaborated with cities and stakeholders incl. policy makers and end-users to increase the awareness of the environmental benefits as well as economic opportunities increased use of wood offers, not only the construction sector, but rural and urban societies in general. Build-in-Wood provides incentives for sustainable forest management and promotes a sustainable wood value chain. The increased and sustainable use of wood and wood products will contribute to long-term climate mitigation and adaptation, e.g. through the encouraged use of a renewable resource, reduced GHG emissions (both sink and substitution effects) and improved resource- and energy efficiency. In addition, a strong forest-based sector, including a well-connected value chain, will contribute to rural development objectives by creating economic opportunities as well as green and decent jobs in both rural and urban areas.