The UK has for some time failed to meet its new housing target of 300,000 homes per year. However, timber frame homes have potential as a solution to the housing crisis due to their quick build times, enhanced quality control and reduced on-site costs.

With timber-frame construction allowing for the faster delivery of new affordable homes, Rebecca Goldsmith, Product Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY, explains why sustainable, energy-saving timber products such as OSB can drive cost and time efficiencies for housebuilders - and in the long-term – save residents’ money through the creation of warmer, cheaper and healthier homes.

Local authorities are grappling with the dual challenge of reducing emissions from their housing stock, whilst addressing the ongoing shortage of affordable new homes. In the need for energy efficient solutions that can simultaneously meet net zero goals and provide much needed new housing, local authorities should be willing to explore new approaches to construction. Such as structural timber systems. Maximising the use of timber in new social housing schemes in place of other materials is an effective route to reducing the carbon impact of new homes. Furthermore, structural timber systems offer a simple route to achieving the required levels of airtightness and thermal performance whilst offering housebuilders the speed and reliability of construction.

A key area will be addressing the thermal performance and the design of a building’s envelope. This heightened focus on the building fabric presents both challenges and opportunities. As a route to more thermally-efficient building envelopes, it will become critical to ensure buildings are airtight. Timber frame manufacturers that can provide high-performance, airtight envelope solutions will be well-positioned to meet these changing regulations and capitalise on the move towards low-energy construction.

Airtight envelope

To meet the evolving energy efficiency standards, there is an innovative solution to simplify the path to airtight building envelopes. The increasing demand for double sheathed timber frames in both structural applications and the development of offsite closed panels, led to innovation for producing two certified airtight OSB/3 panels.

As a solution for walls and ceilings, SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT panel can be used as the airtight layer on the warm side of the insulation in timber frame construction systems, helping to create an airtight building envelope. Each panel features alternating layers of wood strands coated with a high quality formaldehyde-free resin and wax binder system to deliver outstanding levels of airtightness. A specialist coating is then applied to ensure vapour resistance and provide a premium performance OSB solution for super-insulated and passive buildings, and enable the elimination of a traditional additional vapour control membrane from the construction.

By seamlessly integrating air and vapour barriers into high-performance OSB panels, this streamlines the installation process, minimising the risk of air leakage that often plagues traditional timber frame structures.

For flooring and roofing, SMARTPLY SURE STEP is a tongue and groove, load bearing OSB/3 panel that provides improved durability and slip resistance in all site conditions. Similar to SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, it can be used as an airtight layer, contributing to sustainable building practices as well as reducing the energy consumption for heating.

These cutting-edge solutions not only simplify construction but also ensure a certified, proven approach to creating airtight building envelopes that will pave the way for low-carbon, energy-efficient homes of the future.